volkswagan oil pan damage

[JOEL115]

has anyone had problems with their oil pan on their volkswagons? my brother in law owns a 2001 GTI. his car hit a pot hole and damaged the oil pan to his car. needless to say the engine had to be replaced because the car lost the oil without him knowing. his aftermarket extended warrenty insurance had to fork out over $11,000 to replace the engine and do the repairs.
anyway! i was driving my wifes 2002 passat (1.8L) a car veered into my lane, and i veered out of the way to avoid being hit. my car jumped the street curb and i felt the bottom of the car tap/hit curb. i stopped and checked for oil leaks and sure enough i noticed the car was pouring oil. the car was towed to the dealership and tech told me both the motor oil pan and the transmission oil pan had to be replaced. the wheel alignment was fine and no other damage was done to the car. i paid $1,100 to replace both oil pans.
i called volkswagon of america before the repairs and explained to them that the oil pan are exposed to possible damage in this situations, and i explained to them that the protection the oil pans have is the protection that the plastic cover offers which is in reality, none.
they, volkswagon, told me they would not put out a car or product that would be prone to giving consumers any problems, and they could not help me.
is the oil pan situation only with my brother in law and my self or are there others?
Just a note: I just had the timing belt to the passat replace at 44,000 miles.

[veedubmechanic]

VW oil pans are made out of aluminum for better heat dissapation. They are more prone to damage if hit because aluminum is softer than steel (and cheaper). VW doesnt build cars so people can hit things or run over things and drive away. If you hit something or run over something there is going to be damage, no matter if its a vw or chevy or ford or kia. New vw's have a hybrid aluminum/steel lower oil pan to make it stronger and help jiffy lube places not strip them out.

I had a friend in a honda run over a ladder on the freewayand it poked a hole in his oil pan and he needed a new engine because of that. But he didnt go complaining that honda makes crappy parts.

[JOEL115]

it was just a question, veedubmechanic. my wife and i love the car, but do not tell me that vw could not have done a better job designing more protection for the oil pans. i understand that running over somthing or hitting something can cause damage to any car,and i know the first thing to go is usally the wheel alignment.
again, i do not mean to sound like i am complaining. if i would be complaining i would be telling you about the three other time the car had to be towed for mechanical problems that involved faulty/defected parts, but i will not go into that eventhough i was once stranded over 200 miles away from home. vw took care of the repairs and most of the expense.
do not misunderstand me i love the car and will buy another vw.