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.
]]>The case had plenty of merit. It's widely believes that the plastic channel around VW's sunroofs can crack, allowing water to leak into the car's interior. The cracks forms because of a difference in expansion rates between the channel and the steel reinforcement plates that hold it in place.
Once inside, water wreaks absolute havoc. It soaks the headliner, causes a dangerous amount of condensation on the inside of the glass, and can even fry sensitive electronics. In extreme cases owners have even said the car would brake on its own because one of the sensors got wet.
There are no less than 12 technical service bulletins and a whole slew of "tech tips" that VW has sent to its dealerships. Yet, to date, they've done very little to correct the problem.
This lawsuit was trying to change that, until it was dropped. Let's hope someone else picks up the pieces and moves forward.
]]>Volkswagen asked for the case to be dismissed on the classic legal defense of sure there complaints, but it's not that many complaints.
And when they tried to convince the court the plaintiffs shouldn't have a case because VW couldn't have possibly known about the problems before the vehicles were sold, they were asked about a "technical tip" sent to VW dealerships on possile transmission problems before the vehicles were sold. The document describes scraping noises commonly heard when shifting into 5th gear at speeds of 20-25 mph, under light load
.
The extended warranty is applied automatically if you own or lease one of the affected vehicles and didn’t opt out of the class-action.
Owners who want to be eligible for reimbursements must file a claim by January 25th, 2019. More information is available at TimingChainLitigation.com.
The same connectors are being recalled in the Audi A3 and TT. Maybe it’s time to go back to the drawing board on this quick connector design?
]]>data container wasn't coded correctly, something that will cause a failure of the instrument cluster to provide an audible warning when the driver opens the door with the key still in the ignition.
That’s a federal safety no-no. To fix the issue, VW has scheduled a recall for January 18, 2019.
]]>VW says a driver may have trouble seeing at night, not to mention the incorrect settings violate federal safety standards.Only 28 cars are being recalled so the chances are pretty low that yours is one of them.
Of course it’s a much higher probability than you hitting that $1.6B mega millions jackpot, so look into it.
]]>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.
According to court documents, both Passats have been in the custody of an authorized Volkswagen mechanic for months because the emissions repairs caused both cars to not start.
The plaintiffs claim numerous attempts made by VW technicians have failed to fix the no-start problems, so the owners tried to trade in one of the Passats. The lawsuit alleges they were told a trade wasn't possible because the car was worth $0 since it couldn't be started.
Needless to say the couple is … let’s call it, “unimpressed” with VW’s “fix” and has filed a lawsuit against the automaker.
]]>This decision has been a long time coming. Even snails are embarrassed by how slowly this case has crept along.
Dealerships sure can get creative with their unfounded accusations, eh?
Volkswagen sent an engineer to inspect the SUV and it was confirmed water entered the air filter and engine because “drain in air guide was clogged with debris.”
The real issue appears to be the air intake’s drain vales can get clogged, allowing water to saturate the air filters. When the engine draws air through the wet filter, it also pulls in water leading to stalling or a complete loss of power.
The proposed class-action lawsuit includes all consumers in the U.S. who purchased or leased a VW Touareg manufactured between December 2014 and November 2017.
]]>Volkswagen first checked into the problem in August 2017 after complaints about wet carpets, illuminated airbag warning lights and deactivated airbag control units. VW didn't see it as relevant to safety and issued a service campaign.
10 months after sweeping the problem under the (soggy) rug, a control unit fizzled out and inadvertently deployed an airbag in a 2018 Atlas. Luckily no-one was hurt.
It’s almost as if those WARNING lights were trying to tell VW something a year ago.
]]>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.
]]>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.
]]>VW says the tanks were built with walls that aren't think enough, so the tanks will need to be replaced.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of gas tanks that were too thin to, well … hold gas.
]]>A VIN, which stands for vehicle identification number, is a unique 17 character code given to each car in the USA. It is used for tracking recalls, registrations, accident reports, theft claims, and insurance coverage. The VIN is displayed on multiple points on each car so they can always be checked against one another.
For two Jettas, however, their VIN markings don't match the VIN plates near their windshields. Presumably because the two cars mixed up their plates. That is a legal no-no.
There's no need to freak out, however. To VW's credit, the automaker has already replaced the affected cars.
]]>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.
]]>When that happens, you'll really be burning up the quarter mile.
