Volkswagen will be asking a small number of 2017 Audi Q7 owners to return to their dealerships to repair a problem affecting the power steering. According to the defect report, the silicone gel used to protect the ECU’s circuit board may not have hardened sufficiently and could allow particles to enter the area. The board could short circuit and result in loss of power steering assist. Drivers may experience an illuminated power steering warning light and a loss of power steering assist.

Dealers will correct the defect by replacing the steering rack. For more information about the problem, owners are asked to contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 48M5 and the NHTSA campaign number is 16V-648.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Volkswagen are continuing talks on how to repair VW, Audi, and Porsche 3.0L diesel engines for cheating on emissions tests, after California regulators reject VW’s most recent recall proposal. In a letter to Volkswagen, CARB listed the failures of the proposed solution, saying that the company failed to provide a full description of the defeat devices, the impact the fix would have on vehicle performance and emissions, or even a description of the fix that would allow CARB to evaluate its feasibility.

The announcement is a setback for the automaker who believed that the 3.0-liter TDI models sold by Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen would only require a software update. If the manufacturer is unable to come up with a satisfactory fix, they could be forced into buying back almost 85,000 vehicles. VW also continues to face lawsuits by investors and dealerships in the U.S., as well as from consumer in Germany.

Settlement Reach For VW 2.0L Engines

Volkswagen and the Federal Government have come to an agreement of compensation regarding certain diesel cars that were programmed to pass government emissions test despite emitting over 40 times the legal limit of pollutants. Volkswagen will pay up to $15 billion in consumer compensation with approximately $10 billion going to owners who can have their vehicles repaired or bought back. The models included are the 2009-2015 Jetta and Audi A3, the 2010-2015 Golf, and the 2012-2015 Beetle and Passat, equipped with two-liter engines.

Watch the video below for everything you need to know about the VW Settlement.

California Rejects VW Emissions Recall Plan For 3.0L Engines

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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

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 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 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 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