10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 20,579 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I own a 1998 volkwagen Jetta gl. The car battery exploded while in operation. I have digital photos of the battery if requested. It didn't seem normal and so I figured I'd file a report.
- San Diego, CA, USA
Battery acid leaked on reservoir causing reservoir to leak fluid, which could cause loss of steering.dealer contacted.
- Littleriver, SC, USA
Battery exploded while starting the engine. After researching on line, I've determined that this may be a larger problem.
- Birmingham, AL, USA
Battery failed to have an acid release hose. Acid had dripped onto power steering reservoir & ate through it. This caused a loss of steering fluid, power steering, and control of vehicle.
- Emmans, PA, USA
The battery exploded. Nlm
- Unk, UN, USA
If battery is overfilled or leaks and drips onto the power steering reservoir the resevoir will fail. This failure is catastrophic in nature and can cause the loss of power steering, vehicle control and extensive damage to the power steering pump. The loss of fluid occured on my vehicle with only 9 months of service. Fortunately the car was parked and the power steering pump was not impacted. The dealer support at randy hiley Volkswagen in arlington Texas was immediate and thorough. After discussion, Volkswagen refunded all but the towing charges for this repair through randy hiley Volkswagen in arlington, Texas. On the 1999 model the part has been moved from underneath the battery. Dealership service department personnel indicated that this was not the 1st time this failure had to be repaired at their franchise. My concern is that this repair cured the immediate symptom but what happens if acid contacts this component again during routine maintenance, later life battery changeout etc. The part is still located beneath the battery. The material of construction is unchanged. Can this part be replaced in a recall with a material that is better suited for contact by acid?
- Arlington, TX, USA
- Ellington, CT, USA