Passat 2004 id [xxx] while driving at approximately 55mph - the car pulled to the right similar to a possible flat tire. I pulled to the shoulder and checked each tire with a flashlight ' they were fine. I returned to the road and continued. The steering quickly became stiff, less responsive, with a shimmy in the steering wheel. I decreased my speed, put on flashers, and very slowly continued the last mile to my home when a loud metal-on-metal scraping sound started. The vehicle became hard to control because the steering was unresponsive. Had my wife or daughter been driving, they would not have been able to maintain control. This is a very dangerous, potentially life-threatening problem. This is inconceivable. We had the car towed to our Volkswagen dealer to be evaluated and were told ' both axles need to be replaced as well the steering pump. This is not 'normal wear and tear'. this vehicle has 96,000 miles, has never been in any type of accident, is driven only on paved roads, and is kept in the garage. My serviceman reported he'd never seen anything like this. Please check to determine if anyone else has experienced this problem. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Indian Head, MD, USA

Incident description = 2004 VW Passat had been previously report several fuel consumptions problems at hoy fox VW and gas ended up leaking out of fuel tank and cause a spill in my garage and drive. Hazard was inhalation gas in a closed in area caused head aches/ nausea/dizziness/ for my family and I I have had mutiple problems with vehicle since then has broke down on me twice in less than 1 day's time. On 01 Sep 08 my wife noticed and oil spot in driveway after I left to go out of town granted we have brand new home and the VW was only vehicle parked in that spot she could reach me because no service with my cell phone but I ended up broke down outside big spring, tx the care was sluggish and leaking oil this time and on 03 sep08 in /texarkana after being in shop allday 2sep08 it broke down for a previous condition with ignition coils. Hoy foxvw not admitting that may have put the new oil filter to tight to cause to breakdown after having the oil change on 28aug08/29aug08 for other neglected maintenance. Please look into this matter I'm sure it's not just my vehicle they trying to assume because it just had went out warranty. The engine oil cooler was damaged and bursted when put on at hoy-fox VW by a VW technician after putting the oil filter on entirely to tight. Leaked in yard and I was not aware of it and the spilled out all over the ground at a high temperature vehicle (overheated) which make it hard for me stop while drive because of the slickness of mixture between the coolant and oil. Almost ran off the road but ended up shifting to neutral and letting coast over to median.

- El Paso, TX, USA