Volkswagen recalls vehicles over risk of engine fire

Volkswagen recalls vehicles over risk of engine fire

September 19, 2021 Bojan Popic

Auburn Hills, MI – September 19, 2021  – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) is recalling 16,737 vehicles that can stall or catch fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. This recall affects 2022 VW Taos. 

Recall summary  

The engine in these Volkswagen Taos cars receives fuel through a series of hoses that are joined together with quick connectors. Due to a manufacturing issue, the connection in the recalled vehicles may not be tight enough, allowing the connector to slip from the fuel line.  This may cause a fuel leak that may result in the vehicle stalling and also bring about a fire as fuel drips on the hot engine components.

The components in question here are the fuel line with part number 5Q0-200-059-KE and the quick connector with part number 05E-133-723-BE) that were manufactured by Volkswagen de Mexico.

Risks

A fire increases the risk of an accident, as flames and smoke may distract drivers and cause them to panic. Another associated risk is stalling while driving on a highway or the inability to stop and leave the vehicle in time, which may lead to an injury.   For tips on what to do in the event of a fire, please see our recent coverage of a BMW recall.

Warning signs

A fuel leak could result in a strong gasoline, smoke and melting odor inside the car. In addition, the malfunction indicator light (MIL) may come on on the dashboard. 

Other VW recalls

Some of these 2022 Volkswagen Taos were recently recalled because of a software bug, which may cause the engine to stall. Meanwhile, defective fuel components manufactured in Volkswagen de Mexico continue to plague the manufacturer, such as last year’s 2020 Volkswagen Jetta recall for loose engine Fuel Rail bolts. 

The repair

VW authorized dealers will inspect how the fuel line is connected and replace the fuel line and quick connector if needed. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners on October 19, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This VW recall includes more than 16,000 vehicles. To check for this and other VW recalls, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicVolkswagen recalls vehicles over risk of engine fire
Volkswagen recalls Audi cars with faulty Takata inflators

Volkswagen recalls Audi cars with faulty Takata inflators

September 3, 2021 Vishal Venugopal , ,

Auburn Hills, MI – September 3, 2021 – The Volkswagen Group (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 62,812 vehicles over a concern that the airbags may not properly deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of a serious injury or death. The affected vehicles include:

  • 2000 – 2001 Audi TT, including Roadster and Coupe cars
  • 2000 – 2002 Audi S4
  • 2000 – 2002 Audi A4

The affected part is a Takata Non-Azide Driver Airbag Inflators (NADI) with part numbers 4B0.951.403 and 4B0.951.403 A. This recall is different from the ongoing Takata airbag recall and serves as an expansion of a previous recall for some of the same models issued in February 2020.

Recall summary

The recall stems from a faulty airbag inflator that may slow down the deployment of the driver airbag in the event of a crash. Alternatively, the inflator may cause excessive pressure when inflating the airbag.

The exact cause of the defect is unclear but is thought to stem from a variety of factors, including “manufacturing variations [and] climatic conditions.” There have been no reported cases of delayed inflation of the airbag in the affected models. 

As reported, the NADI airbags have a defect that is similar to – but separate from – the larger Takata airbag recall, which involves a different type of inflator.  That larger recall has affected millions of vehicles across the country and stems from faulty airbags inflators that can rupture during deployment, hurling metal shrapnel at the car occupants. 

Risks

The driver’s airbag plays a vital role in mitigating a serious upper-body injury in the event of a crash. In the event that it does not deploy, there is a higher risk of an injury for the driver.

On the flip side – although Audi does not state this explicitly – if the airbag deploys too forcefully, the inflator may burst and maim or kill the car occupants with its fragments, as reported.

Similar Audi airbag recalls

Over the last couple of years, Volkswagen has issued multiple recalls to replace Takata airbag inflators, including one in January of this year for over 100,000 of Beetle compact and convertible cars.

Some of the Audi models in this recall, including the Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, and A4, were also recalled in February 2020, for the same issue.  

