NHTSA Complaint #753643 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I PURCHASED A 2001 VW PASSAT ON AUGUST 19, 2001 FROM TRANS OCEAN MOTOR IN PASADENA, CA. IN THE 8 WEEKS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR IT HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME IT HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CAR LOST POWER AND THEN THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE EPC LIGHT TURNED ON AND THEN THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT OR IN OTHER WORDS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT WHICH WAS 1 WK PRIOR TO THIS ONE, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE RPM WENT ERRACTIC. EVEN THOUGH I WAS STEPPING ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR HAD LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN 50 MILES/HR. THE DEALER AWARE ABOUT MY SAFETY CONCERNS HAVE TRIED FIXING THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY. THE CAR IS NOT RELIABLE AT ALL AND MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT IF THIS CAR KEEPS GIVING ME ENGINE PROBLEMS, ONE DAY I'M GOING TO FIND MY SELF INVOLVED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTALBLE. IF NEEDED, FURTHER DETAILED NFORMATION REGARDING SERVICE REPORTS CAN BE PROVIDED. - CA. *AK