The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have accused automaker Volkswagen of installing software on certain Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles, which allowed them to detect when they were being tested and activate pollution controls to pass emissions tests. According to reports, the “defeat devices” allowed models to release up to 40 times more than the allowed amounts of harmful fumes in order to improve driving performance. The vehicles affected include the 2009-2015 VW Jetta, 2009-2015 VW Beetle, 2009-2015 VW Golf, 2014-2015 VW Passat, as well as the 2009-2015 Audi A3.

Volkswagen have announced plans to refit up to 11 million vehicles but did not say what the fix will be or how it could affect mileage and efficiency. As a result of the scandal, California’s Air Resources Board is now looking into other manufacturers’ testing results to see if other automobile manufacturers have been cheating on emission tests.

Owners of certain 2010-2014 Volkswagen vehicles will be receiving safety notices for a problem affecting the air bag system. According to reports listed on the NHTSA website, the steering wheel clock spring could become contaminated with debris causing a displacement of the internal guide loops and tension to the internal flat cable. If the cable tears, loss of electrical connection to the driver’s front airbag will disable the airbag and cause the airbag monitoring indicator light to illuminate. Continue reading

Volkswagen will be asking the owners of certain 2014-2015 Audi SQ5 vehicles to return to their dealerships for a problem affecting the steering motor sensor. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, the affected cars have an electric power steering assist system that could experience a steering motor sensor fault as the result of cold ambient temperatures. If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, drivers will be alerted with a power steering warning light and extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds. The problem could increase the risk of a vehicle crash. Continue reading

Failure to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 118, “Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems”, will have 3,646 owners of certain 2015 Audi Q3 vehicle’s returning to their dealership for repairs. According to the defect report, the sunroof may not stop closing when the vehicle is turned off. If the sunroof is closing while the vehicle is shut off and a vehicle occupant is in its path, there is an increased risk of injury. Continue reading

Volkswagen will be contacting the owners of certain 2015 Audi a VW vehicles about a manufacturing error affecting certain components within the fuel pump. Contamination due to improper nickel plating of these components may cause excessive pump friction and eventual pump failure. If the pump becomes inoperative because of this condition, it may result in a no start condition or a stall while driving. Stalling without warning while driving could increase the chance of an accident. Continue reading

Certain 2009-2010 Volkswagen Routan owners will be contacted by the manufacturer about a problem with their vehicle ignition switch system. These vehicles may experience inadvertent ignition key displacement from the “run” to the “accessory” position while driving. If this happens, the engine will turn off, depowering various key safety systems including; airbags, power steering, and power braking. The loss of these systems may increase the chance of injury during an accident. Continue reading

Customer complaints regarding fuel odor in the engine compartment of certain Audi and Volkswagen vehicles will have approximately 26,000 owners returning to their dealership for repairs. According to reports, a combination of production tolerance issues combined with vibrations during dynamic driving, could result in a fuel leak in the fuel injection system. There have been no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of this safety defect, but a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could result in an engine fire. Continue reading

Certain 2015 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles with low line electrical architecture and halogen headlights may not conform to FMVSS 108 (Lamps, Reflective Devices, And Associated Equipment). According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, the software within the control module is programmed to turn off the low beam headlights when the high beams are activated. This noncompliance could cause insufficient lighting, reducing the driver’s vision and increasing the chance of an accident. Continue reading