NHTSA Complaint #11230219 — 2015 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I AM WRITING TO ADVISE YOU OF A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. I OWN A 2015 JETTA. AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, AND USUALLY AFTER PASSING THROUGH STANDING WATER, THE CAR LOSES POWER AND STALLS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THREE OCCASIONS RECENTLY. I FIRST TOOK THE CAR TO MY OWN MECHANIC, AN EXPERIENCED TECHNICIAN WITH A MAJOR REPAIR FRANCHISE. HE WAS UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE PROBLEM RECURRED, I TOOK IT BACK AND HE AGAIN TESTED IT BUT WAS UNABLE TO SAY FOR SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT THERE WAS AN AIR INTAKE IN THE FRONT END THAT MIGHT HAVE TAKEN IN WATER AND CAUSED THE ISSUE. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (BURLINGTON VOLKSWAGEN) AND THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC THERE ALSO INDICATED THAT IT MIGHT BE DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE AIR INTAKE IN THE FRONT END. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS WOULD BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A PRACTICAL SOLUTION. I THEN ASKED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY OPTION THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE OFFERED WAS FOR ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER VW DEAIERSHIP, WHICH I AM UNWILLING TO DO AT MY PERSONAL EXPENSE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN AND MY WIFE'S SAFETY WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, BUT VOLKSWAGEN IS BASICALLY TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM SO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I WOULD BE GLAD TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS ISSUE, AND I HAVE ATTACHED THE VW MECHANIC'S REPORT.