Auburn Hills, Michigan – Dec. 26, 2017 – Volkswagen Group of America recently announced that it would recall nearly 49,000 Audi A6 and A7 executive cars from model years 2012 to 2014, over concerns about the potential for a leaking fuel line, according to a defect report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The issue stems from a compression point in the design of the fuel line that was supposed to facilitate installation. However, that part of the fuel line may weaken over time due to issues in the manufacturing process, potentially leading to a leak.

The vehicles in question were produced from March 28, 2011, to Sept. 13, 2013, and 100 percent of the A6s and A7s in the recall are affected by the issue.

The Defect

The defect was first noticed as far back as the middle of 2013, but various intermediate fixes were apparently not effective in fully reducing the risk of a fuel line leak. In fact, various attempted fixes may have exacerbated the problem in certain situations. The fuel line was manufactured by a parts supplier based in Denmark, but many of the fixes were made by Audi on the basis of software updates to the vehicles’ internal gearbox computer.

Leaking fuel could lead to a fire or explosion if in the presence of an ignition source. Drivers or vehicle occupants may be able to spot this issue by noticing a gasoline smell, or puddles under their vehicles.

Timeline of Events

In 2013, Audi began receiving reports of A6 and A7 vehicles that had the 3.0TFSI engine installed, prompting an investigation by the company. In June 2014, with reports of leaking fuel lines increasing, the company’s Product Safety Committee received more information on the issue and made the decision to update the gearboxes’ software, with an eye toward reducing vibration and strain on the fuel lines. Monitoring of the issue continued even after this point.

From March 2015 to April 2017, more information came in that some Audi vehicles were still suffering the same type of damage even after getting the gearbox software update. Once again, the Product Safety Committee received the latest data on the investigation and conducted more field analysis.

In October 2017, the company’s laboratory analyzed 11 fuel lines, none of which showed any damage, but later that month and into November, more incidents were reported.

Then on Nov. 29, the Product Safety Committee completed further analysis and determined it was time to recall the vehicles in question.

The Solution

Audi drivers whose vehicles are affected by the recall will be able to take them to their local Audi dealerships or other locations for free repairs. The company will also offer reimbursement to owners who already paid to have these issues fixed.

The replacement fuel lines have a redesigned fuel hose that shrinks during installation instead of being compressed.

Both dealers and owners will be formally informed of the recall on Feb. 5, 2018.

Recall Masters  – October 24, 2017

Volkswagen recalls vehicles with defective auxiliary heaters

The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 216,000 vehicles possibly equipped with defective auxiliary heaters, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models, including:

• 2013-2016 Audi A4 sedans and A4 Allroad station wagons produced between March 2, 2012 and July 31, 2015.
• 2013-2016 Audi A5 coupes and cabriolets produced between March 8, 2012 and July 31, 2015.
• 2013-2016 Audi Q5 sport utility vehicles produced between April 7, 2012 and July 31, 2015.

The German automaker estimates 100 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the defective parts.

The Defect

Affected models contain auxiliary heaters with defective electrical connectors prone to contact corrosion. Mechanical wear and movement is known to cause this condition, which can lead to overheating, melting of nearby wires and even engine fires. This poses a serious threat to occupants. However, Volkswagen has yet to receive reports linking the defective auxiliary heaters to any accidents or injuries…

Read the entire article on the Recall Masters website

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Sept. 8, 2017 – The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 8,300 vehicles possibly equipped with defective engine control unit software, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017-2018 Audi A3 cabriolets and sedans. The German automaker suspects all of the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective software.

The Defect

Affected models are equipped with problematic ECU software that facilitates an engine air and fuel mixture burning stability strategy, which is prone to cause stalling during start-up or low-RPM maneuvers. Specifically, when the engine flywheel begins to rotate, the software misinterprets this movement as “knocking,” which triggers engine shutoff. This poses a serious hazard to occupants, as vehicles could lose power when traveling at high speeds, therefore increasing the likelihood of an accident. That said, Audi has yet to receive reports linking the defect to any accidents or injuries.

In the event of an engine stall, the “Engine Stop While Driving” light will illuminate. Drivers can immediately restart their vehicles to regain operability.

Timeline of Events

Earlier this year, Audi began receiving internal reports outlining sudden engine shutoffs in new production vehicles. These documents described instances in which vehicles would stall when accelerating out of complete stops or slow rolls. Over the course of April and May 2017, the car company received multiple claims from owners. Claim volumes further increased during the summer months, the majority of which seemed to come from owners living in regions with high temperatures. Audi initiated an internal investigation in response to these filings, and discovered that virtually all of the claims originated from owners in cities with warm climates. It also found that the stalling behavior was a result of problematic ECU software.

On Aug. 9, quality assurance personnel at automaker decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall. Audi notified dealers of the action Sept. 6.

The Solution

The car company has directed dealers to replace the ECU software in affected vehicles free of charge, according to documents submitted to the NHTSA. Audi plans to notify owners Sept. 27. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Audi customer service staff at (800) 253-2834. Callers should use the internal recall reference identification code 24DF. Owners can also reach out to the NHTSA via the organization’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Auburn Hill, Mich. – March 20, 2017 – Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 1,600 vehicles equipped with defective safety belts. The recall affects Audi A5 and S5 cabriolets produced between June and November 2016, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The Defect

Impacted vehicles have safety-belt pretensioners that could detach during a high-velocity crash. Consequently, the microgas generators contained within these fixtures may also disconnect and become airborne within the cabin, putting passengers at risk. While the pretensioners addressed in this recall are installed in a whole range of Audi models, engineers have discovered that microgas generators only come loose in A5 and S5 cabriolets. This is a result of ineffective crimping unique to these vehicles.

Timeline of Events

In December 2016, Autoliv, the OEM manufacturer that supplied the safety belt pretensioner assemblies, notified Volkswagen that its products were defective due to an assembly line oversight. It also communicated that a 573 report on its pretensioners and microgas generators was forthcoming. Members of the car maker’s Product Safety Committee discussed the matter over multiple sessions that took place throughout December 2016 and January 2017. The group ultimately decided there was not enough data to call for a voluntary recall and asked Autoliv to supply further information.

The parts producer submitted specific serial numbers for installed pretensioners and microgas generators in January. Volkswagen engineers reviewed the information and conducted field tests that lasted through the following month. On March 1, the auto manufacturer decided to initiate a voluntary recall for Audi A5 and S5 models, both of which performed poorly in trials.

The Solution

Volkswagen will order dealers to replace defective safety belt pretensioners and microgas generators. It does not plan to reimburse owners for these repairs. There are no timelines for dealer or owner notification.