1. A new class-action says VW's front assist technology applies the brakes randomly and without warning.

    Customers who complain are typically given two not-so-great options, live with it and document the malfunctions or disable the feature entirely.

    The Missouri-based class-action says that's unacceptable and wants VW to take ownership of the problem. That includes covering any related repairs or costs associated with the system malfunctioning under warranty.

    keep reading article "Volkswagen's Front-Assist Emergency Braking Can Activate For No Reason, Says Lawsuit"
  2. Volkswagen is recalling 56,000 vehicles with rear coil springs that can snap, crackle, and pop the tires.

    This appears to be an expansion of a smaller recall for the exact same problem last month. It wasn’t until the cars were shipped and sold that VW’s supplier admitted the coil springs weren’t ready for production. Yikes. Owners of the 2015-2019 Golf, 2017-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, and 2018-2019 Tiguan should watch for a recall notice next month.

    keep reading article "VW Recalls More Vehicles with Rear Coil Springs ‘Not Ready for Production'"
  3. When Volkswagen agreed to a multi-district settlement for selling polluting engines marketed as clean diesel, it did so knowing it’d have to pay billions of dollars to customers that owned or leased an affected vehicle when the news about the scandal broke.

    Some owners that had sold their affected vehicles before the news came out tried to file for compensation in court, but didn't get very far. That may be about to change due to an interesting court decision in California.

    Former owners and lessees of Volkswagen "clean diesel" vehicles can proceed with their lawsuit even though the customers got rid of their diesel vehicles before anyone knew the emissions systems were illegal.

    Volkswagen, as you might image, is less than impressed with this decision.

    Volkswagen says the case is nothing more than trial attorneys trying to suck more money out of the automaker that has already paid more than $25 billion for its emissions sins.

    keep reading article "Judge's Decision May Open to the Door to New Diesel-Scandal Claims"
  4. It appears Volkswagen is close to settling 7 lawsuits regarding defective timing chains and the threat of engine damage.

    The proposed settlement includes all consumers who purchased or leased certain 2008-2014 Audi and Volkswagen vehicles that will be determined by the vehicle identification numbers (VINs).

    According to the terms, reimbursement amounts will be determined based on the age of the vehicle, how many miles are on the odometer and if the timing chain tensioner, timing chain or engine was replaced."

    Reimbursement amounts are highly favoriable to owners who get work done at an authorized VW dealership. Our advice – if something goes wrong with your timing chain or tensioner and you're covered under this settlement, skip your local mechanic and go to an authorized dealer.

    keep reading article "VW Owners to Receive Reimbursements for Busted Timing Chains and Tensioners"
  5. A new group of diesel owners are seeking “clean diesel” compensation from Volkswagen.

    The owners had not been covered by previous diesel settlements because they had sold or traded in the cars before dieselgate became public knowledge. From CarComplaints.com:

    Volkswagen told the judge those former owners and lessees are attempting to pry money out of the automaker's pockets even though the former owners didn't lose anything. When they sold or traded their diesel vehicles, or ended the lease agreements, the transactions occurred before the emissions scandal was known.

    The lawsuit boils down to economic harm. VW says the cars were sold at a value determined before anyone knew they spewed 40x the legal limit of NOx emissions, so dieselgate had no affect. The owners say they paid a premium for an eco-friendly car and should be compensated accordingly.

    Now a judge will decide if this case is a money grab.

    keep reading article "VW Says New Lawsuit Represents Group Unaffected by the “Clean Diesel” Scandal"
  6. Despite VW's best efforts, a timing chain lawsuit will continue in a New Jersey court after the judge denied the automaker's motion to dismiss

    . The case is a combination of two other lawsuits in the state, both of which allege VW is concealing known timing chain defects that lead to premature engine failure.

    You know that stack of papers they have you sign when you buy a car? Volkswagen's argument for dismissing the case was a hidden clause that says all problems must be taken into arbitration and not in front of jury. Which, let's be honest, is a shady thing to throw into a purchase contract. Luckily the judge ruled those agreements are between the consumer and the dealership, not the automaker.

