Date:         Sat, 11 Jan 1997 14:38:49 -0500
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Kenyon Fairey <kfairey@oit.umass.edu>
Subject:      VW America denies recall

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