Check out the Nat'l Highway Traffic Safety Assoc's home page:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
the have recalls, complaints, and all
Larry
______________________________________________________
Kenyon Fairey wrote:
> 
> After loosing my '91 Westy with only 25,000 original miles on it - Mint
> condition - to an engine fire this past Nov 15th, I read your Web Page
> "Vanagon Recall Information. In the following posting:
> 
> http://www.automatrix.com/~skip/volkswagen/recalls.html#1985-1991
> 
> 1985 Vanagon through
> 1991 Vanagon                Built from 1985 Jul  to  1992 Jun
>      Campaign 92V058001     No. Recalled: 340,000
>      Campaign SF            Notification Date:
>      System:                Fuel Lines.
>      Vehicle Description:   Passenger Cars.
>      Description of Defect: The fuel hose attached to the fuel
>                             distribution rail on the engine may shrink
>                             beyond the clamp force of the fuel hose
>                             clamps, allowing fuel to leak.
>      Consequence of Defect: Fuel leakage in the engine compartment can
>                             cause an underhood fire if the fuel comes
>                             in contact with a source of ignition.
>      Corrective Action:     Replace the fuel hose attached to the fuel
>                             rail and install a new spring type self-
>                             tightening clamp.
>                             NOTE: Volkswagen of America estimates the
>                             new self-tightening fuel hose clamps will be
>                             available in May of 1992.
>      Supplement 92V058001   Information has been added to this campaign.
> 
> I called VW America on this. The person I spoke to took down all of the
> information about my loss and said that they would research the matter
> and get back to me.
> 
> When they did, a week or more later, they said "there are no outstanding
> recalls on that model." I replied that since this had been a 1992
> recall, I could see that it might not be considered "outstanding" but
> would like to have more details on the recall as it was made. They
> denied that there had EVER been ANY recalls on the 1991 Westfalias. I
> asked how it was possible to have a recall posted by the National
> Highway Traffic Safety Administration and VW doesn't have any record of
> it?
> 
> At that time I realized that I had hit a stone wall! I asked to speak to
> someone higher up in the company and was told that there was no one
> higher - all of customer service is at an equal level. Anotherwords,
> "this is the party line and we will not let you speak to any one else -
> we're sorry you lost you van, but that's your problem."
> 
> I would like to know where the info on this Web page comes from. I have
> tried to reach the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and
> cannot seem to get a LIVE person. I really want to check this recall out
> - as I am in the process of trying to buy a replacement Westy and REALLY
> do not want to have the same problem.
> 
> I am VERY upset with VW America. I felt like they were really hiding
> something - the wording of their response was very careful and not
> exact. I also found that even though I had mailed in the "change of
> ownership" form in the owners manual in April '95 - immediately after
> buying the Westy, They still had the original owner in their database.
> This, I was told, was because they didn't edit the database unless a the
> owner called in with a problem. Well they have me in there now - but its
> too late as my Westy is gone!
> 
> I am still fighting with the insurance company over the value and would
> like to talk to someone at the National Highway Traffic Safety
> Administration about the "truth" on this recall.
> 
> Thankx-
> 
> Kenyon Fairey
> previous owner of '91 Westy Gay Greta ("GG")
>               and '80 Westy Frieda Roam
> 
> Amherst, MA