1990 Volkswagen Passat

HI I PURCHASED A 1990 VW PASSAT THE VIN # IS [XXX] .... THE HEATER CORE BLEW ON THIS VEHICLE, I BY PASSED THE HOSES 2 STOP THE HEATER CORE FROM LEAKING, IT SMELLED LIKE SYRUP AND VISIBILITY WAS BAD IF I HAD TO USE THE WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER , I HAVE RECENTLY HEARD OF THIS RECALL AND CHECKED YOUR SITE AND SAW THAT THIS RECALL I HEARD ABOUT WAS TRUE. SO NEXT I WENT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER(JACK DANIELS, LOCATED IN FAIR LAWN NJ). I GAVE HIM THE VIN # AND HE SAID THERE WEREN'T ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DO NEXT SO IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT THANKS. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WIFE WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HEATER CORE BURST, FILLING INTERIOR OF CAR WITH HOT COOLANT AND STEAM. HER VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE STEAM ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND HE HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC. MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, HAD SOME COOLANT SPILL ONTO HER SHOE. VOA HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS EXACT PART BEFORE ON OTHER SERIAL NUMBER RANGES AND OTHER MODELS, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY CLAIMED MY VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF RECALL CRITERIA, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME EXACT PART SUFFERED THE SAME EXACT FAILURE.*AK

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB

RECALL 96 V 115 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING IN WHICH COOLANT / STEAM WAS COMING INTO VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK HEATING CORE FAILED AND LEAKED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM REPAIR WHILE THE SAME FAILURES AS IN THE RECALL OCCURED. *YH

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (03/11/00 AND 07/03/00) I WAS TRAVELLING AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH AND HEARD A SUDDEN SNAP COMING FROM ONE OF MY TIRES. HOWEVER, THE SOUND WAS VERY MUCH LIKE THE SOUND WHEN SOMETHING GETS CAUGHT UNDERNEATH THE CAR MOMENTARILY WHILE PASSING OVER IT. THE FIRST OCCASION INVOLVED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, THE SECOND INVOLVED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ON EACH OCCASION I FOUND THE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE, LEAVING THE STEEL BELT UNDERNEATH TOTALLY EXPOSED. BOTH INCIDENTS INVOLVED THE SAME MODEL OF FIRESTONE TIRE, THE FIREHAWK SS10. THE AFFECTED TIRES REMAINED COMPLETELY INFLATED, SO HAD I NOT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER THE INITIAL SNAP, I WOULDN'T HAVE NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I FEAR THAT IF I HAD NOT PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, I MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE REST OF THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, PERHAPS ONLY A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD. I NOW HAVE 3 NEW BRIDESTONE TIRES ON MY CAR AND FEAR FOR MY SAFETY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/60R14 )