The repair

The driver’s side airbag will be replaced with an alternative, newly designed inflator that uses a different propellant, which is a substance that is used to inflate the airbag. Owners were set to be notified on August 20, 2021, and are slated to receive a second notification once the parts become available in mid-October.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

An airbag that fails to deploy correctly is a serious hazard. To find out if your car is affected by this Audi recall, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalVolkswagen recalls Audi cars with faulty Takata inflators
Volkswagen recalls more than 3,000 vehicles with misadjusted headlights

Volkswagen recalls more than 3,000 vehicles with misadjusted headlights

June 22, 2021 Bojan Popic

Auburn Hills, MI – June 22, 2021– Volkswagen  (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 3,231 electric vehicles with headlights that may not have been properly adjusted.  The issue can “increase glare”, especially during nighttime driving, which increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

This recall concerns a blocking cap with part 8W0.941.041 and includes certain 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 SUVs. 

Recall summary  

Due to a supplier error, the headlights of these recalled vehicles were assembled incorrectly.  Normally, there is a cap inside that blocks the headlights from being adjusted horizontally. The cars that are being recalled had this cap placed in the wrong place, allowing for horizontal adjustment.

Risks

A headlight whose horizontal aim is out of alignment will result in reduced visibility for the driver and may even blind oncoming motorists in certain situations. 

Other Volkswagen recalls

In a similar recall in 2019, Volkswagen had to repair more than 650,000 Passat cars and Atlas SUVs that also had misaligned headlights. 

The repair

To fix the issue, Volkswagen authorized dealers will check the headlights on affected vehicles and determine how they were assembled. In case the blocking caps are improperly fitted, dealers will re-install blocking caps at the correct position. Owners will be notified on July 30.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Volkswagen headlight recall includes more than 3,000 compact electric vehicles made during 2021. It is not clear if the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is part of the recall. To do a VW recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicVolkswagen recalls more than 3,000 vehicles with misadjusted headlights

Volkswagen recalls Audis for broken suspensions

May 5, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Auburn Hills, MI – May 5, 2021 – Volkswagen  (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) – which owns the Audi brand – has recalled 40,993 Audis, including a number of 2021 Audi SUVs, because a part of the suspension may break. The recall includes:

  • 2020 – 2021 Audi A4
  • 2019 – 2021 Audi A5
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi A6
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi A7
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi A8
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi Q5
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi S4
  • 2019 – 2021 Audi S5
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi S6
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi S7
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi S8
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi SQ5
  • 2020 – 2021 Audi S5 Cabriolet
  • 2021 Audi Q7
  • 2021 Audi Q8
  • 2021 Audi RS Q8
  • 2019 – 2021 Audi RS5
  • 2021 Audi RS6 Avant
  • 2021 Audi RS7

The component name is ”Lock nut M14x1,5,” part number WHT 007 610.

Recall summary  

The recall stems from an issue with a single nut in the car’s trailing arm suspension. The trailing arms is a type of suspension that helps keep the rear wheels aligned properly. 

Due to a supplier error, the nuts used to connect the trailing arm to the rest of the car were not manufactured “according to specification.” As a result, certain batches of nuts may get corroded or damaged, causing them to break.

Risks

When the nut holding the trailing arm breaks, the rear wheels could become misaligned, changing the direction the car is moving in. “It cannot be completely ruled out that [the car] could suddenly and uncontrollably move in the wrong direction at higher speeds,” Volkswagen says in recall documents. If this occurs, the driver can lose control and crash.

Warning signs

Drivers with a broken trailing arm nut may notice the steering wheel is not aligned when they are driving or that the vehicle lists to one side when they hit the gas or brake. Volkswagen knows of two incidents of this kind; both took place outside the US.

Other Audi recalls

Volkswagen recently recalled over 150,000 Audi A3-generation cars for faulty airbags. These passenger-side airbags are prone to deactivating while someone is sitting in the seat, upping that passenger’s risk of injury in a crash. 

