Volkswagen Touareg Reliability Problems

1. 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"

2. A new lawsuit says VW is aware of a Touareg design issue that allows water to enter the engine, causing a sudden failure.

   The plaintiff says their engine failed for a second time while driving in traffic. Following an inspection, the dealership informed her that water had leaked into the air filter. She claims technicians accused her of intentionally driving through a lake of water in order to damage her Touareg.

   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.

   keep reading article "Clogged Drains and Wet Air Filters Appear to be Shutting Down Touareg Engines"

3. 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. Volkswagen is recalling 21,000 Touaregs because failing fuel filter flanges are causing fires.

   Yikes, and I thought Touareg was hard to say.

   "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.

   keep reading article "Touareg Tongue Twister Recall"

8. Volkswagen has released a settlement update for 83,000 Audi, Porsche, and VW vehicles with TDI engines.

   And methinks most owners are going to be Scrooge McDuck levels of happy. Owners of the 2009-2012 VW Touareg 3.0L diesel have a decision to make.

   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.

   keep reading article "VW Releases 3.0L TDI Settlement Terms"

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