    While a few of the lawsuit claims were thrown own, this is overall good news for consumers who have dealt with (or are worried about) timing chain failure.

    keep reading article "NJ Timing Chain Lawsuit Will Continue After VW Was Denied a Motion to Dismiss"
  7. For the love of everything, is there an airbag out there that's not trying to kill us these days?

    We all know about Takata, the airbag supplier which made moisture-sensitive, death traps that are responsible for worldwide panic. Well, not to be outdone we're now looking at more airbag recalls but this time from a supplier named Autoliv. From CarComplaints.com:

    "About 5,900 vehicles are affected by front passenger and side head airbags that may not deploy during a crash. In addition, the seat belt pre-tensioners may not activate during a crash if you're driving a 2017 Audi Q7, A4, A4 allroad or 2018 Audi Q5."

    The saddest part? Airbags that don't deploy may actually be safer than those that do deploy these days.

    keep reading article "First Takata, Now Autoliv. More Airbag Recalls for VW."
  8. There's been a lot of talk about diesel buyouts and fixes lately.

    But one group that's been left out was what VW calls "Generation 3" diesel vehicles from the 2015 model year. But after 16 months of waiting, that's about to change:

    "Volkswagen finally received approval to fix certain 2-liter diesel vehicles to make their emissions systems legal, at least for about 67,000 of the 475,000 illegal 2-liter "clean diesel" vehicles."

    VW will remove the "defeat device" software and replace it with something a lot less cheat-y. Then sometime next year, VW will install new software in addition to a diesel particulate filter, diesel oxidation catalyst and a nitrogen oxide catalyst.

    keep reading article "Fix for 2015 2-Liter Diesels Approved"
  9. Volkswagen has a BS problem. Wait ... I mean an ABS problem.

    Volkswagen engineers found a fault inside the anti-lock brake system control module that can cause the module to fail whenever the electronic stability control or ABS system activates. A driver will notice warning lights for the brakes, the anti-lock braking system and the electronic stability control system.

    The issue can lead to a sudden loss of control in the 2009-2010 Jetta, 2009 Jetta SportWagens, Eos, GTI, Rabbit, and the 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6.

    keep reading article "Volkswagen Recalls Cars that can Lose Control"
  10. Our neighbors to the north tend to be a patient bunch, but you have to imagine Canadian VW diesel owners were starting to wonder when their settlement offer would come.

    Well, good news. Canadian owners will receive between $5,100 and $8,000 in compensation along with a few options. Any eligible owner can choose to trade their vehicle and apply its fair market value at that time towards the purchase of a new or used Volkswagen or Audi vehicle.

    Spread out over 105,000 vehicles, that equals about $2.1 billion CAD (Canadian dollars). The settlement needs to be approved and finalized by two courts.

    keep reading article "Oh, Canada! A VW Diesel Settlement Update"
  11. It's been well over a month since Volkswagen's historic $14.7 billon dollar diesel settlement which includes the option for owners to sell their cheatin' cars back to VW.

    So how are things going? Meh, according to a firm appointed by the court to monitor the settlement's progress.

    Many owners have complained about long telephone hold times and missed deadlines. Some, in snowier climates, are ticked off they had to pay to put on snow tires while waiting for VW to get its act together.

    Yes, this is an unprecedented deal. And sure, there's a lot of moving parts. But as Jalopnik.com points out, it's not like VW couldn't see this coming.

    You can review the settlement details on our site.

    And if you haven't yet, I'd also encourage you to visit VWcourtsettlement.com or call 1-844-98-CLAIM to schedule appointments with claim specialists.

    keep reading article "What is Going on with the VW Diesel Settlement?"
  12. Owners of Volkswagen and Audi vehicles have filed a lawsuit claiming there's a defect in the timing chain tensioner system that allows the chain to "jump a tooth" in the camshaft.

    Once that happens, the engine could be destroyed. Want to repair it? You'll destroy your bank account too.

    The lawsuit focuses on 2008-2013 Audi and VW models equipped with 2-liter TSI or 2-liter TFSI EA888 engines. The plaintiffs say the problems happen well before 120,000 miles (the recommended time to repair them) and can cost upwards of $11,000 to fix.

