2005 Volkswagen Passat Body & Structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/24/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ARRIVING TO HIS RESIDENCE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE GRILL OF THE VEHICLE WAS MISSING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SENT HIM A REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT GRILL AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE GRILL FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GRILL STAYING ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

IN 2007 I HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDER MY VEHICLE. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE AND AT TIMES DRAGGING THE GROUND. I WAS ADVISED BY A CO-WORKER THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE UNDER COVER AND TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ON OCTOBER 27TH 2007 I TOOK MY CAR TO DARCARS VOLKSWAGEN. I WAS ADVISED THE UNDERSHIELD WAS DAMAGED AND I AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO REPLACE IT. I CONTACTED VOLKWAGEN OF AMERICA BY PHONE IN NOVEMBER 2008 FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIR COSTS FOR A DEFECTIVE UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS THAT I PAID IN OCTOBER 2007 PRIOR TO THE SAFETY RECALL #26E5/R5 ISSUED IN JUNE 2008. I WAS TOLD THE SAME DAY THAT MY REPAIRS WERE NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. RECENTLY, AFTER I OBTAINED LOST RECEIPTS FROM VOLKSWAGEN AND EXAMINED THEM AGAINST ALL RECALLS--IN HINDSIGHT SOMETHING DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME. I JUST COULDN'T FATHOM THAT THE REPAIR AND THE RECALL WERE NOT THE SAME ISSUE. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN ABOUT THIS RECALL AND WAS TOLD 1) THERE HAD BEEN AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION ON MY INITIAL CLAIM 2) THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH THE MECHANIC THAT SERVICED MY VEHICLE 3) THAT BECAUSE I REQUESTED THE HEAT SHIELD TO BE REPLACED THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. I DISPUTE THAT THERE WAS ANY INVESTIGATION ON MY CLAIM; THAT ANYONE SPOKE WITH THE MECHANIC WHO SERVICED MY VEHICLE; AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THAT SINCE I AUTHORIZED REPLACEMENT THAT I AM LIABLE FOR THE ASSOCIATED COST OF THE DAMAGED HEAT SHIELD. IT IS MY POSITION THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY FOR REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH DECEPTION AND THAT THEY ATTEMPTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF AUTOMOTIVE SPECIFICS. I BID YOUR INTERVENTION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

HEAT SHIELD IS HELD BY PLASTIC SCREWS WHICH EASILY BECOME DAMAGED, FALL OFF, OR ARE NOT REPLACED AFTER SERVICE. HEAT SHIELD WHICH PROTECTS THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE ENGINE FROM ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS, CAME OFF ON THE INTERSTATE. THE FRONT OF IT WAS SCRAPING THE PAVEMENT. I HAD PART REPLACED FOR $287.82. NOW VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PART, BUT ONLY FOR THE GASOLINE VERSION. SINCE I OWN A TDI, I AM OUT OF LUCK. IT IS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR MOLDING HAS WARPED TWICE NOW AND FIRST REPLACEMENT DONE MONTHS AFTER LEASE INCEPTION, HAVING BEEN TOLD IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY BY POTAMKIN VW IN MANHATTAN, NY. CALLED VW AND POTAMKIN ABOUT SECOND WARPING ON REPLACED MOLDING, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I MUST HAVE HIT IT AND THAT I PULLED IT OFF (WHICH I DID TO KEEP IT FROM FURTHER SCRATCHING THE FRONT DOOR)...JUST READ ZILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CAR, SOME CITING THAT IT COULD BE DOOR'S ALIGNMENT AND OTHERS THAT IT COULD BE MOLDING ALIGNMENT...DON'T KNOW, BUT NEITHER DEALER NOR VW CUSTOMER SERVICE COOPERATING. *JB