NHTSA Complaint #11046015 — 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE (INSERTING THE FOB), THE CAR WILL START BUT A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND DISPLAYS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE." THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR FOR THE DAY AND ALSO WHEN STARTING AFTER BEING RUN. AFTER SEARCHING ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT ONLINE ON NUMEROUS FORUMS RELATING TO THE VOLKSWAGEN, I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS ACROSS DIFFERENT YEARS. THIS PROBLEM HAS EVEN OCCURRED WHILE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AND IT SHUTS OFF THE CAR. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN THINKING THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS DEFECT AFFECTING MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY THREAT IT POSES TO THE DRIVERS. WELL, THEY DID NOT CARE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AND THEY DO NOT THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT PAY TO FIX IT. BUT HOW CAN IT NOT BE WHEN IT TURNS THE CAR OFF??