1999 Volkswagen Golf

Defect. The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

Risk. A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy. Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Risk. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES AND DOUBLE-LAYER FUEL TANKS, TENSION ON THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE TO CRACK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LEAK.

Risk. LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FOR TENSION, AND INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE FOR CRACKING. IF NECESSARY THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L VR6 ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE PUBLISHED ON THE LABEL FOR TIRES OF THE SIZE 205/50 R15 86H IS 0.1 BAR (1.45 PSI) TOO LOW. IT SHOULD BE 2.5 BAR (36.3 PSI). THE LABEL RECOMMENDS 2.4 BAR (34.8 PSI = 35 PSI).

Risk. UNDER INFLATED TIRES CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING, AND DRIVING WITH SUBSTANTIALLY UNDER INFLATED TIRES PUTS THE CONSUMER AT RISK FOR A CRASH.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS, OR A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL IF THE OWNER WISHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 29, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VW AT 1-800-893-5298.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOUND ABSORBING MAT ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE OF THE B-PILLAR SIDE TRIM PANEL COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. SURFACE AND EDGES OF THE MAT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. IT COULD IGNITE WHEN EXPOSED TO THE EXHAUST GAS OF THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER IGNITER IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE FRONT OR SIDE COLLISION.

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MATTING MATERIALS FROM INSIDE THE B-PILLAR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE.

WHITE METAL USED IN FRONT AND READ WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ALSO REAR HATCH DOOR LATCH FLAKE APART AND CRUMBLE MAKING WIPERS AND LATCH UNUSABLE. REPLACED FRONT WIPER ASSEMBLY JUNE 2012, REAR WIPER DOES NOT WORK, SAME WITH REAR DOOR LATCH. FRONT WIPERS STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY WHILE IN A SUMMER DOWNPOUR CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM.

THIS STARTED TO OCCUR ABOUT 2009, ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO. WHEN I PUSHED UP THE REAR SEATS, I DISCOVERED THAT THE CENTER SEAT BELT WAS TIGHT AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I COULDN'T EVEN PUSH THE REAR SEAT BACK DOWN BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT WAS SO EXTREMELY TIGHT. WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO LATER, ALL OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP. THE REAR SEATS ARE NOW UNSAFE FOR PASSENGERS.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FIRE IN 1999 VW GOLF TDI: 2003-01-14, MILEAGE 88290, LIGHTS AND GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WERE ACTING FLAKY AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SOME LIGHTS WERE DIM AND SOME WERE BURNT OUT. 2003-02-05, I BOUGHT NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. PLAN WAS TO HAVE DEALERSHIP REPLACE FAULTY ONE WITH NEW ONE ON 2003-02-10. A FEW DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT NEW ONE, THE CARS EXISTING ONE SUDDENLY EMITTED SPARKS WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN A SNOW STORM, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE! THICK, ACRID SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD, FORCING ME OUT OF THE CAR. I PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH MY JACKET AND SOME SNOW. 2003-02-10, DEALERSHIP REPLACED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DURING THE FIRST HEAVY SNOWFALL AFTER THAT, CAR STARTED BUCKING AT LOW RPMS AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS. SPEEDOMETER STARTED FLUCTUATING WILDLY, SHOWING ME GOING ANYWHERE FROM 0 TO 120 MPH. TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED FLUCTUATING BETWEEN 0 AND DANGER ZONE, AND TEMPERATURE ALARM SOUNDED WHENEVER THE GAUGE JUMPED INTO THE DANGER ZONE. FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY. ODOMETER FROZE UP. 2003-04-04, MILEAGE 90906, TECHNICIAN AT DEALERSHIP FOUND 300 KILO-OHM RESISTANCE IN WIRING HARNESS GROUNDS. THE FOUR MAIN GROUND WIRE ENDS WERE HORRIBLY CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS NO POWER GOING TO THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR, VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR, OR COOLANT BOTTLE SENSOR. TECHNICIAN LEFT THE EXISTING WIRING HARNESS IN PLACE, SINCE MOST OF THE HARNESS WIRES WERE WORKING FINE. HE DISCONNECTED AND CAPPED THE ENDS OF THE FOUR CORRODED WIRES. HE T

