← NHTSA complaints

2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — STEERING

crash · 992547 · 2013-07-09

Vehicle

Make
VOLKSWAGEN
Model
PASSAT
Year
2013
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Component
STEERING
Miles at failure
1,000
Speed
60 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

CAR OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 60MPH REACHED ACROSS THE SEAT THE CAR SWERVED SHE OVER CORRECTED TWICE DUE TO VERY "TOUCHY" STEERING. THE CAR THEN CAREENED ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND DOWN A 30FT EMBANKMENT BOUNCING OFF SEVERAL TREES. THEN STRIKING ONE HEAD ON WITH ENOUGH FORCE AS TO BEND AND PUSH BACK THE FRAME. NONE OF THE FIVE AIR BAGS THIS CAR IS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MANY BUMPS AND BRUISES ALONG WITH A SHATTERED ANKLE WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY TO PLACE TWO STEEL PLATES IN HER ANKLE. RECOVERY IS EXPECTED BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS. UPON REPORTING THE CRASH AND NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, ALL THE SALESMAN HAD TO SAY WAS "THANKS FOR GETTING OUR LEMON OFF OUR LOT". *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10523998
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown