NHTSA Complaint #11019841 — 2017 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF ALLTRACK

VEHICLE IS A 2017 VW GOLF ALLTRACK S WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION; LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD WITH ~400 MILES ON ODOMETER AND A LITTLE OVER 1/4 TANK OF 87-OCTANE GASOLINE. ISSUE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 10PM ON AUGUST 25TH, 2017. VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A RED LIGHT AT A HIGHWAY INTERSECTION CROSSING ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL GRADE. MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR DURING ACCELERATION, AND THE VEHICLE PROMPTLY LOST ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. MY WIFE COASTED THE VEHICLE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE HELP OF PASSING MOTORISTS WHO WERE KIND ENOUGH TO STOP AND HELP. THE "ENGINE" LIGHT AND "EPC" LIGHT WERE BOTH ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. DURING THE 45 MINUTE WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK, MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER AND SOMETIMES "CATCH", BUT WOULD NOT START OR IDLE. HEADLIGHTS, BLINKERS, WIPERS, ETC. REMAINED FUNCTIONAL THROUGHOUT THE ORDEAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND REMAINS THERE FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THERE IS NO IDENTIFICATION OF A CAUSE FOR THIS ISSUE AT THE MOMENT. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR MY FAMILY AND MOTORISTS AROUND US: A NEW VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOOSING POWER AND ALL CONTROL FEATURES IS ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE, AND COULD VERY EASILY LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.