WINDOW REGULATOR SWITCHES AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR, STARTING ABOUT 2003. MY PASSENGER WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR ONCE, AND THE SAME HAPPENED FOR MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TWICE. THE WINDOW SWITCHES ARE FLAKY AND REQUIRE INTENSE CONCENTRATION TO TAP THEM JUST RIGHT TO MAKE THE WINDOW GO IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU WANT. IF YOU TAP TOO STRONGLY OR TOO LONG, THE WINDOWS REVERSE DIRECTION. THIS IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP AND LOCAL MECHANICS REPLACED REGULATOR SWITCHES AND MOTORS SEVERAL TIMES, YEARS AGO. I WAS TIRED OF REPLACING THEM, SO NOW I TRY TO USE THE WINDOWS AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. I KEEP A FLASHLIGHT PERMANENTLY ON THE PASSENGER SEAT TO COMPENSATE FOR 12 YEARS OF DARKNESS IN THE CABIN. ALARM SYSTEM OCCASIONALLY CHIRPS FOR NO REASON, AS IF DETECTING AN INTRUDER, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT GENERATE THE BEEP BEEP WHEN I HIT THE ENGAGE BUTTON ON MY KEY FOB. ALARM SOMETIMES GOES OFF WHEN I START THE CAR, AS IF I'M CARJACKING MY OWN CAR. I SUSPECT THE 1999 BATCH OF VOLKSWAGEN CARS HAD SERIOUS GROUNDING OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. CAR CONTINUES TO RUN FINE (CURRENT MILEAGE IS 392,000) DESPITE THE ELECTRICAL DEMONS, BUT WITH REDUCED SAFETY AND INCREASED DISTRACTIONS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VALVE IN THE FUEL CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VALVE BECOMES CLOGGED WITH THE FUEL. HE HAS RESEARCHED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS FAILURE AND STATED THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE, BUT DOES NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE. ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT HAS BEEN STRANDED IN COLD WEATHER AND FACED NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES DUE TO THE STALLING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,900.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE VEHICLE HAS A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE O RING DEFECT. THE DEFECT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED THE 44K TREATMENT TO RECTIFY THE FAILURE AND NOW THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE MOTOR AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LARGE QUANTITY OF SMOKE COMES FROM THE VEHICLE AND HE DOES NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. HE IS ALSO UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS BECAUSE THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT. THE RECALL NUMBER, VIN, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. THE VEHICLE HAS DOUGLAS & LOMASON (19570R14) TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER, NOTICED A FLAT TIRE, AND REPLACED IT WITH A SPARE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CASE SEPARATED. THE FAILURE WAS DUPLICATED WITH BOTH FRONT TIRES AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS. *NM

1999 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF SAFETY RECALL RECEIVED REGARDING THE DEFECT WITH THE FUEL SUPPLY MODULE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID SMELL GAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER NO LONGER LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES AND WHERE SHE LIVES NOW NO ONE WAS FAMILIAR WITH AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES OR EVEN THE RECALL. *JB

I HAVE A 1999 GOLF 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT HAS A HOLE IN ITS CORE. WHEN SHOPPING AROUND TO GET A USED OR NEW TRANSMISSION(I CALLED OVER 20 DIFFERENT COMPANIES AROUND THE US) I WAS TOLD, BY SEVERAL COMPANIES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION. SOME SALES PEOPLE DID NOT EVEN NEED THE TRANSMISSION CODE, THEY KNEW AS SOON AS I TOLD THEM I HAD A VW TRANSMISSION FOR A GOLF. MANY TOLD ME THEY HAD SEVERAL THAT HAD HOLES IN THE CASE/CORE.I DID CALL VW TO INFORM THEM OF WHAT I HAD FOUND AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THEY WOULD EVEN CHARGE $750 FOR A CORE CHARGE WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A PTOBLEM WITH THE CORES ON THE MODEL. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, I WOULD THINK MAYBE VW SHOULD LOOK TO SEE IF IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN

