2003 Volkswagen Passat Airbags Problems

THIS CAR ONLY HAS 65000 ORIGINAL ONE OWNER MILES AND HAS EXPERIENCED ALL & MORE OF THE CURRENT RECALLS WITH SAME MODEL YR, VW LOCAL DEALERSHIPS (2) REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEMS (ONE EVEN TRIED TO DOUBLE CHARGE ME FOR BOSCH ABS PART LAST YEAR BEFORE THE RECALL TO FIX) AND NUMEROUS EMAILS TO VW HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. MOST RECENT ISSUES IN LAST 1.5YRS HAVE BEEN FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND I PAID TO REPLACE (DEALER SCAMMED US BY THROWING OUT DEAD BRAND NEW AAA STAMPED AND WARRANTED BATTERY, THEY SD WE NEEDED NEW ONE AND OLD ONE ALREADY PICKED UP FROM DEALER TO EXPOSE OF, CHARGED $200 FOR THAT AS WELL. I PAID FOR THE ABS LIGHT REPAIR WHICH I HAVE PAID AND DIAGNOSED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR LAST 10YRS TO FIX AND FINALLY JUST PAID THE OVER $1000. TO GET IT FIXED FOR SAFETY REASONS. 9 MONTHS AGO REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON RANDOMLY WHEN PARKED AND LOCKED KILLING THE BATTERY. I WOULD DRIVE IT TO CHARGE IT UP BUT SINCE IT IS A CAR WE DON'T DRIVE OFTEN OR FAR, IT CONTINUED TO DO THE SAME FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL IT DAWNED ON ME THAT THE SEAT WARMER ON THOSE CARS COULD LEAVE AN OPEN CURRENT, TURNED THAT OFF, GOOD FOR A FEW WEEKS, THEN FOUND OUT SAME FOR THE TRUNK LIGHT, UNPLUGGED AND CAPPED THAT AND IT IS FAR BETTER, BUT SOMETHING STILL. AFTER READING ONLINE VW PASSAT FORUMS AND RECALLS I KNOW 2 DEALERSHIPS SD THEY PERFORMED THE BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR RECALL, BUT WAS IT TRULY DONE AND CAUSING THE ISSUE...ANSWER IS NO, VW DEALERS 2X AFTER CHECKING AND BILLING VW FOR THE REPAIR FALSIFIED DOING THE RECALL. I KNOW BECAUSE I CHECKED IT AND THE PART IS ORIGINAL FROM 2002 STAMPED ON IT AND I REPLACED IT AND HAVE IT ALONG WITH MOST ALL OTHER RECEIPTS FROM 2003 TO TODAY. FEB 11, 2019 I OPENED A CASE AND SUPPOSED FORMAL INVESTIGATION WITH VW CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE (VERY NICE PEOPLE), LIED LIKE THE REST OF THE COMPANY AND NEVER HEARD A WORD... +++18 VW AND AUDIS PERSONALLY, SINCE 1991...DONE!

TEENAGE SON LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS THEN INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE SIDE OF A FLATBED TRUCK. BUMPER, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES PUSHED UP INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NEITHER DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

WE WERE JUST LEAVING OUR FRIENDS HOUSE IT WAS APPROX. 6AM IN MORNING LITTLE COLD OUT SO I TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMERS WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE TOUCH TO WARM YOU UP ON THOSE COLD MORNINGS, ANYHOW ABOUT 4-5MINUTES AFTER SEAT WARMERS WERE TURNED ON PASSENGER SIDE WHERE I WAS SITTING GOT RATHER WARM AND THEN HOT AND THEN ACTUALLY START SMOKING AND FLAMES CAME OUT THERE WAS FIRE RIGHT UNDER MY BOTTOM. I FREAKED OUT JUMPED OUT OF SEAT ..I WAS YELLING FIRE FIRE FIRE YOU COULD SMELL PLASTIC BURNING AS IT WAS SMOKING AND BURNING.MY BOYFRIEND POURED WATER ON AND SMOTHERED OUT THE FIRE WITH HIS JACKET I'M A BIT LEARY OF THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL ITS SAFE. I HAD MY BOYFRIEND UNPLUG HARNESS UNDER SEAT AND NOW MY AIR BAG WARNING DEFAULT LIGHT AND BELL STAY ON. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND THAT VW PEOPLE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED THIS. I FEEL THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP.VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE.