But wait, there's more about the recall from CarComplaints.com:
"Engineers also determined diesel particulate filters overheated because they were being overloaded with soot caused by failures of the upper boost hoses. VW learned Passats made up to July 2012 had higher failure rates of the upper boost hoses and if the hoses fail, compressed air from the turbo chargers can escape before entering the combustion chambers."
This leads to more fuel being injected than needed, which results in soot and a higher likelihood of the engine overheating.
Jetta owners can expect a fix in July 2017.
]]>Now South Korea's government has a trade proposal for Volkswagen – they'll send the vehicles back, and in exchange VW can serve up some executive heads on a platter. I'm guessing there will be some negotiation.
"The deportation of the diesel vehicles comes as South Korean prosecutors try to nail VW executives to the wall for alleged violations of clear air laws. Johannes Thammer, Park Dong-hoon and Trevor Hill say they did nothing wrong and were caught up in the emission scandal without warning."
The three executives have been accused of setting up an illegal scheme to import 120,000 dirty diesels into South Korea between 2008 and 2015. Volkswagen thinks the country is being ridiculous and will appeal its $32 million fine.
]]>The settlement was announced back in December 2016]. Owners who opt to get their engines fixed can expect compensation between $7,000 and $16,000.
In addition, the judge approved a $327.5 million settlement for Bosch for its role in developing the engines.
Bosch has denied any wrong-doing, but the company undeniably supplied VW with the defeat device software which was then used to cheat emissions on millions of 2-liter "clean diesel" engines.
Prosecutors have previously tried to determine if Bosch intentionally conspired with VW, which is a claim Bosch says is "wild and unfounded."
]]>"VW calls these the RoW headrests, meaning "rest of the world." The RoW head restraint is adjustable in six positions and the U.S. head restraint is adjustable only in five positions."
'Merica.
The recall is for 2016–2017 CC vehicles and expected to begin in June 2017.
]]>...Volkswagen was nailed with felony counts for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and consumers, engaging in wire fraud, violating the federal Clean Air Act, obstruction of justice and for importing merchandise by means of false statements.
Maybe next time they'll think twice before defrauding customers and shredding thousands of documents during an open investigation (ok, probably not).
For the next 3 years, the automaker will be under the watchful eye of Former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Larry D. Thompson and his team of experts in corporate monitoring.
]]>"Investigators found that with time, oxidization can ... allow the components to intrude into the fuel filter flange material under pressure from the inside. In addition to the pressure, tension can cause the formation of small cracks where the fuel will eventually leak."
Owners will either be given new fuel filter flanges or protective covers.
]]>VW's executives have had a ...ahem... hazy memory when it comes to details on when they first learned about the "defeat device" installed in their diesel cars. U.S. prosecutors think they knew about the emissions scheme for nearly a decade, and the raid was in search of evidence to prove it.
One executive has already been arrested and five others indicted.
]]>"[the] judge said at the end of an 70 minute hearing that he wanted more time to consider the settlement’s $4.3 billion in fines and other actions given the “serious nature” of the crimes."
VW agreed to pay $4.3 billion in civil and criminal fines, but is it enough? Personally, I'm holding out hope for executive jail cells where the air is partially filtered through the tailpipe of a "clean diesel" VW TDI.
]]>"Engineers traced the brake fluid leaks to end flares of the brake lines that were damaged during manufacturing, causing the seals to be faulty. A low brake fluid warning light will activate when the fluid reaches a certain level."
Details on this recall are still coming in.
]]>Well breathe easy unless you're one of the two unlucky ones. Then you should probably breathe fire.
"Volkswagen is giving two choices to the two owners (or one owner if they own both Jettas): VW will replace the engine block in the vehicle or buy back the vehicle. However, Volkswagen didn't say what will be paid for the new Jetta."
And while you'd think this would be the smallest recall in history, Kia says step aside, amateurs.
]]>They can accept a buyback offer between $26,000 to $58,000 (depending on model year and mileage) or owners can keep their SUV, wait for VW's fix, and receive up to $15,380 as compensation for their troubles.
Even previous owners will be eligible for payments ranging from $4,627 to $7,747.
For owners of certain 2013-2016 Touareg TDIs, once VW gets the go-ahead from environmental regulators, they will fix the vehicles without offering any buybacks. However, once repaired, owners and lessees will get compensation ranging from $8,539 to $17,614.
