DnA Diesel
Veteran Member
This is just an extreme example of VW's treatment of its customers (throwing them under the bus), vice acknowledging they mis-analysed fuel quality, etc... in the pump design they commissioned to Bosch.Fair comment - I saw the earlier posts on making owners pay up. I attributed that more to a "corporate reflex" which is to blame the customer when something goes wrong...but yes, I saw the many comments about NHTSA's implied threat - good point. VW is seems to be right on the edge of their jurisdiction - if it can be shown to be a safety issue, VW may wind up having to buy back the cars (or replace the engine/pump with something reliable)...so that makes sense too - scary thought.
I guess we wait and see what VW does. Even without my car anymore, it is very interesting to watch.
ALH-engined (99.5-03) TDI'ers got a milder version of the same with poor MAF sensor designs that VW wouldn't cover until years after fighting -- when many of us complained to the EPA/CARB that failing MAFs were in fact an emissions issue and that VW should have covered the failed MAF sensors under the 7-year emissions warranty (vice refusing if past the 2-hr bumper to bumper). Heck, my Mk4 still has a M-B E320CDI-sourced Bosch wire (vice film) MAF in it and it works just fine.
Your points about the convenience AND safety costs of being stranded somewhere during travels is likely an issue that the NHTSA will not support. I suspect that VW's hand (to redesign the CR pump) would only be forced by the NHTSA if there were people being injured or killed due to outright sudden engine failures leading to an accident.
2¢
Regards
D.