The repair

Volkswagen and Audi dealers will replace the defective nut and will check for existing damage. If the part is already damaged, the whole screw connection will be replaced. Both services are provided for free. The repair is not yet available, but owners will receive more information about the recall by June 25.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 41,000 vehicles are included in this Audi recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolkswagen recalls Audis for broken suspensions
Volkswagen recalls over 153,000 Audis due to airbag malfunction

Volkswagen recalls over 153,000 Audis due to airbag malfunction

April 2, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Auburn Hills, MI – April 2, 2021 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY), which owns the Audi brand, has recalled 153,152 Audi A3-generation cars whose passenger-side airbags may deactivate while someone is sitting in that seat, increasing that passenger’s risk of injury in a crash. The recall includes the following convertibles, sedans and crossover SUVs:

  • 2015 – 2020 Audi A3 
  • 2016 – 2018 Audi A3 e-tron
  • 2017 – 2020 Audi RS3 
  • 2015 – 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet
  • 2015 – 2020 Audi S3 

The component in question is the “repair kit for passenger seat occupant detection,” part number 8V0898522.

Recall summary  

This recall addresses an ongoing problem with the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS), which senses when there is a passenger sitting in the front seat. The PODS is supposed to deactivate the passenger airbag when the seat is empty, but in the case of recalled cars, the airbag “turns off” even when the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of an injury to the passenger in a crash.

The deactivation may occur sporadically and “for a limited amount of time.”

Previous recall

A previous recall for this issue was conducted in 2019 but failed to fix the issue as the manufacturer kept receiving reports that some repaired PODS have continued to malfunction. 

Recent customer complaints about this issue highlighted that this was a “known problem” for “many Audi models, not just A3 and S3” and that, in addition to the airbag issue, some of these models also experienced a seat belt malfunction. The seat belt warning kept going off even though there was no one in the seat.

Risks

Data shows that airbags reduce crash fatalities by 11%, but they can only protect people if they actually deploy. Deactivated airbags cannot protect passengers in a crash. 

Safety tips

Vehicle occupants need to pay attention to the airbag indicator light, which will illuminate if the airbag system has been deactivated. Along with the light, the occupants should also hear a chime and see an error message in the instrument panel. If the warnings come on:

  • Have the front passenger sit elsewhere in the car.
  • Do NOT use the front passenger seat going forward.
  • Take the car to the nearest dealership as soon as possible.

The repair

Audi is still investigating the problem and has not determined what the repair will be.  Owners will receive letters in the mail with more information about the recall on May 21.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 153,000 vehicles are included in this Audi recall. To see if your Audi is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolkswagen recalls over 153,000 Audis due to airbag malfunction
Volkswagen recalls Atlas SUVs as part of Continental tire recall

Volkswagen recalls Atlas SUVs as part of Continental tire recall

March 17, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Auburn Hills, MI – June 7, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has remedied issues with 2,110 vehicles including the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas that had problems with Continental tires. So far, six of these Volkswagen vehicles have been declared unreachable and 0 has been removed from the recall. Four groups of these 2019 Volkswagen Atlas models were remedied in 2021, and one group was remedied in 2022 due to this issue with Continental tires that can suffer a sudden air loss and rupture.

Auburn Hills, MI – March 17, 2021 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 2,535 SUVs equipped with problematic Continental tires that may break apart or rupture. The recall includes 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Volkswagen 2019 SUVs and concerns 255/50 R20 and 245/60 R18 105 T CrossContact LX Sport tires.

Recall summary

When tires are manufactured, they have to be “cured” inside a mold to hold their final shape.  The tires used on the 2019 and 2018 VW Atlas were accidentally cured for longer than necessary, making them more brittle and susceptible to breakage.

The tires are part of a larger problem with Continental brand tires, which has led to recalls by General Motors and Mercedes Benz in the past month.

Risks

The tire rupture could take place in two possible ways:  the tire wall may burst, causing a flat. Alternatively, the tire tread – the part that touches the road – could separate from the rest of the tire. Both could result in the car spinning out of control, raising the risk of an accident.

