Auburn Hills, Mich. – Aug. 29, 2017 – The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 280,000 vehicles believed to be equipped with defective fuel pumps, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2009-2016 CC and 2006-2010 Passat sedans, as well as 2006-2010 Passat wagons. The German automaker is unsure what percentage of the total population of vehicles named in the recall contain the problematic feature.

The Defect

The models named in the campaign could include defective fuel pump control modules prone to inducing fuel pump failure and ultimately stalling. The damaged fixtures could also lead to pump overuse, which can drain vehicles’ batteries and thus inhibit operation. The fuel pump control modules in these recalled models generate too much heat. This, combined with faulty electronic components and mechanical stress, results in the aforementioned outcomes, which pose serious danger to drivers and passengers. However, Volkswagen has yet to receive any reports detailing accidents or injuries stemming from the defective fuel control modules.

Timeline of Events

The Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company, based in China, submitted an inquiry to Volkswagen detailing instances of fuel pump failure in CC and Passat models in April 2016. The automaker immediately coordinated an internal investigation with external parts supplier Kendrion Kuhnke Automotive GmbH, which provided the fuel pump assemblies in these vehicles. The two organizations asked DPAC to supply parts from affected vehicles for analysis. These items arrived in Wolfsburg, Germany, in October of that year. Engineers went to work analyzing the parts.

In January 2017, engineering personnel presented their findings to the Volkswagen Product Safety Committee. The group reviewed the data but requested that engineering teams perform further tests to find a definitive root cause. More than eight months later, these technical experts submitted the results of their second analysis, which concluded that the fuel pump control modules in the vehicles were to blame.

On Aug. 10, the Volkswagen PSC ordered a voluntary safety recall.

The Solution

Volkswagen will order dealers to replace the fuel pumps in affected models free of charge, according to documents submitted to the NHTSA. However, the vehicle manufacturer has yet to find suitable replacement parts that do not succumb to thermal influence or mechanical stress during operation. As a result, Volkswagen has not released an exact date for notifying owners. That said, the car maker will reach out to customer via first-class mail Oct. 13. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Volkswagen customer service personnel at (800) 893-5298, using the internal recall code 20AE. Owners can also call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Auburn Hills, Mich.—July 25, 2017—One recall from earlier this year could be the sign of future Volkswagen recalls, according to an article in Car and Driver. The case involves defective flanges, which could crack, possibly because the material could deteriorate.

Volkswagen is just one of several manufacturers with possible complications from this issue, and all reportedly stem from the part itself, a Continental Automotive Systems product. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into the matter.

As the source described, a crack in the flange could also lead to a fuel leak. Major auto companies like Ford and General Motors could have to recall vehicles if they find evidence of the risk. The article quoted a statement from Elizabeth Weigandt, a Ford representative, on the company’s awareness of the issue.

“It’s unclear at this point whether Ford vehicles are affected,” she said. “We are reviewing the matter and will cooperate with NHTSA, as we always do.”

A Part 573 Safety Recall Report submitted to the NHTSA in March said that 20,908 Volkswagen Touareg vehicles were part of that company’s recall, with the model years ranging from 2007 to 2010.  The larger amount of vehicles were produced between 2006 and 2010. This report said that the components could weaken over time due to oxidization and internal pressure. The report said that March was the company’s “date of determination.”

The resolution to this earlier recall involved fitting the affected flanges with a protective cover. The report said that a fuel smell may indicate the issue, and that there were apparent similarities between this recall and another one for Audi vehicles.

A Volkswagen dealership communication said that the resolution could require a full replacement if the flanges are cracked. The fuel leak could present a hazard if fire is present.

Auburn Hills, Mich.—July 10, 2017—In an action expected to begin this July, Volkswagen said it will recall Audi vehicles to address a possible safety issue. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration letter dated for July 6 said that the recall would include 24,754 Q3 vehicles from the 2016 and 2017 model years, all of which were estimated to have the defect.

The Defect

This recall concerns a defect that could go against Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, which pertains to “lamps, reflective devices, and assoc. equipment,” as an NHTSA report said. Specifically, the affected vehicles may contain a software error that prevents the brake lights from turning on when the parking brake is in use.

Though the source stressed that the brake system itself was unaffected, it did note that the lack of brake lights could be a hazard. It also did not list any specific signs for owners to look out for.

