The contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Golf. The contact heard a single knocking sound under the hood when the brake pedal was depressed. The noise became more frequent and the vehicle was taken to a repair shop. She was informed of NHTSA campaign id number 00V280000 (suspension:front:control arm:upper arm). The dealer was notified and kept the vehicle for two days. The contact is currently waiting for a call back from the dealer. The failure and current mileages were 79,500.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

Oil pan on my 2000 VW Golf is made of cast aluminum or magnesium, very brittle. By design, the car has minimal ground clearance. A hole was punched in the oil pan by contact with the roadway on passing over a small bump. Led to discharge of all engine oil onto the roadway, posing a hazard for other motorists. While visiting the VW shop for maintenance on my car, I have heard the service manager dealing with other owners who have had similar experiences. Believe NHTSA should query VW about rate of oil pan damage on cars with cast aluminum oil pans, and if statistics warrant, require VW make available sturdier oil pans, perhaps of steel. I have installed a steel skidplate on my VW (commercially available, which tells you something about what the marketplace feels about the issue of VW oil pan toughness) to prevent further damage. I am convinced it has saved my engine many times over the past 2 years in normal driving on paved roads.

- Old Mystic, CT, USA

Our Volkswagen Golf ( cuts out on us when the car is moving. This has been a problem for most of the year. We have taken our car to the Volkswagen dealer at least 7 times so far and the car still cuts out despite many different things being done. Our dealer has told us that they are still not sure why, and after the last visit, they thought they had fixed it. However, I was jst driving on the 1-9 in New Jersey at speed and the engine cut out on me. There was no where to pull over and I had to put my warning lights on and let the car come to a stop. I also lost my stearing although thankfully I was in the right lane. Although the volkswagon dealer is trying its best to repair our car and has been in contact with volkswagon for help, this keeps happening. This has just happened again and I am writing while I am still angry. Since collecting the car from the dealer last week we thought the problem may have been solved as the engine didn't cut out all week (before it was nearly everyday), however it has happened again. The thing that is bothering me most and upsetting me is that this recurring unsolved problem is potentially threatening to my husbands and my life- as well as other road users. It is extremely scary when the engine cuts out at speed while other cars are whizzing past you. I also want to know why we have to be wary everytime we collect the car from the dealer, because everytime the problem has not been remedied.

- Rahway, NJ, USA

The engine stalled intermittently which caused serious problems with the automatic transmission.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

Engine oil/filter has been changed twice, orig. Mileage 15500, oil topped off seven times.

- Sterling Park, VA, USA