ON SEPT 20 2013 MY WIFE SHOWED ME A SPRING THAT CAME FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT . IRONICALLY THE NEXT DAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WONT GO OFF . ABOUT A MONTH LATER A 2ND SPRING APPEARED IN THE FLOORBOARD .CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION . VW REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS . *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SEATBELTS DID NOT RETRACT ON IMPACT. AS A RESULT, HER HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK IN TO PLACE. UPDATED 04/22/11

1. FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACTING WITH SIDE OF PICK UP TRUCK MAKING ILL-TIMED LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME 2. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SIDE (WHERE NO ONE OR NOTHING WAS SEATED) DID DEPLOY. *TR 3. MY VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS

FOLLOWING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF MY VEHICLE, (TUNE-UP, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION HARNESSES) MY REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OFF. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FACTORY-AUTHORIZED VW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY LOW VOLTAGE TO THE AIRBAG UNIT, THAT THE BATTERY TESTED LOW AT 12.04 VOLTS AND THEY COULD NOT RESET THE CODE WITHOUT REPLACING THE BATTERY. I APPROVED NEW BATTERY PURCHASE, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE WARNING LIGHT GO OUT, DESPITE RECODING THE CONTROLLER . DEALER CLAIMED FURTHER TESTING REVEALED AIRBAG UNIT CONTROLLER HAD FAILED AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT PARTS COST OF $798.00. I DECLINED TO PAY THAT AMOUNT. IN REPLY TO MY QUESTION, SERVICE REP SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM THAT AIRBAG(S) WOULD DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. SINCE THEY I HAVE DRIVEN VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH, AND EACH TIME I START VEHICLE A WARNING SOUNDS, THE "AIRBAG FAILURE" NOTICE COMES UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE AIRBAG WARNING SIGNAL STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. I TELEPHONED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND THAT SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEARLY 6 YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD NEED TO ASSUME COST OF REPAIR/UNIT REPLACEMENT. I SAID I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SAFETY FAILURE WITH VEHICLE BECOMING OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS THROUGH NO FAULT OR MALPRACTICE OF THE OWNER (MYSELF) AND THAT VW SHOULD ASSUME COST OF REPAIRS. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND REPLY. SO FAR NO RESPONSE. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DISPLAY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. *TR

I HAVE AN AIR BAG FAILURE WHICH WILL PROHIBIT ME FROM PASSING THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE AIR BAG REPAIR IS OVER $1000. IS THERE A WAIVER OR A PROCESS TO DISPUTE THIS? ARE THERE RESOURCES TO HELP CONSUMERS IN THESE TYPE OF CASES? *TR

I HAVE A 2003 VW PASSAT. I'VE HAD TWO LEAKS INTO THE FRONT RIGHT FLOORBOARD IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS FROM EITHER A SUNROOF DRAIN LINE OR A AIR CONDITIONER. THE LEAKS HAVE PRODUCED SO MUCH WATER THAT IT HAS GONE TO RIGHT BACK FLOORBOARD. THE PLASTIC ON THE INTERIOR IS WORN OFF. THE ASHTRAY FELL APART. THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE ALIGNMENT RIGHT SO I KEEP GOING THROUGH TIRES AND THE TIRES I DO HAVE SOUND UNEVEN WHEN I ROTATE THEM, MAKING ME THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM. HOVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES IN 1 AND 1/2 YEARS. THERE'S A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO FIRES IN THE ENGINE AND A RECALL ON OIL SLUDGE. THIS CAR IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND IT'S VERY POORLY ENGINEERED. ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. VW HAS ON A BUNCH OF RECALLS ALREADY ON THIS MODEL, TO MANY FOR ME TO FEEL SAFE WITH. I'M ABANDONING THE CAR TODAY, TRADING IT IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE. WILL NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN. NO CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES. AND THE ISSUES CONTINUE TO ROLL IN. NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON...ANOTHER THING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT!!! *TR

