2001 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO Electrical System Problems

THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON MY 2001 CABRIO MAY AND HAVE CAUSED A SHORT WHICH SPARKED UNDER HOOD CAUSING SMOKE AND POSSIBLE FIRE ALSO, THE COMPUTER OVER HEATS CAUSING SHORTS WHICH MADE THE TRANSMISSION FAIL AND GAUGES FAIL, THE US GOV. (DIVISION) THAT HANDLES SUCH FAULTS SHOULD FORCE VOLKSWAGEN TO RECALL EVERY AND ALL CARS FOR REPAIRS! THE US OWNERS ARE PAYING FOR VOLKSWAGENS MISTAKES, PARTIALLY FOR THEIR DECISION TO HAVE THESE CARS MADE IN MEXICO EVADING TAX'S AND WHICH HAS MADE THESE AUTOS CHEAP AND FLAWED. THESE CARS ARE UNSAFE AND THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE AND WILL IN FUTURE COST THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ALOT OF MONEY....... SO FAR: MY AUTO HAS BEEN AT REPAIR SHOP FOR OVER 6 MONTHS AND HAS COST ME MORE THEN WHAT IT'S WORTH, HARD WORKING PEOPLE ARE GETTING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY A POORLY BUILT AND UNSAFE PRODUCT [XXX][XXX] PS EVEN VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T AND CAN'T...

WHEN STARTING CAR 75% OF THE TIME ABS AND (HAND) BRAKE LIGHT WOULD SWITCH ON THOUGH BRAKE NOT ENGAGED; AT THE SAME TIME HEADLIGHTS AND A/C DIDN'T WORK. WAS TOLD IT IS AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. ALSO, WINDOW AUTOMATIC CLOSE MALFUNCTIONING WHICH DEALER SERVICE SAYS IS UNRELATED. NECESSITATED ABOUT $1,800 PARTS AND LABOR. ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY AT THE MERCY GENERALLY OF VW DEALER SERVICE SINCE MANY MECHANICS DO NOT STOCK THE COMPUTER NECESSARY TO DIAGNOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SERVICE PROBLEMS WITH TWO VW DEALERS IN MY AREA (NORTHERN VIRGNIA). ONE DEALER (ALEXANDRIA VW) FAILED TO TIGHTEN WHEEL NUTS AFTER A ROUTINE CHECK-UP AND CLAIMED AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR THAT NOTHING WAS AMISS. ANOTHER (STOHLMAN IN VIENNA, VA.) REPLACED THE IGNITIION SWITCH BUT BROKE A PART WHILE DOING SO, SO THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. *AK

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP. THERE WAS ALSO A SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL DEFECTS. *JG *AK