Auburn Hills, MI – October 2, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) is recalling 8,038 cars that may develop a coolant leak. This could cause the engine to overheat and, in some cases, even lead to a fire. This increases the risk of injury and even death for the car occupants.

Models affected by this recall include: 

• 2022 –2023 Volkswagen Golf R A8
• 2022 –2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Recall summary  

Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is a liquid which helps regulate the temperature of the engine.

At the same time, the radiator is a “heat exchanger” which disperses the coolant and helps protect the engine from overheating.

In affected cars, the radiator might have been installed incorrectly during assembly and may become loose. If this happens, the coolant hose that connects it to the engine might come in contact with the engine’s auxiliary belt, which rotates at a speed. This may rupture the hose, causing a coolant leak.  

Recall risks

A loss of coolant, when severe enough, will cause the engine to overheat. If the driver ignores the increase in the engine temperature, the vehicle may stall or even catch fire. Read about the risks of an engine fire here.

The coolant is also slippery and when spilled on the road in large quantities, can up the risk of an accident for surrounding motorists.

Warning signs

A red warning light will pop up on the dashboard if the coolant drops below a certain level.  

Other Volkswagen recalls

Earlier this month, Volkswagen recalled Audi vehicles due to fuel spill risk, as reported.

There was a Volkswagen Golf recall in March over loose engine covers which could lead to a fire, also as reported.

Repair

Dealers will check how the radiator is mounted and secure it into place if needed. If the radiator is loose, they will also check the coolant hose and auxiliary belt and replace them if any damage is found. This repair is free of charge. 

Owners will receive letters with more information about the recall on November 18, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 8,000 hot hatches are being recalled over these Volkswagen Golf radiator issues. To do a Volkswagen recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.