AIRBAG FAULT - BAD MODULE - AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT - 2003 VW PASSAT. *JB

DRIVING A 2003 VW PASSAT GLX WAGON ON A ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LUCKILY, THIS SHOCKING INCIDENT DIDN'T CAUSE US TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT DID FILL THE CAR WITH SMOKE AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND GET OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP (KING VOLKSWAGEN, GAITHERSBURG, MD) AND THEY CHARGED ME $100 TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR PROBABLY HIT A CURB AT 35 MPH AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND I KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWED DOWN AT ALL, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE HITTING ANYTHING. BECAUSE THIS ROAD WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WE MAY HAVE BRUSHED A MAN HOLE COVER THAT WAS STICKING UP INTO THE ROAD, BUT NOT HARD ENOUGH TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN OR TO CAUSE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE. I LOOKED AT THE IMPACT POINT IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND IT IS JUST A SMALL DENT TO A METAL CUP. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS SMALL DENT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO BLOW. THE CAR DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY REPAIRS EXCEPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. I COMPLAINED TO VW CORPORATE AND THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO TAKE PICTURES AND READINGS FROM THE AIRBAG SENSOR. THEY SENT THAT INFORMATION TO VW CORPORATE AND CORPORATE CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THIS WAS CONSIDERED TO BE AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT. *NM

I WAS INVOLVED IN A AUTOMOBILE CRASH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN MY CAR AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. I WAS TRAVELING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT AND THE OTHER DRIVER RECEIVED A CITATION AND WAS AT FAULT. I WAS DRIVING A 2003 VW PASSAT. THE CAR HAD EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE MOSTLY TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL INSURANCE LOSS BY THE OTHER DRIVES INSURANCE COMPANY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT. SINCE THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS EXTENSIVE BOTH AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE CRASH, BUT IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED MY INJURIES MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *NM

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON, VIN NO. [XXX]; HILE DRIVING IN GREENSBORO NC NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ELM, MCGEE AND GORRELL STREETS I MISJUDGED A CURVE AND SCRAPED THE RIGHT SIDE WHEELS AGAINST A CURB. BOTH TIRES SUSTAINED SIDEWALL DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH THE BODY OR UNDERCARRAIGE OF THE CAR. THE TWO RIGHT SIDE WHEELS SUSTAINED MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGE ONLY AND THE IMPACT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO AFFECT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THE AUTOMOBILE CONTINUED FORWARD THROUGH THE CURVE AND THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL FROM THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, UPON CONTACT WITH THE CURB THE RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS FIRED UNNECESSARILY. BUT FOR THE FIRING OF THE AIRBAGS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MINOR EVENT WITH ONLY TIRE DAMAGE TO BE REPAIRED. FORTUNATELY, THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED OR THE OCCUPANT COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TIRES AND WHEELS. I BELIEVE THE AUTMOBILE CONTAINS A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT CAUSING THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO DEPLOY WHEN NOT NEEDED FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION (IE - IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY CONTACT WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR), AND IN CIRCUMSTANCES PART OF ORDINARY DRIVING - THE IMPACT WITH THE CURB WAS LESS THAN THAT EXPERIENCED WITH SOME POTHOLES. THUS FAR, VW HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTION OF THIS DEFECT.*AK THE AUTOMOBILE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIED, AND PRESUMABLY, EVENT DATA IS STILL STORED IN THE CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I HAVE A 2003 PASSAT SEDAN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE CAR SLID TO A STOP WHILE TURNING IN AN ICY PARKING LOT. THERE WAS A SLIGHT IMPACT AT ABOUT 5 MPH WHEN THE THE CAR HIT A SNOW COVERED CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK AT ABOUT THE JACK POINT NEAR THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE WHEEL. NOBODY WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR - EXCEPT TO THE INTERIOR AS A RESULT OF THE AIRBAGS BEING DEPLOYED. IT WILL COST $3600 TO RE-INSTALL THE TWO AIRBAGS AND A LOT OF OTHER PARTS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS FOR A 5 MPH IMPACT THAT CAUSED NO DAMAGE! I AM HOPING THIS WILL BE SEEN AS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG DEPOLYMENT AND COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. IF NOT, VW NEEDS TO IMPROVE THEIR AIRBAG ENGINEERING BEFORE I'D CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN. *AK

