Volkswagen Defects and Recalls
Volkswagen or VW is a German automaker, serving as the flagship brand for the Volkswagen Group. VW sells a number of cars and sport utility vehicles worldwide, generating more than 22.4 billion euros annually for the VW brand alone. In the United States, Volkswagen Group of America’s popular models include the Golf, Atlas, Tiguan, Jetta, Passat, and Beetle lines.
VW vehicles have been subject to many high-profile recalls covering dangerous defects over the years. Even just over the last year, VW has issued several recalls concerning issues such as faulty suspensions, engine defects, battery failures, and a wildly dangerous airbag defect that, as of early April 2023, has yet to be resolved. Check your vehicle identification number on VW’s website or the NHTSA website to determine if your Volkswagen is or was subject to a recall.
If you own or lease a VW with a serious defect, if your VW is or has been subject to a recall, or if you were injured because of a defective VW, you have valuable legal rights. Call the Lemon Law attorney at Nita Lemon Law Firm today for advice and representation.
2018-2021 Atlas, 2020 Atlas Cross Sport SUV: Faulty Airbag
In April 2023, Volkswagen announced a recall of more than 140,000 Atlas SUVs due to problems with the passenger-side airbag. According to the company, a faulty sensor on the front passenger side can cause the airbag to switch off under certain conditions. The sensor is meant to analyze the weight of the passenger to determine if it’s an adult–for whom the airbag should remain active–or a small child, for whom the airbag should be deactivated.
If the airbag is improperly deactivated and the vehicle winds up in a crash, the airbag will not deploy, leaving the front passenger without the protection of an airbag. A high-speed collision without an airbag for protection can lead to catastrophic and even fatal injury.
A warning light should indicate when the problem occurs. Volkswagen is telling owners not to let anyone ride in the front passenger seat until the issue is resolved. Owners and lessees can call a dealership or NHTSA’s auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 for details. As of April 4, 2023, VW did not yet have a fix for the issue.
2022-2023 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, 2021-2023 Audi Q5: Engine Failure
In December 2022, VW issued a recall covering over 74,000 Atlas and Audi vehicles in connection with possible engine failure. The engine connecting rod bearings may be defective and can become damaged, which can cause engine failure or stall. Engine failure during a drive can lead to an accident, and it can also cause an oil leak which increases the risk of fire. VW dealerships will inspect covered vehicles and replace the affected engines where necessary.
2021, 2023 ID.4: Battery Failures
VW issued multiple recalls covering around 22,000 ID.4 SUVs in connection with faulty battery components. One recall affecting certain 2023 ID.4 vehicles concerns the battery charging cable: The cable may contact the steering column shaft, causing the cable insulation to wear and increasing the risk of a short circuit. If the battery short circuits, the vehicle can suddenly lose drive power. A sudden loss of power in the middle of a drive can lead to a serious accident. A short circuit can also cause a vehicle fire. A second issue affecting 2021 ID.4s concerns faulty software in the high voltage (HV) battery management control module, which can also cause the vehicle to suddenly lose power.
Owners should have been notified of the defects by March or early April 2023. Owners are advised to park their cars away from buildings until the battery cable issue is resolved to mitigate the risk. Dealerships should replace faulty battery modules, update the HV battery management control unit, and resolve other relevant software issues for free.
2019-2021 Tire Pressure Monitoring Defect
At the end of 2022, Volkswagen issued a massive recall covering more than 224,000 vehicles across all of its major model lines. The recall concerned defects with the vehicles’ tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). According to the recall, the TPMS might not detect a loss of air pressure when all four tires deflate simultaneously. A sudden loss of tire pressure across all four tires, especially if undetected by the vehicle, can cause a serious car accident in several different ways including tire blowout and loss of driver control.
The recall affects the following makes and models:
● 2019 Tiguan LWB
● 2019 Golf Sportswagen A7
● 2019 Golf Alltrack
● 2019 Golf R GP
● 2019 Audi Q3
● 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet
● 2019-2020 Jetta NF
● 2019-2020 Jetta GLI
● 2019-2020 Golf GTI
● 2019-2020 Atlas
● 2019-2020 Golf A7
● 2019-2020 Audi A3
● 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport
● 2021 Atlas FL vehicles
If you own or lease a covered VW, contact a dealership to get a free update to the software. Owners and lessees should have been notified by early 2023.
Call Nita Lemon Law for Help Pursuing a Defective Volkswagen
If you bought or leased a defective Volkswagen car, hatchback, SUV, or any other faulty car in California, you have the right to get the product you paid for or get your money back. If you or someone you care about was hurt because of a dangerously defective product, you have the right to seek compensation, and the right to seek justice. The California Lemon Law team at Nita Lemon Law Firm is ready to protect you, your family, and your rights.
