2002 Volkswagen Passat fuel system, gasoline problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENTILATION VALVE WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. ALSO, THE TANK ONLY LEAKED WHEN IT WAS MORE THAN HALF FULL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ *TR”

“I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO INCIDENT TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED . I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY . I DROVE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT . I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM NO ENGINE CODES WHERE PRESENT . I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND THIS SAME SCENARIO PLAYED OUT AGAIN I WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR ANY FURTHER AT THIS POINT BECAUSE AGAIN I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND AGAIN ALSO GOT REAR ENDED . HAD IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND THEY TO WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ENGINE CODES OR PROBLEMS . I HAD MY BOYFRIEND DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND IT STALLED ON HIM AT A RED LIGHT . CAR WOULDN'T RESTART SO HE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD . WHEN THE CAR COOLED DOWN FOR 2 HOURS IT RESTARTED AND DROVE FINE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODES PRESENT .. AFTER A MONTH OF HEADACHES WITH THE CAR WE DISCOVERS IT WAS A FAULTY ENGINE SPEED SENSOR THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PART TO FAIL WITHOUT…”

“SINCE EARLY 2009, THERE HAS BEEN AN EVAP SYSTEM PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 VW PASSAT 4MOTION. THIS HAS CAUSED ME ENDLESS HASSLE AND SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS. AFTER 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, A DEALER FINALLY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IN 2011 AS A FUEL VAPOR LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK. NO MENTION WAS MADE OF THE 2008 RECALL (VWOA #25E5/R6, NHTSA #08V156000) COVERING SUCH FUEL LEAKS. AFTER (RE-)DISCOVERING THE RECALL NOTICE IN 2013, I CONTACTED BOTH VW AND TWO SEPARATE DEALERS; ALL INDICATED THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN 2008 UNDER THE RECALL (THOUGH ONLY THE UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD WAS REPLACED; THE GAS TANK AND RELATED PARTS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN "INSPECTED" BUT THE DEALERSHIP NO LONGER HAS THOSE RECORDS NOR DOES VW HAVE THOSE DETAILS), VW WOULD NOT COVER THE FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED VW AGAIN, WHO HAVE AGREED TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER BUT REQUIRE ME TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE RE-DIAGNOSED. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER (A LEAK AT THE GAS TANK COULD START A FIRE), IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT VW'S RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE MATTER SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO MERELY "INSPECTING" THE AFFECTED PARTS ONCE WITH NO OVERSIGHT OR…”

“I RECENTLY HAD WORK DONE ON MY VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #08V156000, WHICH REQUIRED INSPECTION, AND THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL HEAT SHIELDS NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER THE CAMPAIGN IN 2008. RECENTLY, THE FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING GASOLINE, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE HEAT SHIELDS THAT WERE INSTALLED HAD EITHER FAILED, OR THAT THE HEAT SHIELDS WERE INADEQUATE TO PREVENT EVENTUAL DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK. I BELIEVE THAT THE FUEL TANKS FOR THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE INSPECTED AGAIN IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER REPAIR TO THE FUEL TANKS IS REQUIRED AND TO PREVENT VEHICLE FIRE, INJURY, AND LOSS OF LIFE. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $136.49 IN ADDITIONAL LABOR FOR THE REMOVAL OF AFTERMARKET PARTS, EVEN THOUGH THE CAMPAIGN CLEARLY STATES THAT DEALERS WILL "REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE." NEITHER VW CUSTOMER SERVICE, NOR THE DEALERSHIP WOULD AGREE TO PERFORM THE WORK FULLY FREE OF CHARGE. I BELIEVE THAT THE CHARGE FOR ADDITIONAL LABOR IS IN VIOLATION OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN AND REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING REIMBURSEMENT. *TR”

“WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE A GAS LEAK / SMELL REPAIRED BY 3 DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS OVER 5 YEARS. WE FIRST APPROACHED THE DEALER IN 2008 WHEN RECEIVING NOTICE OF A RECALL. THE RECALL WAS THE "UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD/FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS (#08V156000). TODAY, 10/17/2013 WE FINALLY HAVE A DEALER STATING THAT THERE IS A FUEL LEAK EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET VW TO BELIEVE US FOR 5 YEARS. THE OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GASOLINE PERMEATES OUR ENTIRE HOUSE AFTER A FILL UP AND IMMEDIATELY PARK THE VEHICLE IN OUR GARAGE. *TR”

“CONCERNING VOLKSWAGEN RECALL 08V156000. SUMMARY: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS MAY HAVE A FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE. CONSEQUENCE: A HEAT SHIELD THAT MAY CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. IN ADDITION, A FUEL LEAK FROM A FUEL LINE OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO COVER THE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AREAS. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE ON 4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2008. FAST FWD TO 2013. OUR GAS TANK IS NOW LEAKING OUT AND THERE'S EVERY INDICATION IT'S A VENTILATION VALVE. THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETE ON THIS CAR IN 2008, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER SERVICE ORDER…”