2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.

Risk. If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.

WHILE DRIVING 2009 VW PASSAT WAGON ON I-495 SOUTH IN HAVERHILL, MA, AT AROUND 5 PM, SMOKE SUDDENLY BEGAN BILLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER SAFELY (NEAR EXIT 48/ MILE MARKER 105.6) AND EXIT THE CAR, WHICH WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN A MINUTE. NO PASSENGERS, NO INJURIES, NO OTHER CARS WERE DAMAGED. UP TO THIS POINT, THE CAR HAD BEEN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. NO OVERHEATING, NO LEAKING, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO OTHER INDICATION OF IMPENDING FIRE. MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE FROM THE ANDOVER BARRACKS RESPONDED (978-475-3800), AS DID THE HAVERHILL FIRE DEPARTMENT. CHARRED REMAINS OF THE CAR WERE TOWED TO TROMBLY BROTHERS, 141 SUTTON ST NORTH ANDOVER, MA 01845. OF NOTE: UPON ARRIVING HOME, THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE FROM VW IN THE POSTAL MAIL, NHTSA NUMBER 17V509, REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE.

2000 RPM AT IDLE WITH A/C ON. NORMAL WITH A/C OFF. SAME AS NHTSA 08V235000. VW SAID THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THAT RECALL. VEHICLE TRIES TO ACCELERATE BEYOND BRAKE CONTROL AT IDLE ONLY WITH A/C ON.

SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2017 I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY PASSAT STALLING, AND OR LOOSING POOWER WHEN I AM DRIVING, LAST SEPTEMBER 2017 I WAS TOLD THAT A RECALL (20AE) WAS COMING OUT THAT WAS RELATED TO MY FAILURES. AROUND OCTOBER 15, 2017 I FOUND OUT THAT THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGON GARAGE THAT PARTS FOR THE RECALL ARE NOT AVAILABLE. MY CASE# FROM VOLKSWAGON GROUP OF AMERICA IS #519607. AT ONE POINT I WAS TOLD BY VOLKSWAGON GROUP OF AMERICA THAT I SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH MY LOCAL DEALER (VOLKSWAGEN OF MARIETTA) AND HAVE IT EXPECTED. ON FEBRUARY 27, 2018 (CASE NUMBER 180145272) I CALLED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLAINT WOULD AGAIN BE REGISTERED. I WILL NOW BE UP TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO LOOK AT HIS CASE LOAD AND RESPOND. I DO NOT RECALL HIM EVER RESPONDING TO ME. THE LOCAL DEALER AT THAT TIME SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ONLY IF THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND THE FOUND WAS FOUND. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY DETECTABLE IF THE PROBLEM OCCURED WHE THEY WERE TESTING THE CAR. IF THEY DID NOT DETECT THE FAILURE I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION. IT IS THEREFORE OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A NON-STARTER AND I WILL HAVE TOPAY FOR AN INSPECTION AND NEVER GET A REPAIR FOR MY PROBLEM UNLESS I PAY CLOSE TO $2,000. I AM A MARRIED SENIOR CITIZEN (80 YEARS OLD) , ADISABLED VETERAN AND WIFE WHO IS 77 YEARS OLD AND WE RELY ON THIS CAR. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND OTHER LIES BY VW THE VALUE OF MY CAR IS LESS THAN WHAT I O

FUEL PUMP CAUSED CUTTING OFF , DELAYED STARTING WHICH LED TO THE CAR BEING INOPERABLE.

CAR STOPPED ON A HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION. WENT TO THE VW DEALER. THEY FOUND "FAULTS FOR FUEL MODULE, AND FUEL PUMP UNIT." THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED FUEL PUMP AND TUBE BUT DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS A RECALLED ITEM/PART. I PAID THE FULL AMOUNT OUT OF MY POCKET: $988.57

THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP BUT DIDN'T "RELOCATE" IT IN THE VEHICLE AS SUGGESTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. I PAID $988. MY QUESTION IS: WHO SHOULD PAY THE "REMEDY" COST?