NHTSA Complaint #770705 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

IGNITION COIL PACKS ARE FAULTY ON 2002 VOLKSWAGENS WITH 1.8T ENGINES. THERE ARE FOUR OF THESE PARTS ON EACH 1.8T ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE TO THE POINT OF THE CAR WILL STALL AND CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. MY 2002 JETTA 1.8T WAGON HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE SHOP TWICE IN THE PAST MONTH FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME ONLY ONE COIL PACK WAS REPLACED, LEAVING THREE FAULTY ONES STILL INSTALLED. A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST COIL PACK WAS REPLACED ANOTHER ONE FAILED. CURRENTLY MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 15 DAYS WAITING ON THE PART TO ARRIVE FROM EUROPE. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 19 DAYS TOTAL IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. WHEN THE PART ARRIVES, VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS THEY CAN ONLY REPLACE ONE DAMAGED COIL PACK (NOT ALL FOUR FAULTY ONES) BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE IN SUCH HIGH DEMAND. THE VW SERVICE GARAGE IN DURHAM, NC (SOUTHERN STATES VW) TOLD ME THEY HAVE 8 CARS WAITING ON THESE PARTS TO ARRIVE. THE NATIONAL VW CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME VW IS REPLACING ONLY ONE COIL PACK PER CAR, TRYING TO GET AS MANY CARS BACK ON THE ROAD AS POSSIBLE, ADMITTING THAT ANY OF THE OTHER ORIGINAL COIL PACKS MAY FAIL AGAIN AT ANY TIME. IF THERE ARE EIGHT CARS ON THE LOT IN DURHAM, NC THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF VWS ACROSS THE US IN GARAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM! VW OF AMERICA REALIZES THIS PROBLEM, YET THEY REFUSE TO DO A RECALL DUE TO LIMITED SUPPLY OF PARTS. MEANWHILE EVERYONE WILL BE STILL STUCK WITH A CAR WHO'S ENGINE MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME DUE TO THIS FAULTY ENGINE PART! THIS IS A DANGEROUS CAR TO OWN! SOMEONE NEEDS TO PUT PRESSURE ON VW OF AMERICA TO RECALL ALL 2002'S JETTA AND BEETLES WITH 1.8T ENGINES. DT