It’s been six months since Volkswagen admitted to modifying their diesel vehicles to pass emissions tests, but few details have emerged about how the problem will be corrected. A recent interim agreement between Federal authorities and Volkswagen could have the German automobile manufacturer buying back or repairing over 500,000 cars, but the details on how this will be done are still vague. Meanwhile, consumers have been left with unanswered questions. The problem does not pose a safety risk to drivers and vehicles will still pass inspection, but some owners living in California and states that enforce tough emissions rules, question whether the problem will affect their vehicle registration renewal. Continue reading
Category Archives: Volkswagen
Volkswagen E-Golf Electric Vehicles Could Unexpectedly Shut Down
The owners of certain 2015-2016 Volkswagen e-Golf electric vehicles will be contacted by the manufacturer about a problem that could lead to sudden unexpected shutdown. Under certain conditions, oversensitive diagnostics in the battery management system may classify a brief internal electrical current surge as a critical battery condition. This could cause an emergency shutdown which will deactivates the vehicle’s electrical drive motor. Continue reading
California Rejects VW Recall Plan For Faked Emissions
California Air Resource Board (CARB) regulators have rejected Volkswagen’s recall proposal for repairs to its emissions cheating diesel vehicles saying it lacks sufficient detail and does not adequately address the overall impacts on vehicle performance, emissions and safety. According to CARB, the recall plan
- needs to identify which vehicles are affected.
- must include a sufficient method of obtaining the car owners’ names and address.
- does not include adequate information on how the fix would affect future emissions results.
The rejection concerns VW’s 2.0L diesel engines with a proposal for the 3.0L engines due in February. In a statement, VW said it will continue to work with both state and federal regulators and the rejection of its recall plan does not mean a recall will not be issued.
Volkswagen Owners Compensated For Faked Emissions
Volkswagen announced today, that owners of vehicles equipped with software used to pass emissions tests could receive up to $1,000 in prepaid Visa cards and dealership credits, as well as free roadside assistance for three years. The offer is an attempt to regain customer trust as the company faces lawsuits from owners who want compensation for the loss in resale value of their vehicles. Some of the cases already filed say they want VW to buy back the vehicles for the full price they originally paid. Continue reading
Volkswagen Camshaft Defect
Volkswagen will be asking owners of certain 2015-2016 vehicles to return to their dealerships to repair a problem affecting the engine and brake system. According to reports, the lobe of the sintered cam which drives the high pressure fuel injection pump and the vacuum pump, could shear off from the camshaft. If this happens, vacuum supply will be shut off to the the brake booster, the vehicle will go into limp home mode, and the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) will illuminate. Continue reading
VW Golf & Jetta Inaccurate Occupant Classification
A small number of 2015 Volkswagen E-Golf, Golf, and Jetta owners will be receiving notices about a problem affecting the front passenger airbag in their vehicles. According to the defect report, an electromagnetic coil inside a module in the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have been manufactured with improper insulation between the coil layers. Over time, the characteristics of the coil could change and give erroneous front passenger classification readings. Vehicle occupants will be alerted of a problem by an illuminating airbag warning light or by false indication of the Passenger Airbag OFF indicator. Continue reading
Will California VW Owners Fix Vehicles Recalled For Fake Emissions?
As U.S. Volkswagen owners wait for a recall to see how the automobile manufacturer will repair vehicles rigged with software that allows them to pass federal emissions tests, some question whether they will have repairs done at all. According to the head of Volkswagen, the fix could result in vehicles experiencing lower top speeds and higher fuel consumption than listed on the window sticker. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records show the average completion rate for auto recalls in the United States is only around 75% over 18 months, and if the emissions fix results in decreased fuel economy and performance, owners will be even more reluctant to take their vehicle in.
For now, thousands of 2016 VW diesel models are stranded at ports around the nation until the EPA can certify their emissions control systems. In California, the Air Resource Board (CARB) said they will be carrying out emissions tests on diesel cars made by other manufacturers and have set a deadline of November 20th for Volkswagen to submit a recall remedy for approval. According to CARB, if there is not enough owner response to get repairs done, the option of not issuing vehicle registration until the recall has been carried out could be implemented.
Volkswagen Face Lawsuits For Faked Emissions
As Volkswagen admits to fitting its diesel vehicles with software that allows them to pass emissions tests, over 230 federal class action lawsuits have been filed against the automobile manufacturer. The California Air Resources Board and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed the problem last month and the first lawsuit was filed hours later in a San Francisco court.
The lawsuit accuses the company of misleading customers by selling automobiles that are supposedly environmentally friendly but were actually emitting as much as 40 times the legally allowed amount of nitrogen oxide. Legal experts expect the cases to be consolidated before a single judge and Volkswagen could face possible criminal charges and a federal probe. The company faces potential criminal, civil, and regulatory enforcement in other countries as well. Continue reading