Current lessees will also be given the option to terminate their lease without any penalty.
All this is to say that VW is paying through the nose for cheating on their diesel emissions. In total, more than $1 billion will be going back to consumers. And that number could grow significantly if they can't come up with an adequate fix.
There's a breakdown of the details on 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.
]]>But Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt says she's leaving "due to differences in their understanding of responsibilities and future operating structures within the function she leads."
If you were expecting major changes at the top, this is basically the board's way of saying blow it out your tail-pipe.
]]>I guess you could say his memory is hazy? (I'll see myself out). From Reuters:
"Upon being asked whether he thought the diesel cheating could still be blamed on just a few engineers, Winterkorn acknowledged that more than a handful of staffers knew but said he did not know how many people were involved."
"Asked why he himself had no earlier knowledge, Winterkorn said: "Software applications represent a very specific area of work in engine development."
Is that very specific area usually filled with cheaters?
]]>VW is charged with participating in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and VW customers and for violations of the Clean Air Act by lying and misleading the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. customers about the emissions systems. Volkswagen admits it spent years using sophisticated and illegal software to conceal nitrogen oxide emissions that are up to 40 times higher than allowed by law.
In addition, six VW executives have been indicted by a federal grand jury and may soon join their buddy behind bars.
]]>Schmidt, 48, is a resident of Germany but was in Florida when the feds arrested and charged him with conspiracy, wire fraud and violations of the U.S. Clean Air Act.
Mr. Schmidt is the second VW employee to be arrested for their role in the diesel emissions cheat and coverup.
]]>"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.
]]>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.
]]>So disgruntled owners started stripping off parts and selling them online before sending their cars in. And it worked ... for a while.
According to CarComplaints.com, a judge is saying you jetta stop doing that:
"U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer has [said] owners should think twice about altering their vehicles if they want VW to pay for the cars.
OK, Judge Breyer didn't use the Jetta pun and it's such a wasted opportunity. The pins were setup, he just had to knock them down.
]]>Under the proposed 3-liter diesel agreement, Volkswagen will be allowed to recall more than 75 percent of the illegal vehicles to fix them and bring them into compliance with emissions laws. The settlement agreement could mean another $1 billion loss for VW, adding to the $15 billion to be paid for illegal 2-liter vehicles.
That means about 63,000 vehicles will be repaired and 20,000 will be bought back. As for what that fix will be? VW says ¯\–(ツ)_/¯
]]>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.
]]>In its motion filed in a federal district court in San Francisco, the FTC says it saw red flags when 23 phones of important Volkswagen employees were determined to be lost or unable to be turned on. Federal investigators want to know what was on those 23 cell phones that relates to VW's admitted emissions cheating that was concealed by the automaker for years.
If VW executives need some new cells, I hear there's plenty available inside federal prison.
]]>"Plaintiff Peter Bryan Burra filed the Jetta Hybrid lawsuit alleging the “regenerative braking system” in his 2013 Jetta is defective and doesn't predict how much time or distance he will need to make a safe stop."
According to Mr. Burra, the hybrid's unpredictable stopping distances have led to two accidents. That's something others owners have complained about too.
VW says "the plaintiff agreed to enter arbitration according to the sales contract concerning a dispute about the Jetta Hybrid" and that the case shouldn't be heard in front of a jury. The judge, however, disagreed and will allow the case to move forward.
]]>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.
]]>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.
]]>Owners will have two options.
Either way, you will also receive "owner restitution" in the form of a big ole' pile of cash. Well, it'll probably be a check but you get the idea. Some say happiness can't be bought, but those people probably aren't eligible for this program.
Lessees will have the option to terminate their lease without an early termination penalty.
The amount of compensation each owner will receive is somewhere between $5,100 and $9,800. That's a lot of Deutschmarks. The exact amount will vary based on all sorts of factors like the age of your car, its mileage, the options you had installed, and your location.
Owners can look up their vehicle values on VW's court settlement website or use these tables from the FTC to get a better idea of where they stand.
Claims will need to be submitted to VWCourtSettlement.com by September 1, 2018.
The settlement applies to over 475,000 vehicles in the USA with 2-liter TDI engines. That includes:
The programs are allegedly used to shut off nitrogen oxide emissions controls after 22 minutes, about two minutes longer than the 20 minutes it takes to perform a typical emissions test. If true, emissions regulators would see normal emissions levels on test machines, then after about 22 minutes the emissions levels will shoot up.