DT: 1999 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF, FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING BECAUSE THE SUPPLY FITTING WAS CRACKED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, WHICH CAUSED A POOL OF FUEL TO FORM UNDER THE BACK SEAT. ALSO, FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER FOUND VARIOUS WEBSITES THAT THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN A RECALL 05V154000 CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER HAD FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LETTER FROM NHTSA TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, PEA-04-079. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECALL. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. FUMES WERE CAUSING THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGERS HEADACHES AND DRY EYES. VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL WHEN THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ON POSITION, WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OPENED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. D.PATRICK MOTOPLEX LOCATED ON 200 NORTH GREEN RIVER ROAD EVANSVILLE, IN, 47716, PH. NO. 812-473-6500, WAS THE DEALERSHIP WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CAR STARTED SMELLING STRONGLY OF GASOLINE ON THE INSIDE AS WELL AS ON THE OUTSIDE. A GASOLINE PUDDLE WAS FORMING UNDER THE CAR WHEN PARKED. CAR COULD NOT BE PARKED INSIDE ANY FURTHER. VW DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP (OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE). REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. *NM

RECALL 00V280000, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

FUEL PUMP LEAKED CAUSING AN EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS INSIDE OF THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 1999 VW GOLF HAS FAILED TWICE. I FEEL THIS IS BOTH A DEFECT AND HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED AND DUMPED FUEL OUT ONTO THE PAVEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS UNUSUAL, BUT WHEN I WAS IN THE SECOND TIME, I MET ANOTHER VW OWNER WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. VW CONTINUES TO DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE MATTER. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON 9-10-01 AT 26K MILES, THE SECOND ON 7-7-04 AT 52000 MILES. *AK

MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD MY DEALERSHIP ORDER A PART BACK IN AUGUST OF 2003 WHILE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY STILL COVERED IT THEY NEVER ORDERED IT AND NOW WANT ME TO PAY FOR THIS PART. I HAVE THE DOCUMENT SAYING THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART. PLUS MY CAR HAS HAD DEFECTIVE PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT 5 YEARS AGO. MY WINDOW WASHER BOTTLE DOESN'T HOLD FLUID EVEN AFTER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED.*AK

SMELL OF GAS HEAVY INSIDE THE CAR. SMELL EQUALLY AS BAD IF WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN. GRADUAL DECREASE IN THE MILES TO GALLON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL COMPONENT THAT SITS UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF BACK SEAT. HAPPENED AGAIN ONE YEAR AND 1 MONTH LATER. CAR THEN OUT OF WARRANTY. TOOK TO PRIVATE MECHANIC. FIXED PROBLEM AGAIN. TOLD BOTH TIMES IT WAS REPAIRED THAT A CIGARETTE ON THE ROAD WAY COULD HAVE CAUSE CAR TO EXPLODE DUE TO GAS SPEWING OUT OF CAR. ON THE COMPONENT THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED (IM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT NAME) THERE WAS A PLASTIC "NIPPLE" THAT COMES OUT OF COMPONENT AND A PLASTIC TUBE IS ATTACHED THERE. ""NIPPLE" HAD CRACKED ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF AND GAS WAS SPEWING OUT EVERY TIME I PRESSED ON THE GAS. CAR WAS DRIVEN NORMAL AND NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. PERHAPS DRY ROTTING OF PLASTIC?*AK

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE HOOD ON MY 1999 VW GOLF UNEXPECTEDLY OPENED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH A DEGREE OF IMPACT THAT DENTED THE HOOD IN SEVERAL PLACES AND THE HOOD WILL NO LONGER CLOSE. I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. THE CARS BEHIND ME SWERVED TO PREVENT HITTING ME. THE HOOD APPEARED TO BE SECURELY SHUT PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I RESEARCHED THE NHTSA RECALL HISTORY AND FOUND THAT IT INDICATES THAT VW ISSUED A RECALL OF 93-96 GOLF, GOLF GTI AND JETTA (98V-160) DUE TO THE BOLTS SECURING THE FRONT HOOD LATCH LOOSENING OVER TIME AND CAUSING DISENGAGEMENT OF HOOD STRIKER FROM LATCH AND POSSIBLE UNEXPECTED OPENING OF HOOD. WONDERING IF SOMETHING SIMILAR MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME I CALLED VW US AND MADE A COMPLAINT WITH DYLAN DUNBAR ON MAY 10TH 2004 AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS - A MALFUNCTION / DEFECT OR "SOMETHING I NEED TO SPEAK TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT". IT SEEMS LIKE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF VW TO HAVE VW TO DETERMINE IF THEY OR RESPONSIBLE OR NOT. *LA