NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
28 reportsClear category filter81,000 miles · Sep 14, 2010
Electrical SystemFire
FIRE IN RUBBER BOOT HOUSING BETWEEN LEFT REAR DOOR AND CAR FRAME. PRECEDING EVENTS, LEFT REAR DOOR SPEAKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, LEFT REAR WINDOW FUNCTIONED SOMETIMES. DOOR WAS CLOSED AFTER RETURNING HOME AND PARKING GARAGE. ARCING WAS HEARD AND SMOKE CAME FROM DOOR. OWNER REMOVED MANY FUSES FROM DRIVERS SIDE FUSE PANEL AND TH…
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FIRE IN RUBBER BOOT HOUSING BETWEEN LEFT REAR DOOR AND CAR FRAME. PRECEDING EVENTS, LEFT REAR DOOR SPEAKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, LEFT REAR WINDOW FUNCTIONED SOMETIMES. DOOR WAS CLOSED AFTER RETURNING HOME AND PARKING GARAGE. ARCING WAS HEARD AND SMOKE CAME FROM DOOR. OWNER REMOVED MANY FUSES FROM DRIVERS SIDE FUSE PANEL AND THEN REMOVED CONNECTIONS TO MAIN BATTERY. DOOR PANEL COVER WAS REMOVED AND BOOT REMOVED TO FIND HOUSING ON 5 OF THE 8 WIRES BURNT AND MOST OF THE WIRE BURNT THROUGH THE WIRE. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10355489
68,000 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Electrical SystemParking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON,FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKING THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TACHOMETER GOES TO 0 AND STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM ACCELERATING. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE IT CAN BE RESEARCHED ON HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&TSTART=0. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255101
94,400 miles · Sep 5, 2007
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
MY ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING> UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON SEVERAL VARIOUS FORUMS ON THE NET. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMONLY DEFECTIVE PART ON SEVERAL MODEL YEARS FROM 98-01. THE OLDEST POSTING I FOUND WAS DONE IN 2000 AND THE VEHICLE WAS A 99. FROM RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS EVEN VW DEAL…
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MY ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING> UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON SEVERAL VARIOUS FORUMS ON THE NET. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMONLY DEFECTIVE PART ON SEVERAL MODEL YEARS FROM 98-01. THE OLDEST POSTING I FOUND WAS DONE IN 2000 AND THE VEHICLE WAS A 99. FROM RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS EVEN VW DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO GET CORRECT PROBLEM CODES ON THIS ISSUE. I SAW POSTINGS FROM MANY OWNERS STATING THEY WERE TOLD EVERYTHING FROM ABS MODULES NEEDING REPLACED TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS TO WIRING ISSUES. IT APPEARS NO ONE IS ABSOLUTELY SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS AS SOME OWNERS AFTER THE DEALER RECOMMEND REPLACEMENTS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IN THE SHORT TIME I LOOKED INTO THIS I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO RESOLVE IT. I SAW LITERALLY YEARS WORTH OF POSTINGS A ON THIS ISSUE ON BENTLEY PUBLISHERS WEBSITE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT DID NOT DO ANY RESEARCH ON IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10201992
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2007
Electrical SystemFire
OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, PARKED IT, AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATER AND ALSO NOTICED THE HOOD LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. FIRE BURNED THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PART OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. CAUSE UNDETERMINED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10178188
68,000 miles · Jul 22, 2005
Electrical System
1) ON EARLY MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WITH THE 4CYL. 1.8 LITRE TURBO MOTORS, THE IGNITION CONTROL UNIT WILL FAIL WITH NO WARNINGS AT ALL. 2)THE CAR DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY. THE OWNER IS LEFT WITH CONSTANT MISFIRING, AND IF DRIVEN CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS EMISSION TROUBLES DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE THE FAILURE IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND SHOW…
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1) ON EARLY MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WITH THE 4CYL. 1.8 LITRE TURBO MOTORS, THE IGNITION CONTROL UNIT WILL FAIL WITH NO WARNINGS AT ALL. 2)THE CAR DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY. THE OWNER IS LEFT WITH CONSTANT MISFIRING, AND IF DRIVEN CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS EMISSION TROUBLES DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE THE FAILURE IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM, THIS CAN AND USUALLY WILL LEAVE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS STRANDED. 3)THE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED OR THE CAR WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY. I PURCHASED A UNIT OF THE BRAND HUCO, BECAUSE THE OEM UNIT (BOSCH) LISTS FOR NEARLY $400.
