NHTSA Complaint #10927510 — 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

CURRENTLY MY 2.0T 4 CYLINDER ENGINE IS EXPERIENCING FAILURES NOTED BY THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM WITH FAULT CODE P2181 COOLING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE ALONG WITH A CYLINDER 1 AND CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE. THE SUGGESTED REMEDY FOR THE P2181 ERROR IS TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND/OR THE WATER PUMP. IN RESEARCHING COMMUNITY FORUMS, THIS PAIRING OF ISSUES APPEARS WIDESPREAD. THERE IS A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW THAT CORRELATES THE FAILURE OF ENGINE COILS AND/OR PLUGS WITH FAILURE OF THE WATER PUMP AS THE WATER PUMP IS DRIVEN BY THE TIMING BELT. FURTHERMORE, THE FUNCTIONS ARE LINKED IN THIS WAY ALLOWING ONE TO CAUSE THE OTHER TO FAIL. THIS IS EVIDENT WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT ALL TIMES AND WHILE DRIVING THE MISFIRE WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 2000-3000 RPM AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STUTTER. THE MISFIRE CAUSES LOSS OF POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES.