Consumer Complaint Detail

VOLKSWAGEN / GOLF / 2000

Recalls
0 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 004301948 Incident Date: Sep, 09 2004
Consumer's City: ARLINGTON Consumer's State: MA
Vehicle Transmission Type: MAN Manufacturers Name: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Model Name: GOLF Model Year: 2000
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No Component's Description: Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 0
Vehicle's VIN#: WVWGC21J7YW Date added to File: May, 25 2021
Date Complaint Received: Oct, 10 2004 Complaint Type: IVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: No Purchase Date: Jan, 20 2000
Was Original Owner: Yes Anti-lock Brakes: Yes
Number of Cylinders: 4 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: While driving my 2000 vw golf, with 78000 miles, i squirted my windshield with fluid to clear it, and the wipers, instead of the usual 2-wipe cycle slowed down, struggled and then, without warning, ceased to operate, stopping halfway on the upswing. i was unable to physically move the wiper back to rest position. luckily, it was not raining and i was driving on a city road where i could pull over safely to the curb. i did drive the car home that day, as it was clear, but was unable to use the car for the next few days, as rain threatened, and obviously i could not afford to be driving in even a light rain as the front wipers were non-operational. i had the wipers repaired at minuteman vw, bedford ma, on september 14. they found that the wiper linkage on the passenger side was completely in a bind and were physically unable to move it, while the driver's side moved freely. they replaced the wiper linkage, part # 1j1-955-603-b, at a total cost of $169.64. they found no signs of external influence, and have noted such in writing on my service slip. i am in possession of the old part. i contacted vw customer service, and was told that "vw does not consider wiper operation to be part of the safety operation of the car",and that i was too far out of warranty. i disagree. i feel that the mechanical operation of the wiper is directly contributing to safe operation, and should last the lifetime of the car. had i been driving on the freeway in a rain storm, having the wipers become suddenly inoperative would well have caused a major accident with loss of life or serious injury. *nm