2002 Volkswagen Passat Fuel System Problems

To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this letter as a formal complaint regarding an authorized automobile dealer’s refusal to perform an open safety recall on my vehicle. Vehicle information: * Year/Make/Model: 2002 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T GLS * VIN: [XXX] I contacted Platinum Volkswagen, of Hicksville, New York, an authorized Volkswagen dealer, on January 7, 2026, to schedule a repair for an open safety recall applicable to my vehicle. I was advised by the service manager that the owner of the dealership refused to perform the recall repair solely based on the age of the vehicle. He advised me to request service at another authorized dealership. The service manager confirmed that the parts for the recall were available or could have been ordered and that the decision was based solely on the individual VW franchise owner's discretion not to service older vehicles. My understanding of federal motor vehicle safety law is that open safety recalls do not expire due to vehicle age, and that manufacturers and their authorized dealers are required to remedy such recalls at no cost to the owner. The dealer did not cite recall closure, lack of available parts, or any condition that would make the repair unsafe or infeasible. I am requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this matter and determine whether the dealer’s refusal is consistent with federal safety recall requirements. Please let me know if additional documentation or information is required. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was letting my car run for a couple of minutes for the AC to cool down the car and I went into my house. When I came out about 2 minutes later, there was a large puddle of gas under the car in front of the right rear wheel and gas was running down the driveway all the way to the street. I immediately turned off the car and the gas stopped pouring out from under the car. I was lucky the car, my house or I did not go up in flames.

FUEL LEAKING FROM FITTING ON TOP OF TANK NEAR FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT.

I PURCHASED A 2002 PASSAT W8 4-MOTION, HAVING ONLY 126,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, IN OCTOBER 2017 OFTEN AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, I WOULD NOTICE THE FAINT SCENT OF GASOLINE. UPON INVESTIGATING WHERE THE GASOLINE SMELL WAS ORIGINATING, I FOUND IT HAD DEVELOPED A VERY LARGE FUEL LEAK FROM WHICH FUEL COULD BE SEEN DRIPPING ON THE FORWARD, LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. AFTER PERFORMING SOME BRIEF RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PASSAT 4-MOTIONS, DATED APRIL 2008, IN REGARDS TO A VENTILATION VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK. I PROMPTLY MADE A APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL VW DEALER FOR DEC 4TH. ON DECEMBER 6, 2017, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ASKING JAY, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VW DEALERSHIP, IF THEY FOUND THE VENT VALVE TO BE LEAKING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVE WAS IN FACT LEAKING AT THE BONDED VALVE POINT. AFTER HEARING NOTHING THE NEXT TWO DAYS, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM VW STATING THAT THEY FOUND THE UNDER-BODY DAMAGE TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. I REQUESTED TO SEE THE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE SO THAT I COULD EXAMINE THEM MYSELF. ON DECEMBER 11, 2017, I RECEIVED THE PICTURES FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOWING THE HEAT SHIELDS SURROUNDING THE TANK TO HAVE SOME BRUSH MARKS AND TO BE DISFIGURED A BIT. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE IN THE EARLY 2000'S, AND THE VEHICLE IS NOW 15 YEARS OLD WITH 127,000 MILES ON IT AND THE RECALL HAD BEEN COMPLETED. THIS "DAMAGE" WOULD NOT LEAD TO A FUEL TANK LEAK AS THE FUEL TANK ITSELF WAS NOT DAMAGED. VERY UPSET, I WROTE TO THE REGIONAL CASE MANAGER ON DEC 11, 2017 WITH MY THOUGHTS ON THE DAMAGE AND TO GET MORE DETAILS ON THE CASE. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE.

FUEL LEAK AFTER FILLING GAS TANK. LEAK ON DRIVER SIDE UNDER REAR DOOR. STOPS AFTER GAGE IS BELOW 3/4 FULL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FUEL LEAK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LEAK ORIGINATED NEAR THE REAR OF THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE VEHICLE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

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

REPORT RECEIPT DATE: APR 07, 2008 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V156000 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE WHEN FUEL TANK IS MORE THAN 3/4 FUEL A FUEL SMELL APPEARS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A PRIOR RECALL WAS DONE FOR A HEAT SHIELD, FUEL LINE AND 4MOTION FUEL TANK VENT VALVE FOR INSPECTION AND REPLACE AS NEEDED. THESE SEEM TO FAIL AGAIN. MOST DEALERS MARK RECALL AS PERFORMED WITHOUT A LEAK AND WHEN THE LEAK ACTUALLY OCCURS THEY TRY TO DENY THE ISSUE AS PERFORMED ALREADY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SO THAT OWNERS OF LOWER MILEAGE VEHICLES ( UNDER 150000) CAN GET THE REPAIR FIXED UNDER A RECALL THAT HAS BEEN ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR.

