2006 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

VEHICLE IS AT 80,000 MILES. THERE IS A COOLANT HOSE WITHIN THE VEHICLE THAT CONNECTS THE OIL FILTER RESERVOIR TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE HOSE IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND CRACKS IF ANY OF THE MANY FACTORS ARE MET (RAPID CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE, HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURE, OVER 75,000 MILES). AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE PLASTIC CRACKS AND COOLANT RAPIDLY SEEPS OUT OVER TIME. AFTER READING OVER MANY FORUMS, THIS ENGINE, THE VOLKSWAGEN/ AUDI 4.2L V8 HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR DECADES. AND MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SPOKEN OF THE PART FAILING AROUND 75,000 MILES (NOT LONG AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES). IN ADDITION, THE REPAIR TO FIX THE $6 PLASTIC HOSE REQUIRES A FULL ENGINE DROP FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A VERY COSTLY (I WAS QUOTED $2600) REPAIR. I WAS SPEAKING WITH AN AUDI PARTS DEPARTMENT, AND THEY STATE THIS REGULARLY OCCURS. THUS I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND IS ACTUALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO THE ENGINE, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND TO WILDLIFE. WITH A LOSS IN COOLANT, AIR ALSO SEEPS INTO THE COOLANT SYSTEM. THUS THE ENGINE MAY OVERHEAT (MINE LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE) DUE TO A LACK OF COOLANT CIRCULATION. HOWEVER IN THE PROCESS, THE COOLANT RESERVOIR MAY STILL APPEAR FULL AS THE AIR POCKET IS TRAPPED WITHIN THE SYSTEM (THUS NOT SETTING OFF LOW COOLANT WARNINGS AND NOT LETTING THE OWNER TO INSERT MORE COOLANT) WITH AN OVERHEATING ENGINE, THIS LEADS TO A HIGH CONCERN FOR SAFETY. IN ADDITION, THE FACT THAT COOLANT IS CREATING HALF-GALLON PUDDLES AROUND MY VEHICLE AFTER EACH DAY OF WORK IS ALSO A LARGE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN (NOT ONLY THAT, ETHYLENE GLYCOL WHICH IS THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF MOST COOLANT MIXTURES ATTRACTS WILDLIFE AS IT IS SWEET IN TASTE AND CAUSES DEATH AS THE MIXTURE IS INCREDIBLY POISONOUS). *TR

FROM DAY 1 WE NOTICED THAT THIS "LUXURY" VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. DAY 2 WE RETURNED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WE CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR VOLKSWAGEN AND FILED OUR COMPLAINT. THEY RESPONDED BY TELLING US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE RUNS AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. THEY DID NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AND WHILE THEY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS CHECKING INTO THE REPAIR WE STILL HAD TO MAKE THE CAR AND INSURANCE PAYMENTS. VERY BAD PRODUCT AND SERVICE EXPERIENCE FOR US! *JB