Timeline of Events

• March to November, 2016: This period included several events, such as the company’s first discovery of the issue, leading to the time when the company developed the improved software to resolve the problem.
• February to May, 2017: After the previous efforts, the manufacturer took a closer look at the particular compliance problem to determine the right way to respond.
• June, 2017: The above deliberation finally led to the decision that the vehicle issue did actually constitute a non-compliance concern in response to the FMVSS, with June 19 listed as the “Date of Determination” in the Part 573 Safety Recall Report.

The Resolution

Though the report didn’t include a specific date, it did state that the recall was “anticipated” for July 17. The repair effort will include a software update, using the program developed and put into use last year.

Auburn Hills, Mich.—May 23, 2017—Improperly short heat shields in some Volkswagen Passat vehicles could leave some of these autos at risk of fire depending on the conditions on the right half shaft. The recall effort, is known as #17V309000 and includes 84,262 vehicles in the U.S. as well, as the official NHTSA report said.

The Defect

Normally, the heat shield in these affected vehicles would keep the right half-shaft grease boot cool and safe from possible flammability. Without the proper covering, grease could leak onto one of multiple possible heat sources and increase the risk of a fire starting. The report mentioned that the upper boost hoses in these vehicles could fail as well, triggering “a flashing glow plug light.”

Timeline of Events

• April 11, 2011- July 25, 2014: These were the original production dates for the affected range of vehicles.
• July 2016-Feb. 2017: The analysis of the problem began and continued during this time, eventually leading to the ultimate decision on whether or not the matter involved a defect.
• May 2017: The recall announcement appeared after the manufacturer’s Product Safety Committee confirmed the defect. The date of the NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report was May 11, eight days after Volkswagen examined the issue itself.

The Resolution

The official recall dates for owners and dealers is currently scheduled for sometime in July, the report said. At this time, the vehicle dealers will replace both the heat shield and possibly the boost hose if necessary.

The replacement boost hose, in particular, dates back to a part introduced in 2012, and the hose has a strengthened middle layer. July 14, 2012, was the listed date when the new boost hose was introduced. All models in that range beforehand were reportedly at higher risk, though the report said that 100 percent of the recalled population is estimated to have the defect.

Auburn Hills, Mich. – April 28, 2017 – The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled a number of sedans with improper head restraints, according to documents filed with National Highway Safety Administration. The recall affects Volkswagen CC four-door models produced between November 2015 and June 2016. The automaker estimates 100 percent of the models named in the campaign include the problematic part.

The Defect
The affected models include head restraints that do not comport with U.S. vehicle safety codes, specifically Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards section 202a, which states that head restraints should meet certain design and performance qualifications, according to the Department of Transportation. The assemblies installed in these vehicles do not comply with these regulations and were instead made for use with Volkswagen vehicles that would be sold in foreign markets. Most notably, the installed head restraints allow occupants to rotate more than 12 degrees while seated, a range of motion deemed unsafe in the FMVSS.

While the head restraints pose no immediate danger to drivers or passengers, they do lead to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident. However, Volkswagen has yet to receive in reports of injuries connected to these fixtures.

Timeline of Events
Volkswagen engineers first detected the incorrectly installed head restraints in May of last year. Roughly one month later, quality control personnel reported the problem to technical teams and initiated an internal review. Over the course of these investigations, the manufacturer’s employees learned that the head restraints destined for international models had been installed on American CC sedans, due to a stocking issue. Assembly crew members at one of Volkswagen’s primary U.S. production facilities had mistakenly brought head restraint assemblies marked “RoW” – an acronym meaning “rest of world” – to the shop floor, where they were installed.

In early April, engineers met with the Volkswagen Product Safety Committee to determine the extent of the error. Weeks later, these two parties met once more and determined that American CC models equipped with RoW head restraints should be subject to recall.

The Solution
Volkswagen has ordered dealers to replace the head restraints, free of charge. The campaign is scheduled to begin in June. The automaker has agreed to notify dealers and owners after the official launch date. Individuals who require assistance prior to the recall are encouraged to contact the NHTSA.

Auburn Hills, Mich. — Apr. 07, 2017 — In a March action, Volkswagen plans to recall thousands of Touareg vehicles, with model years ranging from 2007 to 2010, and production dates between Sept. 14, 2006 and March 23, 2010.

The Part 573 Safety Recall Report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 16,005 vehicles were potentially involved, although the recall database entry itself said that number was 20,908 instead. Regardless, the report said the supplier connected to the fuel system defect was Continental Automotive GmbH in Germany.

The Defect

For affected Touareg models, a deteriorating fuel filter flange could lead to potentially dangerous leaks, as well as a possible fire hazard. The report said this might come from both internal vehicle pressure and aging component parts. Owners may notice this defect in their vehicle if they smell fuel from the leak.