FOLLOWING IS NHTSA COMPLAINT: MAKE: VOLKSWAGEN MODEL: PASSAT YEAR : 2003 CRASH : NO FIRE : NO NUMBER OF INJURIES: 1 ODI ID NUMBER: 10023337 DATE OF FAILURE: JANUARY 18, 2003 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS DETAILS: THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD AIRBAG (AIR CURTAIN) OF A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W8 SEDAN DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. I SUFFERED A PERMANENT WRIST INJURY AND AM SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME. THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAPPENED DURING A TEST DRIVE, WAS REPORTED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR WHICH I WAS WORKING AND TO VW OF AMERICA BY THE MANAGEMENT. I SENT A DETAILED INCIDENT REPORT TO BOTH VWOA AND VWAG (GERMANY) CEO'S. A VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADMONISHED ME TO NOT MAKE A FUSS ABOUT THE INCIDENT, SAYING IT WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OCCURRENCE AND ADVISED ME THAT MY LETTER TO THE VWOA CEO HAD BEEN RECEIVED BUT THAT HE HAD NOT READ IT. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME IN A SPECIAL MEETING THAT HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY A VWOA MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAD MADE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE LACK OF FOLLOW-UP BY VW AND THE MEANS OF ALERTING VW OWNERS ABOUT THE INCIDENT I WAS CONSIDERING. I LEFT THE MEETING BELIEVING MY JOB AND FUTURE IN THE CAR BUSINESS, AT LEAST SELLING VW PRODUCTS, WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF I TOOK ANY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SUCH AS FILING THIS COMPLAINT. A PROMISE THAT I WOULD BE INFORMED BY VWOA OF THE REASON FOR THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY ANY VW REPRESENTATIVE IN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS. RECENTLY, I WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE INCIDENT. I AM FILING THIS REPORT BECAUSE I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT ANOTHER PERSON HAS EXPERIENCED THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG IN A VW CAR AND I?M CONFIDENT THAT WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS NOT A FREAK OCCURRENCE.

DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT-END COLLISION.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD AIRBAG (AIR CURTAIN) OF A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W8 SEDAN DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR...A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY...I SUFFERED A PERMANENT WRIST INJURY AND AM SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME...THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAPPENED DURING A TEST DRIVE, WAS REPORTED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR WHICH I WAS WORKING AND TO VW OF AMERICA BY THE MANAGEMENT...I SENT A DETAILED INCIDENT REPORT TO BOTH VW OF AMERICA AND VW AG (GERMANY) CEOS... A VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADMONISHED ME TO NOT MAKE A FUSS ABOUT THE INCIDENT, SAYING IT WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OCCURRENCE UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND ADVISED ME THAT MY LETTER TO THE VWOA CEO HAD BEEN RECEIVED BUT THAT HE HAD NOT READ IT... THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME IN A SPECIAL MEETING THAT HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY A VWOA MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAD MADE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE LACK OF FOLLOW-UP BY VW AND THE MEANS OF ALERTING VW OWNERS ABOUT THE INCIDENT I WAS CONSIDERING... I LEFT THE MEETING BELIEVING MY JOB AND FUTURE IN THE CAR BUSINESS, AT LEAST SELLING VW PRODUCTS, WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF I TOOK ANY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SUCH AS FILING THIS COMPLAINT. A PROMISE THAT I WOULD BE INFORMED BY VWOA OF THE REASON FOR THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY ANY VW REPRESENTATIVE IN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS... RECENTLY, I WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT, I CONSIDER, RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE INCIDENT... I AM FILING THIS REPORT BECAUSE I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT ANOTHER PERSON HAS, REPORTEDLY, EXPERIENCED THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG IN A VW CAR AND I AM NOW CONFIDENT THAT WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS NOT A FREAK OCCURRENCE. *NLM