    "The plaintiffs claim Audi and VW not only refused to acknowledge the alleged timing chain problems, but also refused to compensate certain owners for engine repairs. The lawsuit also alleges Audi and Volkswagen didn't offer loaner or replacement vehicles even though the vehicles were useless to owners."

    This isn't the first lawsuit to accuse VW of concealing timing chain defects.

    keep reading article "Lawsuit Says Engines Fail After the Timing Chains 'Jump a Tooth' in the Camshaft"
  13. The settlement details for VW diesel customers in the USA is here and you know what? It actually looks pretty good.

    The agreement involves 500,000 2-liter engines that VW called "clean diesels" but turned out to be NOx spewing polluters. The full details are available here, but here's some cliff notes:

    1. Volkswagen will offer to buy back the affected diesels using their pre-scandal NADA book value (September 2015)
    2. Owners can sell their cars back or keep them and wait for an EPA approved fix
    3. Whether you sell it or keep it, VW will compensate owners somewhere between $5000-$10000 for their trouble
    4. Lessees will have the option of terminating their lease without penalty

    So far there is no word on what the fix will be for these vehicles or how that'll affect MPG or performance. Owners of the following are eligible for compensation:

    475,000 2.0-liter diesel cars including the 2013-2015 Beetle, 2010-2015 Golf, 2009-2015 Jetta, and 2012-2015 Passat, along with the Audi A3 between 2010-2013 and 2015. All in the USA.

    keep reading article "VW Close to Agreement to Buy Back Diesels and Compensate Owners"
  14. A lawsuit filed in New Jersey says Volkswagen's timing chain tensioner has serious defects and can lead to premature engine failure.

    According to the plaintiff, in VW's warranty and maintenance schedules the tensioning system is expected to last 120,000 miles without the need for maintenance.

    "The VW and Audi A3 vehicles are equipped with EA888 2.0L TSI engines with engine codes CCTA or CBFA. The remaining Audi vehicles are equipped with EA888 2.0L TFSI engines designated with engine codes CAEB, CAEA, or CDNC. The plaintiff says all the engines with these five codes are versions of the EA888 engine and all use the same timing chain tensioning system."

    When the tensioning system fails, the results can be catastrophic and lead to out-of-pocket expenses that will make your bank account cry.

    This is a big lawsuit, covering many VW and Audi models from the 2008 model year on.

    keep reading article "VW Timing Chain Tensioner Lawsuit Says Defects Cause Engine Failure"
  15. Your vehicle might be involved in one of the largest and most dangerous recalls in automotive history.

    Volkswagen is recalling 850,000 VW and Audi vehicles with Takata inflators.

    You've probably heard about Takata by now. They're the ones that made airbag inflators which sometimes explode with too much force and send metal shrapnel flying throughout the cabin. They're also the ones that have been linked to a number of deaths and injuries. Needless to say, there aren't a lot of Takata fans out there.

    But wait, there's more ... replacement parts aren't expected to be available until later this year.

    keep reading article "More Takata Inflators Recalled"
  16. Speaking before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, VW CEO Michael Horn said U.S. vehicles wouldn't start being fixed until 2016 and it will take many years to repair all 500,000 affected vehicles.

    Horn said it could take between 5 to 10 hours of labor for each of the 500,000 vehicles affected in the USA. And if that wasn’t enough, the cost of the repairs might end up being higher than the vehicle’s worth.

    To sum up: repairs could take years, cost lots of money, and reduce the horsepower and gas mileage of the repaired car.

    Mr. Horn told committee members Volkswagen would consider a buy-back program for all affected vehicles. It's estimated that based on current values, the cost for such a program could reach $7 billion just for the Volkswagen vehicles on U.S. roads.

    VW is just hemorrhaging money at this point.

    keep reading article "Fixing Each of the Cheating Volkswagen Diesels Could Take Years"
  17. Investigations are popping up across the globe to learn what damage has been done by VW, and the automaker says it has set aside over $7.3 billion to handle the crisis.

    However, Volkswagen says that might not be enough due to the massive number of vehicles potentially involved.