NHTSA ODI #10129661
83,730 miles · Jun 17, 2005
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Air
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY LIGHT UP AND SOUND AN EMERGENCY. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO GARAGES, AND NEITHER PLACE CAN DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES I CANI FEEL MY ABS SYSTEM LOCK UP IF I AM TURNING (NOT IN ANY WET CONDITIONS); AND IN THOSE OCCASIONS, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO CARS HAD BEEN COMING TOWARD ME B/C I WAS UNA…
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ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY LIGHT UP AND SOUND AN EMERGENCY. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO GARAGES, AND NEITHER PLACE CAN DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES I CANI FEEL MY ABS SYSTEM LOCK UP IF I AM TURNING (NOT IN ANY WET CONDITIONS); AND IN THOSE OCCASIONS, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO CARS HAD BEEN COMING TOWARD ME B/C I WAS UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. NEITHER MECHANIC SAW ANY FAULT IN MY BRAKES, BRAKE PADS, SHOES, ETC., SO THERE IS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL TO BLAME; AND THIS IS A COMPLAINT HEARD OFTEN WITH 1998-1999 VW PASSATS. EITHER WAY, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, ONLY 300.00 IN DIAGNOSTICS.
NHTSA ODI #10125701
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
DAILY DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH AUDIBLE WARNING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS CONTINUOUSLY. ROOT PROBLEM IS THE ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS MUCH WEB RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONDUCTED THROUGH ONLINE PASSAT FORUMS.
NHTSA ODI #10120178
99,000 miles · Jun 25, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO, VEHICLE LOST POWER. SIMULTANEOUSLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS APPARENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10079971
96,000 miles · Jun 16, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
OIL PUMP FAILURE, FAULTY CD PLAYER, INOPERATIVE CRUISE CONTROL, IGNITION MODULE. MANY FAILURES FOR SUCH A NEW CAR. WARRANTY IS GOOD FOR 10 YEARS 100,000 MILES FOR ORIGINAL OWNER, 5 YORK 50,000 FOR SECOND. CAR WAS PLACED IN SERVICE 2/19/98 WE THERE FORE MISSED THE 5 YEAR COVERAGE BY 4 MONTHS. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023153
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed ControlFire
WHILE DRIVING SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY AND CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLES, MISFIRED, AND IDLE FLUCTUATED FROM LOW TO HIGH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10014539
NHTSA investigations
6EA04017 · STUCK-OPEN Throttle
Opened Jun 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 10, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
VWOA HAS RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 28,300 MY 1998-99 A6 VEHICLES IN COLD WEATHER STATES THAT EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST RATE OF THROTTLE ICING INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (04V-495).THE FAILURE RATE IN THE A4 AND PASSAT VEHICLES IS MUCH LOWER THAN IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE EXPERIENCE IN THE A4 AND PASSAT VEHICLES.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS FOR THE AUDI A4 OR VW PASSAT VEHICLES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
EA03020 · Passenger Air Bag Lid Failure
Opened Oct 7, 2003 · Closed Apr 23, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal
THIS INVESTIGATION INVOLVES THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) LID UTILIZED IN MY 1998-2002 VW PASSAT.THE PSIR LID MAY DETACH FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) OPENED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON MAY 23, 2003 TO DETERMINE WHETHER ALLEGED PSIR LID DETACHMENT PRESENTS AN UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK TO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE.ODI?S INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY OCCUR FOR TWO REASONS: 1) THE SHAPE OF THE PSIR LID, AND THE LENGTH OF THE ATTACHING TETHER, MAY SNAG THE AIR BAG DURING DEPLOYMENT APPLYING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE LID TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP); AND/OR 2) THE ORIGINAL PSIR LID DESIGN (SUBJECT VEHICLES) UTILIZED SIX GRADE 4.8 MM CARBON STEEL TACK WELD BOLTS WHICH MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS THE NEW DESIGN PSIR LID CONSISTING OF SIX GRADE 8.8 MM CARBON STEEL PRESS BOLTS THAT ARE HEAT TREATED.ODI CONCLUDES THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID IS A DEFECT BECAUSE THE LID SHOULD REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE IP AFTER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.HOWEVER, AFTER ANALYZING VW?S RESPONSES, AND TEST DATA COLLECTED BY VW AND FAURECIA, THE PSIR LID SUPPLIER, ODI BELIEVES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT LIKELY IDENTIFY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND BECAUSE A DETACHED PSIR LID AND PARTS DO NOT PROJECT TOWARDS A PASSENGER DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.THE TEST DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG PUSHES A DETACHED PSIR LID UPWARDS INTO THE WINDSHIELD DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND AWAY FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A PASSENGER WOULD CONTACT THE PSIR LID OR ASSOCIATED PARTS DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THEREFORE THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA 03-020) IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. FOR A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PSIR LID AND TESTING, SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal
THIS INVESTIGATION INVOLVES THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) LID UTILIZED IN MY 1998-2002 VW PASSAT.THE PSIR LID MAY DETACH FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) OPENED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON MAY 23, 2003 TO DETERMINE WHETHER ALLEGED PSIR LID DETACHMENT PRESENTS AN UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK TO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE.ODI?S INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY OCCUR FOR TWO REASONS: 1) THE SHAPE OF THE PSIR LID, AND THE LENGTH OF THE ATTACHING TETHER, MAY SNAG THE AIR BAG DURING DEPLOYMENT APPLYING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE LID TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP); AND/OR 2) THE ORIGINAL PSIR LID DESIGN (SUBJECT VEHICLES) UTILIZED SIX GRADE 4.8 MM CARBON STEEL TACK WELD BOLTS WHICH MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS THE NEW DESIGN PSIR LID CONSISTING OF SIX GRADE 8.8 MM CARBON STEEL PRESS BOLTS THAT ARE HEAT TREATED.ODI CONCLUDES THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID IS A DEFECT BECAUSE THE LID SHOULD REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE IP AFTER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.HOWEVER, AFTER ANALYZING VW?S RESPONSES, AND TEST DATA COLLECTED BY VW AND FAURECIA, THE PSIR LID SUPPLIER, ODI BELIEVES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT LIKELY IDENTIFY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND BECAUSE A DETACHED PSIR LID AND PARTS DO NOT PROJECT TOWARDS A PASSENGER DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.THE TEST DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG PUSHES A DETACHED PSIR LID UPWARDS INTO THE WINDSHIELD DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND AWAY FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A PASSENGER WOULD CONTACT THE PSIR LID OR ASSOCIATED PARTS DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THEREFORE THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA 03-020) IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. FOR A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PSIR LID AND TESTING, SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT.
Air Bags
THIS INVESTIGATION INVOLVES THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) LID UTILIZED IN MY 1998-2002 VW PASSAT.THE PSIR LID MAY DETACH FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) OPENED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON MAY 23, 2003 TO DETERMINE WHETHER ALLEGED PSIR LID DETACHMENT PRESENTS AN UNREASONABLE SAFETY RISK TO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE.ODI?S INVESTIGATION REVEALS THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY OCCUR FOR TWO REASONS: 1) THE SHAPE OF THE PSIR LID, AND THE LENGTH OF THE ATTACHING TETHER, MAY SNAG THE AIR BAG DURING DEPLOYMENT APPLYING ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE LID TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP); AND/OR 2) THE ORIGINAL PSIR LID DESIGN (SUBJECT VEHICLES) UTILIZED SIX GRADE 4.8 MM CARBON STEEL TACK WELD BOLTS WHICH MAY NOT BE AS STRONG AS THE NEW DESIGN PSIR LID CONSISTING OF SIX GRADE 8.8 MM CARBON STEEL PRESS BOLTS THAT ARE HEAT TREATED.ODI CONCLUDES THAT DETACHMENT OF THE PSIR LID IS A DEFECT BECAUSE THE LID SHOULD REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE IP AFTER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.HOWEVER, AFTER ANALYZING VW?S RESPONSES, AND TEST DATA COLLECTED BY VW AND FAURECIA, THE PSIR LID SUPPLIER, ODI BELIEVES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT LIKELY IDENTIFY A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND BECAUSE A DETACHED PSIR LID AND PARTS DO NOT PROJECT TOWARDS A PASSENGER DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG.THE TEST DATA SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG PUSHES A DETACHED PSIR LID UPWARDS INTO THE WINDSHIELD DURING DEPLOYMENT, AND AWAY FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A PASSENGER WOULD CONTACT THE PSIR LID OR ASSOCIATED PARTS DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.THEREFORE THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA 03-020) IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. FOR A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE PSIR LID AND TESTING, SEE THE ATTACHED REPORT.
PE03021 · Passenger Sir Door Mounting Stud Failure
Opened May 23, 2003 · Closed Oct 7, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-021) BASED ON TWO REPORTS OF FAILED BOLT STUDS THAT ATTACH THE PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (PSIR) DOOR COVER TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP) ON THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSAT (MODEL YEARS 2000, 2002).VW HAS INDICATED TO ODI THAT IT HAS NO ADDITIONAL REPORTS.VW IMPLEMENTED A PROCESS CHANGE ON MARCH 1, 2002.THIS PROCESS CHANGE CONSISTED OF CHANGING THE BOLT APPLICATION THAT FASTENS THE PSIR DOOR TO THE IP FROM A WELD ON APPLICATION TO A PRESS ON APPLICATION.VW ALSO CHANGED THE MATERIAL OF THE BOLT.VW STATED THAT THE CHANGES WERE MADE TO EASE PRODUCTION BY ELIMINATING A WELDING PROCESS.ODI HAS UPGRADED ITS INVESTIGATION TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-020).
EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.
PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
RQ99008 · Power Brake Booster Vacuum BY-PASS
Opened Jun 1, 1999 · Closed Nov 14, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
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