WHEN FUEL TANK HAS APPROXIMATELY 8 GALLONS OR MORE, FUEL POURS OUT FROM UNDER THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE ABOUT TWO FEET FROM THE OUTER KICK PANEL. NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL AND VWOA SAID THAT MY VIN DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL DESPITE MY EXPLAINING THAT THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. THIS WAS AT 118K MILES AND IT HAPPENED TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER ARROUND 80K.

THE FUEL IS LEAKING WHEN THE TANK IS FULL, HAPPENED THE TWO LAST TIME I FILL THE TANK, WHEN THE TANK IS HALF NOT LEAK. *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 WARNING LEAVING THE CAR POWERLESS IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY I IMAGINE. *TR

FIRST TIME I FILLED TANK FUEL FULL WITH FUEL AND FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK. I SEND THE CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER ND THEY FOUND A CRACK ON WELDED PART OF THE TANK, WHERE TWO PARTS OF THE FUEL TANK ARE WELD TOGETHER. IF FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN 3/4 IT DOES NOT LEAK BUT IF IT IS FULL LEAK. I CALL VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY TOLD ME THAN THE CAR IS TWO OLD AND WITH TOO MUCH OF THE MILES TO BE COVERT FROM ANY RECALL SO THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR FUEL TANK REPLACMENT AND THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THE SAFETY OF ANY CAR ABOVE 100,000 MILES ARE OLDER THAN 10 YEARS. I PAYED $2154 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK . DEALER GAVE TO ME THE CRACKED TANK, I ASKED FOR IT, AND I HAVE IT I MY GARAGE. *TR

THERE IS A DANGEROUS GAS LEAK FROM THE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FUEL TANK THAT IS NOT DAMAGED BY THE ROAD, OR OTHER DEBRIS. THE RECALL NEEDS TO STAY OPEN. *TR

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

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 DID NOT SPECIFY THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVES WERE INSPECTED. THE WORK ORDERED SPECIFIED INSTALLING THE HEATSHIELDS ONLY. VW DEALER WILL NOT COVER COSTS OF CHECKING THE VENTILATION VALVE GIVEN THEY SAID THE RECALL WORK WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. WHO HOLDS DEALER ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROPERLY COMPLETING RECALL INSPECTION /MAINTENANCE? *TR

AFTER FILLING MY VEHICLES GAS TANK AND I WAS SMELLING A POTENT GAS ODOR AND IT WENT AWAY AFTER A FEW MILES. WHEN ARRIVED AT MY HOTEL AS I WAS AWAY ON BUSINESS, I PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WOKE UP THERE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER THE REAR OF MY CAR. I CAN NO LONGER FILL THE TANK MORE THAN HALF WAY OR THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENS. I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED WITH NO OUT OF POCKET COSTS TO ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL SPILLED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 07/10/13*LJ UPDATED 07/11/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FUEL LEAK ON THE FILLER NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V026000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP); HOWEVER AT TIME OF INSPECTION, THERE WAS NO FUEL LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR THE RECALL HAD PASSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

I BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2002 FROM A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE CAME WITH NO WARRANTY. THE DAY I GOT THE VEHICLE I FILLED THE CAR WITH FULL TANK OF GASOLINE. I PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT AND NEXT DAY WHEN I CHECKED THERE WAS GAS LEAKING FROM THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED LIKE FOR 4 DAYS AND WHEN THE FUEL IN THE CAR REDUCED TO HALF OF THE FUEL TANK CAPACITY IT STOPPED. I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF LEAK WHICH STOPPED BY ITSELF. BUT NEXT TIME WHEN I DID A FULL TANK RE FILL AGAIN THE GASOLINE STARTED LEAKING. EVEN THIS TIME IT STOPPED AFTER THE FUEL IN THE CAR REDUCED TO HALF THE TANK LEVEL. I CALLED UP VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE TO GET THIS FUEL TANK REPLACED AS PER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE08008. THEY TOLD THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED IN JUNE 2011. ITS JUST A YEAR AND AGAIN IT IS HAPPENING THE SAME. THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME THE INFORMATION WERE IT WAS REPLACED AND TOLD IT HAS CROSSED 1 YEAR OF WARRANTY PERIOD AND THEY CANT HELP. BUT HERE IT JUST 11 DAYS FROM JUNE 2011 AND THE FUEL TANK WAS SPOIL YET AGAIN. I REQUEST YOU TO TAKE THIS APPEAL OF MINE AND GET THIS FUEL TANK REPLACED FOR ME. THIS IS A MATTER OF SAFETY. IF IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE I WOULDN'T HAVE WORRIED BUT HERE THIS IS FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK. SMALL BURST OF FIRE OR SPARK INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. EVEN THE LEAKING FUEL MITE GET IGNITED WHILE THE CAR IS TRAVELING FOR A LONGER PERIOD IN SUMMER DUE TO HEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A LEAK NEAR THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WAS REPAIRED BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.