Timeline of Events

• February, 2017: Volkswagen began reviewing information for possible reports of fuel filter failure, after a previous similar recall action involving Audi vehicles.
• March, 2017: The company’s product safety committee determined a defect existed on March 1, with the Safety Recall Report submitted exactly one week later.

The Resolution

The report did not specify a date for either dealer or owner notification for this recall, though it did state that it would most likely be in “May 2017.” In the meantime, the defect is not in danger of appearing in further models, since they are reportedly no longer produced.

In terms of the fix itself, it will require an inspection and a possible cover attached later if needed to fit over the fuel filter flanges themselves and reduce the chance of the filter aging. The official NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 17V151000, while the Volkswagen number for the same action is 20Z4.

Herndon, Va. — March 14, 2017 — A series of Volkswagen recalls address a possible Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards violation. The recalls, set to begin this month, concern tires with the wrong information, which could confuse drivers and lead them to make dangerous mistakes. In particular, they could put too much pressure on the tires, causing them to weaken.

Thousands of vehicles are part of this action all of which have the 2017 model year. According to Car Complaints, the tires give incorrect loading figures, possibly misleading owners. The manufacturer plans to fix the Beetle, Jetta and Jetta GLI cars included in this measure by replacing the labels. The new labels will display the right pressure information.

The particular relevant standard here, number one hundred and ten, requires certain vehicles to place important information on a vehicle placard. This includes the vehicle’s capacity weight and seated capacity.

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Mar. 13, 2017 – Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 1,000 vehicles exhibiting brake-line leakage. The recall impacts Passat sedans produced in January of this year, according to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Defect

Affected vehicles suffer from constant brake fluid leakage due to damaged hydraulic components. Motorists often see service lights indicating low brake fluid. If more is not added, vehicle brakes can lose stopping power, which increases the likelihood of a serious traffic accident. Additionally, Volkswagen engineers suspect that the leak can worsen over time, leading to more serious braking problems. No injuries have yet been reported as a result of the defect.

Timeline of Events

In January, Volkswagen quality assurance personnel spotted evidence of brake-line leakage when reviewing recently produced Passats. Engineers investigated and connected the problem to defective brake-tube flares. The automaker removed damaged flares from all production facilities Jan. 19, banned their use and replaced them with functioning alternatives from an OEM partner.

Product safety officials at Volkswagen reviewed the engineering report soon after. The group decided to issue an official recall Feb. 1, based on the findings.The car manufacturing company notified dealers in the U.S. on Feb. 15, according to an internal communication filed with the NHTSA.

The Solution

The automaker has instructed dealers to replace the brake lines in impacted vehicles, free of charge. There is no word yet as to when customers might receive official notification from Volkswagen. However, the recall is scheduled to begin March 1. Passat owners with defective brake lines can contact Volkswagen service personnel or call the NHTSA safety hotline for more information.

Auburn Hills, Mich. — Feb. 23, 2017 — A problem with some Audi vehicle engine pumps could lead to overheating and possible fire risk, according to a recent recall. The company’s action specifically responds to the cooling units in some engines. The official Part 573 Safety Recall Report said that the recall potentially involves 342,867 vehicles, all of which are believed to contain the defect.

The Defect

This report also stated that the problem is seen in certain TFSI engines, and that the problematic component comes from German supplier Fa. Bühler. Affected engines reportedly may have a faulty cooling system, containing debris that could block the coolant pump.

This could, in turn, keep necessary coolant from the engine and cause it to start a fire after overheating. Some of the affected models included A4, A5 and A6 vehicles as well as the Q5. Model years range from 2013 to 2017 across all of these vehicle classes.

Timeline of Events

• 2015-2016: Reports from the field prompt an investigation into possible cases of overheating.
• Dec. 2016: The Product Safety Committee meets and decides on the recall after further investigation reveals the cause. Audi also started producing updated software to help remedy the problem.
• Jan. 2017:  Volkswagen submits the safety recall report to the National Highway Traffics Safety Administration.

The Resolution

With the software production completed, dealers can now instruct the power supply to shut off to avoid overheating. The dealer notification date was listed as Feb. 13, while the owner notification was set to begin seven days later. A manufacturer’s notice to dealers instructed them not to deliver pre-owned vehicles which could be part of this recall until after the fix.

A separate instructions section for dealers said that there will be no need for physical replacement parts for this procedure other than software, except in some extremely rare cases. After the install, owners should be able to tell if there’s coolant blockage through the Electronic Power Control lamp.