NHTSA Complaint #11339230 — 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WE NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. WE ASSUMED IT WAS A CRACKED WASHER FLUID TANK. TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND NOTHING DURING SERVICE APPOINTMENT. TECHNICIAN MENTIONED NOTHING OF THE WATER IN THE FILTER AREA. OVER NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS THE SAME PUDDLE NOTICED WHICH WE ASSUMED IT WAS MERELY HVAC CONDENSATION DUE TO US LIVING IN HIGH HUMIDITY REGION. THIS VERY MORNING OF JULY 13 2020 MY WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER SITTING FOR MORE THAN A WEEK AND I IMMEDIATELY HEARD THE ENGINE SURGING AND SUFFOCATING. HAD HER IMMEDIATE SHUT OFF. THE LOCATION OF THE NOISE RESINATED FROM THE ENGINE AIR FILTER BOX. AFTER I OPENED THE BOX MY FEET WERE SOAKED FROM THE SEEMING 2 QUARTS OF WATER THAT SPLASHED TO THE GROUND. I REMOVED THE COMPLETE WATER SOAKED AIR FILTER AND SCOOPED OUT THE REMAINING 3 CUPS OF WATER STILL LYING IN THE BOTTLE PART OF THE BOX. THE DRAIN VALVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX FAILED TO DRAIN OFF WATER WHICH WATER SHOULDN'T BE IN THAT REGION ON ANY CAR. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO RESPONDED IN A SURPRISED MANNER AS IF THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE... WELL AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH I FOUND THIS ISSUE IS A WORLD WIDE ISSUE WITH PENDING LAWSUITS ... NO REMEDY AVAIL ABLE RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE UNTIL RESOLUTION IDENTIFIED. NO MOVEMENT ON THIS ISSUE FROM 2014-2017 MODELS AS INTERNET RESEARCH.