Re: gas tank recall

["Christian Els" <tiAn@usiw.net>]

Victor,

The recall is for a safety-related issue and therefore must be addressed
every time the problem resurfaces, according to Federal law. Obviously VW
wants to be done with this as it costs them money, on a car that never sold
well and has been out of production for ten years, but has an obligation
nonetheless.

I started the process by calling VWoA and getting the campaign specifics,
which cars are affected, what the recall number was, criteria for
eligibility, etc.

If your car has ever been rear-ended, or had body work done around the rear
you are S.O.L., they have a loophole to avoid liability.

If your car has not been hit before, press the issue with the service
manager. If he does not give a good reason why they won't inspect/repair the
car, get his name and dealership number and get back in touch with VWoA. If
his story does not correspond with the information they already gave you
(ModelYear/serial number, symptoms, etc.), they will provide the pressure on
this dealer to look at the car that you alone probably can not bring to bear
against the dealership. The dealer needs VWoA, they can get by just fine
without your business (most likely)...

The recall is listed as 3.5 hours book labor, and requires a flush of the
brake system (they drop the rear axle beam and the proportioning valve). No
matter how long it actually takes them to perform the labor (in my case, car
fairly rust-free, was still 8+ hours) you are not liable for any of that
cost. You may be responsible for replacement of incidental parts that are
worn beyond serviceability (fuel pump mounting bracket, o-rings, etc.), but
I found that when they screwed up and tried to bill me labor for the recall,
the dealership did make good and covered all those bits as well as some I
had explicitly ordered and asked to be replaced at the same
time...YMM(will)V.

If you have more questions I will happily relay the full circumstance of my
car's recall correction.

HTH,

tiAn
87 16V
83 GTi
82 Cabby
80 Cabby
stuff...
Pickup? Anyone? I need one...


----- Original Message -----
From: Victor Farren <vfarren@rrs.cdie.org>
To: <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 1:26 PM
Subject: gas tank recall


My gas tank just busted a leak and I know that a recall went out in
1991 for this reason.

Question:  According to my local VW dealer the previous owner had the
car checked out in 1992, but it doesn't seem like she got the tank
replaced.  The guy at the dealer said that the issue was closed and
they wouldn't replace the tank.

Am I screwed, or was the guy talking garbage?

I remember hearing of a few instances where some listers had to raise
a little hell to get the work done so I am getting ready to do some
yelling if I have a leg to stand on.

And  if I am screwed, anyone got a gas tank they want to sell me?

Victor
in Washington, DC

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