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Volkswagen Jetta Service Brakes Safety Report | June 15, 2013
Reported on June 15, 2013
| WE WERE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON I-95 SOUTH IN VIRGINIA ON A FAMILY VACATION WITH A THREE YEAR OLD AND A 6 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE. TRAFFIC CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, SCREAMED THAT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD HER TO START PUMPING THE BRAKES AND DOWNSHIFT AND I GRABBED THE HAND BRAKE. AMAZINGLY, WE WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO AND LIMP OFF THE NEXT EXIT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER. AT THE LOCAL VW DEALER THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FRONT LEFT FLEXIBLE BRAKE LINE FAILURE DUE TO A MISSING HOSE ROUTING BRACKET ON THE STRUT TOWER. THE NON ROUTED HOSE ASSEMBLY AS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT RIM AND EVENTUALLY WORE THROUGH THE REINFORCEMENT. THE ABRUPT STOP WAS ENOUGH TO FINALLY BURST THE ASSEMBLY. THE SERVICE MANAGER BLAMED ME FOR THE OMISSION OF THE BRACKET AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY $495.71 FOR THE REPAIR. WE HAVE SINCE TAKEN THIS UP WITH VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY REIMBURSED US FOR THE REPAIRS. UPON COMPLAINING FURTHER THEY GAVE US A $1000.00 CUSTOMER LOYALTY CERTIFICATE FOR THE LEASE OR PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE WHICH HAS EXPIRED AND IS WORTHLESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW COULD THIS DEFECT OR OMISSION OF THE BRACKET HAVE GONE THROUGH A QUALITY INSPECTION AT THE FACTORY, A PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION, AND TWO SCHEDULED DEALER SERVICES WITHOUT CATCHING AN ISSUE LIKE THIS? | |
| Make: | Volkswagen |
| Model: | Jetta |
| Manufactured by: | Volkswagen of America, Inc. |
| Year: | 2012 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | 0 person(s) were injured. |
| Was a death reported? | 0 person(s) died. |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | STOW OH |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 3VWML7AJ3CM |
| Mileage: | 20676 miles. |
| Speed: | 65 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | |
| Vehicle type: | |
| Vehicle fuel: | |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
| Previous Report:Service Brakes | Next Report:Air Bags |