Volkswagen Problems and News Tagged #recall

In case you missed it during your eggnog and sugar cookie hangover (no judgement), VW announced the 2012-2014 Beetle needs to be recalled to replace their dangerously defective Takata airbag inflators.

The script is very much the same as previous Takata recalls. The propellant inside the inflators becomes extremely volatile due to heat and humidity exposure over time to the point that, when the airbag is deployed, the inflator actually explodes and sends shards of metal out into the cabin.…

Volkswagen recently issued a 2-for-1 series of recalls for owners of the 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport and 2021 Atlas.

Both campaigns are to fix issues that can cause a sudden and dangerous loss of control.…

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.

VW technicians installed the wrong airbags in a handful of Jettas during a service visit.

As you might expect, the wrong airbags are unlikely to work and might not deploy at all. Volkswagen thinks the problem only affects 4 owners who will be contacted in April of 2019.

VW replaced reliable brake pad wear indicators with a software solution for the 2019 Beetle.

The system is supposed to display a warning message when the brake pads are dangerously thin and need to be replaced. It isn’t working. Over 4,000 Beetle vehicles have been recalled to update the instrument cluster software.

Volkswagen and Audi are recalling 119,000 vehicles to replace dangerous Takata airbag inflators.

This campaign is part of an industry-wide effort involving more than a dozen automakers and 1.7 million vehicles. The chemical inside of Takata airbag inflators can become unstable over time, leading to violent and sometimes deadly airbag deployments. The recall is for both driver and passenger side inflators in the 2015-2017 CC, 2015-2016 Eos, and 2015 Passat.

Volkswagen is recalling 6,300 vehicles after their supplier informed them the rear coil springs they provided weren’t ready for production.

Um, whoops? If the coil spring breaks it will cause an unsettling noise (bad), a sagging backend (worse), and can even puncture a tire leading to a sudden blowout (holy smokes terrible). Owners of the 2018-2019 Atlas, 2015 Golf SportWagen, and 2019 Jetta should be on the lookout for a recall notice in the mail.

A defective quick connector might allow fuel supply lines to detatch from the engine of over 500 Golf R cars.

Volkswagen is recalling the cars because when detached, the lines stop supplying fuel to the crankshaft (very important) and start depositing it onto hot engine surfaces (very dangerous).

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?

The head restraint guide that keeps it attached to the seat frame may not have been properly welded in 169 VW vehicles.

This is the second welding-related recall this year. They also recalled the Tiguan’s shock absorbers back in May. What in the weld is going on at these factories?

About the Recall ∞

• Recalled are 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf, Golf R, Audi A3 Sedan and RS3 vehicles that need the rear seat frames replaced._
• In the last couple months a petition was handed to safety regulators because of weld concerns in the Jeep Wrangler, Subaru had to recall the brand new Ascent for missing welds, and even Maserati’s sub-frames are breaking because of welding mistakes.

You know that annoying-but-useful chime that comes on every time you open the car door with the key still in the ignition?

Turns out it might not be working in the 2018-2019 Atlas and 2019 Jetta. VW determined a 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.

A tiny number of 2019 Jetta cars shipped with passenger-side LED headlights that are out of position.

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.

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.

The 2018 Atlas has been recalled because a twisted A/C evaporator tube can drain water onto the floor of the SUV’s cabin.

Not only are wet carpets stinky, but they can also damage fragile electrical components underneath. You know, like the mini computer that controls your airbags and whatnot.

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.

58 of VW's 2018 Atlas SUVs have been recalled before the calendar even flipped over to the new year.

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.

Did Volkswagen just have a Freaky Friday moment? According to CarComplaints.com, a pair of 2017 Jettas need to be recalled because their VINs don't match up.

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.

The right half-shaft grease boots in 2012-14 diesel Passats are leaking grease.

And as luck would have it, those same cars have a heat shield that is too short to stop the leaks from hitting hot exhaust parts.

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.

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 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.

It's been a bad week for 2017 Volkswagens. First there was a tiny recall for seized up engines in the 2017 Jetta.

Now the 2017 Passat is being recalled to replace leaking brake lines.

"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.

Whenever a recall is announced, there's good reason to hold your breath.

Especially when you hear Volkswagen is recalling the 2017 Jetta because its 1.4-liter engine can seize up. Well, breath easy friends – because this recall is for two vehicles. Yes, two.

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.