The newspaper, Bild am Sonntag, doesn't say how they got their information but did say the software was discovered on Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg vehicles equipped with turbocharged direct injection (TDI) 3-liter engines.
]]>"Channel 4 TV sent undercover personnel posing as potential buyers into eight Volkswagen dealerships and six of those dealerships provided false safety ratings information."
Some VW sales reps are saying the Polo has a 5-star safety rating. Only problem is, the last time the European New Car Assessment Programme awarded 5-stars for that car was in 2009.
To be fair, VW says this is a problem with only a "small number of dealer staff." Just keep that grain of salt handy next time you talk to them.
]]>"A molding problem caused the locking mechanism to be improperly manufactured causing the position retaining mechanism inside the door lock to break"
That's a problem, especially for my toddler where her seat-kicking-snack-throwing-booster-seat-bouncing routine creates much more than a simple vibration.
The 2016 CC, Golf R, Tiguan, and eGolf are all involved. For specific build dates, visit CarComplaints.com.
]]>Volkswagen says owners will eventually be able to learn more about the settlement terms and determine how much compensation is available by visiting VWCourtSettlement.com.
"Owners can always opt out of the settlement if they want to hire an attorney and tackle Volkswagen in court. As part of the preliminary settlement, owners will receive official notifications concerning their rights and available options, but the final settlement approval won't occur until October 18, 2016."
The whole thing is rather complex. There are a good amount of details available now, but those could change up until the final settlement. VW promised to have the final calculations automated on VWCourtSettlement.com by the end of the month.
]]>About 6,000 Volkswagen Touran vehicles are recalled worldwide to replace gas tanks that can explode due to corrosion. The 2006-2009 Touran minivans have front compressed natural gas bottles that can burst.
VW says the minivans should be driven using only gasoline until they can be repaired. Makes sense.
]]>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.
VW will present a final plan to a judge during their court date on June 21, 2016. The plan should include information on fixes, settlements, and potential buyback options.
German officials have given VW the green light to repair cars with the 2-liter diesel 189 engine. Volkswagen says the fix is a "retrofit" and it will make the cars legal to drive without affecting performance or MPGs. Hopefully that's a sign of things to come in the USA.
Meanwhile, owners of 80,000 Audi, Porsche, and VW vehicles with 3-liter NOx-spewing engines will still have to wait for a fix. The 3-liter cars have the same problem as their 2-liter counterparts, but the root cause --- and thus the fix --- are completely different.
There's plenty more information about the VW diesel emissions problem for those who want to dive deeper.
]]>"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.
]]>In addition to the improperly calibrated TPMS, Volkswagen says the stickers on these CUVs have incorrect tire pressure information.
Owners have already been notified, at least according to VW. Since I have a hard time believing anything they say right now, you can call your local dealer and ask about recall 44M9.
]]>"The corrosion can cause overheating and an electrical short that can lead to an underbody fire."
Does anyone know if NOx emissions are flammable?
]]>The automaker says the diagnostics for the high-voltage battery management system is too sensitive and can falsely detect an electrical surge. The electric drive motor for the e-Golf will shut down unexpectedly if the system detects an electrical surge.
VW says they've already begun mailing out notices for the recall.
]]>The missing clip can cause the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge. From there, a driver will need to find unique methods of applying the brakes without a brake pedal.
The c-clip stands for circlip, but I'm thinking it could also stand for crap. As in, "ahh, crap --- my brake pedal just fell off."
]]>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.
]]>VW determined water could enter without the rear hatch open because the sunroof drains and rear lid seals weren't assembled correctly. Engineers say the hybrid battery tray is located in the rear hatch area ... In the worst case, the electrical short could cause a fire.
Buying a hybrid and generating your own heat source? That's taking "going green" to a whole new level.
The recall was expected to begin at the end of February, 2016. If you haven't received your notice or have questions, contact VW at 800-893-5298.
]]>You've probably heard about Takata's defective inflators by now. They're the ones that explode with too much force and sometimes send metal shrapnel flying throughout the cabin. Yeah, those. They've also been linked to a number of deaths and injuries.
While the majority of Takata airbag recalls have been for frontal airbags, this recall is for airbags mounted on the seats which deploy from the side.
