NHTSA Complaint #10986121 — 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). SUBJECT:2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA [XXX] NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS STANDARD NO. 206 DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS - PASSENGER CARS REQUEST FOR DOOR LATCH REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR LATCH OF MY DAUGHTER'S VW RECENTLY BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DOOR SIMPLY DID NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED AND WOULD FREELY SWING OPEN. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST DEALER, TOM WOOD VW OF NOBLESVILLE, IN. ON MAY 13, 2017. IN DISCUSSION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, [XXX], HE STATED THAT VW WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. I MENTIONED TO [XXX] THAT THE DOOR LATCH IS PART OF THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, (FMVSS STD. 206) AND THAT THOSE STANDARDS ARE NOT LIMITED TO MILEAGE OR WARRANTY. A VEHICLE SHOULD MEET THOSE STANDARDS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. WE PAID FOR THE REPAIR AT A COST OF $512 (SEE ATTACHED REPAIR INVOICE RECEIPT). IN PREPARATION OF THIS LETTER I ENTERED IN A CHAT WITH VW CUSTOMER CARE. THE VW REP, WHILE SYMPATHETIC TO THE SITUATION, STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN WITHIN THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT OF 50,000 MILES. I STATED THAT THIS ISSUE WAS A FMVSS COMPLIANCE ISSUE AND THAT SUCH A REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DOOR DOES NOT STAY SHUT AND SWINGS OPEN FREELY. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR HAD TO BE REPAIRED. IT WAS NOT A MATTER OF CHOICE IN THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND MOST LIKELY ILLEGAL TO DRIVE. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING THAT VW REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF $512. *DL