# 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `516035` · 2005-01-08 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** PASSAT
- **Year:** 2002
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 28,000
- **Speed:** 30 mph
## Narrative
VARIOUD HEAD, TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2002 VW PASSAT HAVE BURNED OUT 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS:  /3/04 - BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BY VW,  /17/04 - HEADLIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT REPLACED BY VW,  10/9/04 - TAIL LIGHT REPLACED  BY VW,  0/23/04 - BOTH HEADLIGHTS LACED BY VW,  2/11/04 - HEADLIGHT AND PARKING LIGHT REPLACED BY VW,  1/5/05 - HEAD LIGHT REPLACED, /5/05 VW SERVICE OF BERNARDSVILLE, NEW JERSEY REFUSED TO PERFORM AN ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BECAUSE THE "LIGHT BULBS THEY GET FROM ANOTHER VENDOR ARE FAULTY".  THEREFORE, VW OF BERNANRDSVILLE IS KNOWINGLY INSTALLING FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I WAS TOLD THIS IN FRONT OF ANOTHER WOMAN WHO WAS BRINGING HER CAR IN FOR LIGHT BULB REPLACEMENT ALSO.  I TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THIS WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE SAFETY RISK.  I HIT A DEER ONE NIGHT WHEN MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AND IT IS DARK WHEN I DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP MY CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL. ALTHOUGH I TOLD THE VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I'M AFRAID I WOULD HIT A CHILD CROSSING THE ROAD OR SCHOOL PARKING LOT, THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM AN ELCTRICAL DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE CAR.   I  REPORTED THIS INFORMATION TO THE BERNARDSVILLE NEW JERSEY POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN CASE SOMEONE WHO GETS LIGHTS REPLACED BY VW OF BERNARDSVILLE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT OR HURT. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO KNOWNINGLY INSTALL "FAULTY" EQUIPMENT, IT IS A CIVIL OFFENSE AND SHOULD BE REPORTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.*AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*