2008 Volkswagen Rabbit

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE HORN IS NOT WORKING. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING. OTHER VWS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT MINE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND I THINK THE HORN IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO ALERT DRIVERS AROUND ME IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. BOTH SAFETY PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY THE SAME BROKEN CLOCK SPRING AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, BECAUSE THE CLOCK SPRING IS BAD. THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED THE HORN BUTTON TO NOT WORK. SOMETIMES THE HORN HONKS WHEN I MAKE SHARP TURNS. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER OR NOT THE DRIVER AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN IMPACT, BUT FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IT IS QUITE UNLIKELY. THIS ALSO EFFECTS THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE BUTTONS ON THE STICKS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE MULTI FUNCTION DISPLAY, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. SOMETIMES THOSE BUTTONS WORK, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T AND SOMETIMES THEY DO THINGS THEY AREN'T DESIGNED TO DO. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH OCCURS VERY FREQUENTLY WITH THIS CAR. *TR

AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AROUND END OF MAY 2013 AND I TOOK THE CAR TO BE SEEN BY A VW TECHNICIAN AT DIRITO BROTHERS IN WALNUT CREEK, CA ([XXX]- TECHNICIAN AND [XXX]- SERVICE MANAGER). AFTER I WAS CHARGED A $75 SERVICE FEE FOR ASSESSING THE ISSUE AND NOTHING WAS FIXED, I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT VW OF AMERICA AT 1-800-822-8987 DIRECTLY TO SEE HOW THEY CAN ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AIRBAG FAULT, AS I WAS QUOTED MORE THAN $500 IN REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT DAMAGE. I DISCUSSED MY CASE# [XXX] WITH [XXX] ON 06.06.2013. THEIR RESOLUTION WAS TO HELP PAY HALF OF THE COST, BECAUSE I AM A LOYAL CUSTOMER (I AM AT MY 3RD VW AND MY FATHER HAS A JETTA= TOTAL OF 4 WV CARS). I AM SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THEY DID NOT CONSIDER THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM, I AM BASICALLY DRIVING WITHOUT AN AIRBAG AND THE RISK IS DEATH, IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. PER [XXX], HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE WHAT A CRITICAL SAFETY PRIORITY IS FOR THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND HOW TO ASSESS APPROPRIATE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE EVERYDAY TO WORK FEELING THAT I AM AT RISK AND WAS TOLD THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE TO COVER HALF OF THE COST OF THIS FACTORY FAILURE AND THAT THEY ARE MAKING ME A FAVOR BY BEING WILLING TO COVER HALF OF THE COST. I AM WONDERING HOW NOT ENSURING BASIC SAFETY IS GOING TO AFFECT VW'S BRAND WHEN THEY WILL GET HIT WITH LAWSUITS FOLLOWING INJURIES SUSTAINED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE (PRODUCT LIABILITY CASE)? IS IT GOING TO BE WORTH IT NOT PAYING THE ENTIRE REPAIR COSTS? IS A HUMAN LIFE WORTH $500? THIS IS MORE ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE AND ETHICS, THAN THE MONEY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT. THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, WHICH SEVERELY DAMAGED THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT AND OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST MORE THAN $12,000. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.