]]>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.
]]>At least 70 Volkswagen lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. alone, with the latest VW emissions lawsuit coming from … Harris County, Texas, alleging VW vehicles have harmed residents to the tune of $100 million.
Employees are being suspended and the board of directors held a seven hour discussion on investigating the issue. The automaker is coming apart at the seams.
]]>“Saying Canada depends heavily on what the EPA does in the U.S., every VW car in the U.S. had to pass emissions testing to receive a "certificate of conformity," something Canadian authorities watched for in allowing cars to be sold in that country. The diesel cars did receive certificates to be sold, but only because VW was cheating the system by using defeat devices.”
Hope it was worth it.
]]>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.
]]>"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.
]]>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:
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.
]]>NHTSA documents say investigators want to know if an exploding side airbag in the 2015 Tiguan is related to previous Takata recalls.
The vehicle in question experienced a ruptured side airbag in a June crash when the driver struck a deer. Unlike Takata airbags that have killed and injured vehicle occupants, the Missouri driver wasn't injured and it's possible this airbag explosion is different than previous Takata airbag ruptures._"
In addition to the 2015 Tiguan, NHTSA will be determining which VW vehicles have airbags that contain ammonium nitrate.
]]>The 2015 VW Passat, for example, has just been recalled for a faulty brake line connection that can allow fluid to leak. That fluid is critical to your stopping power, so as it leaks out the car will need longer and longer distances to stop.
VW says workers used a busted torque wrench during assembly.
]]>The recall will begin sometimes in June. Owners with questions can contact VW at 800-893-5298 and use the recall number 01A5.
]]>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.
]]>At the heart of the investigation is the steering column control module which is connected to all the electronics in your steering wheel -- airbags, radio controls and horn. There's really no way for you to test your airbag short of running into a cement pole (which I very strongly recommend against). However, if you've noticed problems changing stations from your steering wheel or your horn sounds more and more like a sick duck, it could be a sign of a bigger problem.
The investigation is focusing on 30,000 of the 2012 VW Passat and 2012 VW CC cars.
]]>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.
]]>According to the Wheels Blog at NY Times, the investigation is focusing on almost 200,000 2002-2003 VW Passats, depending on the results this could open into a full-sledged defect investigation:
"The agency says the investigation is looking at an estimated 199,000 Passats from the 2002-3 model years after receiving 16 reports that faulty ignition coils caused either fires or a loss of power on 4- and 6-cylinder engines."
In 2003, Volkswagen had a serious problem with ignition coils on many of its most popular models.
]]>Additionally, the fuel pump can experience pressure problems because of a degraded electrical current which can lead to the engine stalling.
151,000 model year 2009-2014 Volkswagen Tiguan SUVs.
]]>VW is recalling 18,500 model year 2009 Routans that have ignition switches that can inadvertently turn the car (and it's safety features) off if the owner's keychain is too heavy.
VW says the minivan should only be driven with a single key. That means no other keys, key fobs, bottle openers or knick knacks hanging from your ignition (sorry Mickey Mouse keychain, you have to go). Someday we'll all be telling our kids tales about landline phones, the sounds 56k modems used to make, and how we used to put car keys on heavy keychains.
In March 2011, VW recalled the 2010 Routan for the same problem. Any 2010 Routans that weren't repaired from the 2011 recall will need to be fixed. The automaker estimates that's about 31,000 minivans in total.
]]>According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), O-ring seals in some VWs can leak between the oil cooler and the transmission. Once flammable transmission fluid hits a hot surface only bad things can happen.
The recall affects the 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat equipped with the 1.8T engine and an automatic transmission. Owners should see a notice in the mail soon at which point they can bring their cars in to have the O-ring seals replaced.
]]>According to NHTSA, the recall will begin in May, 2014 and concerned owners can contact Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 and refer to recall number 94G8/7V.
]]>The problem is a lose electrical connection in the 2012 and 2013 model years. If you do manage to knock the lights out, you'd see a warning light on your dashboard (and feel like you just won the strongman or strong-woman competition).
VW says no crashes or injuries have been reported but dealers will still need to fix the problem. They'll install a different fitting for the headlight bulb and possibly add a new hood bumper to protect the hood from hitting the headlights. I was just kidding about that pillow, but it looks like VW is serious.
Affected VW Passat owners can contact the Volkswagen at 800-822-8987.
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