    What started as 500,000 vehicles in the USA has quickly ballooned to 11 million vehicles worldwide. The total cost of the fines, repairs, and lawsuit settlements are going to be astronomical. To the point where only setting aside $7 billion seems rather optimistic.

    Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn said that he is "endlessly sorry" shortly before resigning. He just rammed his ship headlong into an iceberg and took off with the only lifeboat.

    keep reading article "Volkswagen Sets Aside $7.3 Billion for Emissions Mess"
  18. Lawyers, Start Your Lawsuits.

    A VW diesel emissions lawsuit has been filed in California. Girard Gibbs LLP has filed a class-action lawsuit against VW in California, for deceiving customers into buying vehicles marketed as “clean diesel.”

    "Volkswagen promised consumers a car with power, high fuel economy, and low emissions—if they paid a few thousand dollars more for a Volkswagen “clean” diesel vehicle." - Attorney Andre M. Mura, Girard Gibbs LLP

    The vehicles named in the lawsuit are the 2009-2015 Volkswagen Jetta (including the Jetta Sportswagen); 2010-2015 Volkswagen Golf (including the Golf Sportswagen); 2010-2015 Audi A3; 2012-2015 Volkswagen Beetle (including the Beetle Convertible) and the 2012-2015 Volkswagen Passat.

    keep reading article "The First Class-Action Filed Against VW for It’s Not-So-Clean-Diesels"
  19. Volkswagen has been caught manipulating the emissions output of its diesel engines during lab testing.

    The EPA says the "defeat device" is sophisticated software on VW cars that detects when the car is going through official emissions testing. When the software recognizes an official test is underway, it turns on full emissions controls to make it appear the emission standards are within the rules. Once the official tests are completed, the emission controls are decreased during normal driving.

    The EPA estimates 482,000 diesel passenger cars are violating the Clean Air Act, an offense that can carry a penalty of $37,500 per vehicle. Holy $$$.

    The offending cars were sold in the USA starting in 2008 and include:

    • 2009–2015 VW Jetta
    • 2009–2015 VW Beetle
    • 2009–2015 Audi A3
    • 2009–2015 VW Golf
    • 2014–2015 VW Passat

    The government has temporarily blocked VW from selling any 2016 diesel inventory, and the automaker should expect a wave of fines and consumer blowback. This is going to get interesting.

    keep reading article "VW Busted by the EPA for Using 'Defeat Devices' to Manipulate Emissions Output"
  20. Federal investigators couldn't figure out why perfectly good fuel pumps were failing in some Volkswagen (and Audi) vehicles.

    The investigation lasted 4 years and had VW's full cooperation.

    The pumps seemed fine and even came with built-in margins for fuels that were slightly out of specification. What the pumps couldn't handle is owners filling up their diesel engines with gasoline.

    For the love of everything, don't do that!

    Using gas for diesel engines would be like trying to replace my morning coffee with soy milk. Sure, I could swallow it but the result wouldn't be pretty. A little gas in a diesel engine will burn quickly and create a very low power output. A lot of gas in a diesel engine can cause the engine to blow or, you guessed it --- fuel pump to fail.

    In 2013, VW started a service campaign to install bright yellow stickers near the gas cap to warn owners not to let this happen.

    keep reading article "Hey, Stop Putting Gas in Your Diesel Engines"
  21. Manufacturers can sometimes drag their feet when it comes to issuing recalls.

    But whenever there's reports of fuel leaking out of cars they start to move like someone lit a fire under their butt. That's because, well ... there might actually be real fires soon.

    Last week Volkswagen -- parent company of Audi -- recalled 26,000 cars for fuel injectors that leak. Just a couple days later they expanded that recall to include an additional 45,000 cars.

    Owners had been complaining about the smell of gas inside the cabin. VW traced the issue to a bad soldering job where the sealing cap meets the fuel rail and blames the problem on their supplier. Looks like someone's getting grounded.

    For more information about the problem and the range of manufacturing dates this affects, visit CarComplaints.com. VW owners with specific questions can contact customer service at 800-822-8987 and give them recall number 24BL. Audi owners can call 800-822-2834 and reference recall 24AP.

    keep reading article "Gas Leaks Prompt Recall"

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