Although VW recall documents do not specify any warning signs that drivers should look out for,  Mercedes Benz’s recall of the same tires on their GLE SUVs says that the following may be signs of trouble:

  • Visible wear of the tire tread
  • A bulge in the tire tread area
  • Excessive vibrations of the car

The repair

Volkswagen will inspect and, if needed, replace vehicles’ tires for free. Owners will be notified with more information about the recall starting on May 4.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 2,500 vehicles are included in this Volkswagen recall. To see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolkswagen recalls Atlas SUVs as part of Continental tire recall
Volkswagen recalls Audi Q7 whose airbag may injure children

Volkswagen recalls Audi Q7 whose airbag may injure children

February 25, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Auburn Hills, MI – August 24, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has remedied issues with 25,509 vehicles including the 2021 Audi Q7 that had problems with front passenger airbags. Additionally, 16 of these Audi vehicles have been declared unreachable and 0 has been removed from the recall. Four groups of these Audi vehicles were remedied in 2021, and one group was remedied in 2022 due to these issues with the front passenger airbags.

Auburn Hills, MI – February 25, 2021 – Volkswagen  (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 26,967 luxury SUVs whose airbags may injure children in the front seat. This VW recall includes 2020 Audi Q7 and 2021 Audi Q7 luxury SUVs.

Recall Summary  

Due to a programming error, the front passenger airbag in these Audi Q7 2021 and 2020 cars may deploy too quickly during a crash and injure a child who is in the front seat.  

The issue was discovered during testing with a dummy meant to mimic the body of a six-year-old. Airbags hit the dummy’s neck with slightly more force than is allowed by federal safety standards. The impact only occurred in “low-speed front crashes.”

Even though the back seat is the safest place for children in the car, it is still legal in many states for children to ride in the front seat, which is why this test was conducted.

Risks

Airbags deploy in a matter of milliseconds with great force to protect drivers and passengers from impact. But this force can, in some cases, injure children especially if they are too close to the airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends the following to prevent airbag injuries:

  1. Children in rear-facing car seats should not be seated in front of an active air bag.
  2. Children under 13 should be seated in the back seat.
  3. Front-seat passengers should sit as far back from the steering wheel or dashboard as possible.
  4. Always wear a seat belt—airbags are designed to work WITH seat belts, not by themselves.

The repair

To address this Audi recall, dealers will update the airbag computers so that the airbags deploy more safely. This fix will be free. Recall notifications with more details about when and how to get the update will be sent out to owners on April 16.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 30,000 vehicles are included in this Audi Q7 recall. To see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolkswagen recalls Audi Q7 whose airbag may injure children
Volkswagen recalls Atlas vehicles for steering issue

Volkswagen recalls Atlas vehicles for steering issue

February 23, 2021 Ken Boyd

Auburn Hills, MI – February 23, 2021 – Volkswagen AG (NASDAQ:VWAGY) has recalled 10,303 vehicles, due to a manufacturing error that may cause the front steering knuckles – which is what allows the wheels to turn – to fracture, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2021 VW Atlas SUVs and 2020-2021 VW Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The affected component’s part number is 3QF.407.255.E-256.

Recall summary  

Steering knuckles – also known as spindles – connect the car’s wheels to the suspension and steering components. Each front wheel has their own knuckle. Because of a supplier error, one or both of the front steering knuckles may fracture, and the driver may lose control of the vehicle.

Risks 

If the knuckles fracture while the vehicle is moving, the driver may immediately lose control, which greatly increases the risk of a crash. Without the ability to steer properly, the driver may hit other vehicles, stationary objects or a pedestrian. 

Other recalls, lawsuit

The 2020 Atlas SUV has been recalled for front seat frame, improperly aligned headlights, tires and rearview camera issues. In March of 2020, Volkswagen was the subject of a class action lawsuit regarding warranties on the Atlas and other vehicles.

VW’s Atlas 2021 cars are not subject to any additional recalls.

The repair

To fix the VW recall issue, dealers will need to inspect and possibly replace both steering knuckles. The repair is free of charge. Owners will be notified on March 26.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 10,300 vehicles are included in this recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydVolkswagen recalls Atlas vehicles for steering issue
Audi vehicles recalled for battery power supply issue

Audi vehicles recalled for battery power supply issue

January 28, 2021 Ken Boyd ,

Auburn Hills, MI – January 28, 2021 – Volkswagen Group (NASDAQ:VWAGY) has recalled 2,355 Audi vehicles, due to an issue with a battery terminal cover. The 12-volt battery power supply may be compromised in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The recall includes 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe and 2019 Audi RS5 Coupe vehicles. The affected component is terminal cover; part number 8K0 915 429C.

