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.