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Electrical System
05/05/2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE ERUPTED SPONTANEOUSLY INSIDE THE DASHBOARD WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE WIRES TO MELT AND THE WINDSHIELD TO FRACTURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA WHERE THE IGNITION WAS LOCATED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 6/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF THE IGNITION AND LOCKING COMPONENTS WERE SERVICE, REPLACED AND REMOVED 15 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION.
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Electrical System, visibility
07/21/2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OR HEADLIGHTS, THEY FAILED TO TURN ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
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Visibility
06/07/2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING BEGAN TO BLOW HOT AIR. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED WATER LEAKING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE. HE BELIEVES THAT THE HEATER CORE MAY HAVE FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 157,000.
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Engine And Engine Cooling
11/06/2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE GARAGE AND THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES. THE ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED AT 42,000 MILES AND THE TURBO CHARGE IS CURRENTLY FAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIRS COST MORE THAN THE ACTUAL PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE TURBO CHARGE. THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $1,000. THE VIN WAS VERIFIED, BUT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 03/18/08. *LJ UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR
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Visibility
08/05/2007
ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 5TH, 2007, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT, DENSE, NOXIOUS 'STEAM'/SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF ALL VENTS AND AROUND THE DASH AREA IN MY WELL-MAINTAINED VOLKSWAGEN. HOT COOLANT ALSO LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY PASSAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NOTE THAT THIS OCCURRED WHILE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) WAS ON & CONTINUED TO POUR OUT OF VENTS WITHOUT A/C ON. MY 'LOW COOLANT' INDICATOR LIGHT (RED LED IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ALSO BEGAN FLASHING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR (AND MY SON) HOME WITHOUT OVERHEATING AFTER STOPPING ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY WASHINGTON DC THOROUGHFARE (WISCONSIN AVENUE), OPENING THE FOGGED-UP WINDOWS, CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND REFILLING THE COOLANT RESERVOIR/'OVERFLOW' TANK WITH ANTIFREEZE PURCHASED NEARBY. SINCE THE 'STEAM' SMELLED LIKE COOLANT/ANTIFREEZE, I IMMEDIATELY SUSPECTED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAILURE OF MY CAR'S HEATER CORE. I SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED THIS DIAGNOSIS AFT...