Recall summary  

Vehicle batteries include covers on both the positive and negative charging terminals.

The recalled vehicles have the wrong cover on one battery terminal, which protects the 12-volt battery power supply.  As a result of the incorrect cover being installed, the power supply “may become compromised” in the event of a rear-end crash. This may make it difficult for first responders and bystanders to open the vehicle doors after a crash and also disable hazard warning lights.

2021 Audi R25 Sportback, 2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportbacks and Audi S5  Sportbacks were recalled in December for faulty wiring which could result in the same issues as this one.

Risks 

For risks related to this issue, please visit this article about another Audi recall.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will replace the cover for the positive terminal of the 12-volt battery. The repair is free of charge, and Audi expects the recall to begin February 7, 2021. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 2,300 vehicles are included in this Audi RS5 Coupe recall. To perform an Audi recall check, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydAudi vehicles recalled for battery power supply issue
Volkswagen recalls over 100,000 cars equipped with Takata airbag inflators

Volkswagen recalls over 100,000 cars equipped with Takata airbag inflators

January 4, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Auburn Hills, MI – January 4, 2021 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 105,652 Beetles and Beetle convertibles whose driver-side Takata airbag inflators could explode, hitting the occupants of the vehicle with its potentially lethal metal fragments.

This is the latest in the series of widespread Takata airbag recalls. General Motors and Nissan recently announced their own recalls associated with these dangerous airbags.

This round of recalls involves the following model years:

  • 2012 Volkswagen Beetle compact cars, as well as the 2013 and 2014 models
  • 2012 Volkswagen Beetle convertibles, as well as the 2013 and 2014 models

Recall summary

Cars involved in this ever-growing Takata airbag recall were made with Takata inflators that may blow up during a crash and hurl metal fragments at the driver and passenger, injuring or killing them. 

The airbags on these Volkswagen Beetle convertible and compact cars are no exception, despite being made with a desiccant, or drying agent, that was designed to prevent moisture – which is one of the factors in the explosion – from getting into the airbags.  However, while the addition of the drying agent does help, it does not fully prevent these inflators from degrading, resulting in a high risk of an explosion. The risk becomes higher as the inflators age, according to a study submitted to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) on behalf of the manufacturers involved in the Takata recall in 2019.

Volkswagen’s internal efforts failed to show that these airbags were dangerous. However, the manufacturer agreed to recall the cars “out of an abundance of caution.”

To read more about the background of the Takata airbag recall, please see the following article about the recent General Motors recall of Takata airbags that suffered the same issue.

Risks

Exploding inflators pose a serious threat to the safety of car occupants. More than 25 people have been killed and at least 250 injured so far in the Takata airbag recall, which has turned into the biggest automotive recalls in U.S. history. 

The report provided by NHTSA to the public about the recall does not furnish any information about injuries associated with this particular Volkswagen recall.

Additional recalls

This is only the first round of Volkswagen recalls replacing desiccated Takata airbag inflators. The manufacturer has agreed to issue further recalls as vehicles age. The next recall, which will take place in 2023, will include 2015-2016 Volkswagen Beetles and Beetle convertibles. 2017-2019 Beetles and convertibles will be recalled in 2025, along with 2011-2014 Passats.

Repair

Volkswagen dealers will replace the airbag with one that does not contain ammonium nitrate. The repair is not yet available. Owners will be notified by mail starting February 12, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 100,000 vehicles are included in this Volkswagen recall. As of April 29, 2021, 2,151 airbags had been replaced, with 103,501 remaining. Use MotorSafety’s free recall lookup tool to see if your vehicle is among the ones that still need to be repaired.

Note: June 8, 2021

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have updated the completion rate of this recall in the last paragraph to reflect the most up-to-date information.


Rebecca RandVolkswagen recalls over 100,000 cars equipped with Takata airbag inflators
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