Volkswagen Recall - Information & Updates

Volkswagen has recalled more than 384,000 cars in China after consumer complaints about transmission failures. The recall is estimated by Chinese authorities to cost the company about $600 million. China is Volkswagen’s biggest market and the site for joint venture factories making models including the Golf and Audi A3.The recall involves Volkswagen Group’s DSG (direct-shift gearbox) and alleged incidences of unintentional slowing or power loss. China has been vocal about the DSG transmission since 2009.  In that year, Volkswagen lifted the warranty on the gearboxes to 10 years or 160,000km. It is believed China is the only market with these problems with the automatic gearbox.In Australia, Volkswagen spokesman Karl Gehling would only says that he is awaiting further details of the recall in China. Though Mr Gehling did not give further information, the affected DSG transmissions are believed to be assembled in China and are not similar to the units supplied for Volkswagen cars in Australia.The Chinese recall comes less than a week after China’s state-run television station, CCTV, broadcast a story about unhappy Volkswagen owners. The Chinese ministry responsible for consumer affairs then took the matter direct to Volkswagen.Volkswagen issued an email yesterday saying it is recalling DSG seven-speed gearboxes and will replace defective parts and upgrade software. China’s move immediately prompted global opinion on the DSG transmission. This includes the formation of a website and twitter site devoted to airing owners' problems. Annoyed Chinese Volkswagen owners with DSG-equipped cars also believe that the company is fitting sub-standard gearboxes to the China-market products while the rest of the world get higher-quality transmissions. Chines website gasgoo.com stated this week that respondents to a questionairre about the DSG problems “believe that the relatively poor protection rights afforded Chinese consumers give VW the power to act in this fashion, something it would not do in its home country of Germany.’’ The DSG transmission is sometimes known as a dual-clutch transmission and is fitted in different versions to most Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Porsche models.     

Troubled German car maker Volkswagen has issued a recall on 25,928 cars sold in Australia. The vehicles affected were built between June 2008 and September 2011 and include the Golf hatchback, Jetta sedan, Polo hatchback, Passat sedan and wagon and the Caddy van.The automatic “DSG” gearbox will be inspected and if needed repaired on that batch of vehicles. The recall follows two weeks of unprecedented pressure from customers demanding their cars be fixed for wide-ranging mechanical faults.Complaints included engines that conked out, high oil use, and gearbox issues. In addition to the official recall, Volkswagen Australia will also call 4000 diesel cars back to dealerships for inspection.News Limited understands that Volkswagen is still yet to issue a separate official recall following customer claims of sudden vehicle de-acceleration. The company says any one experiencing that fault – or any others – should contact their local Volkswagen dealer. Volkswagen Australia has set up a dedicated customer service line to answer customer queries - 1800 504 076.News Limited understands the boss of Volkswagen Australia, John White, flew to Germany late last week to brief head office in person about the widespread concerns over Volkswagen reliability issues locally.Motoring bodies and media outlets in Australia have received complaints about the mechanical reliability and durability of Volkswagen cars for several years. But customer concerns over engine dramas and gearbox failures gained renewed exposure following the Victorian coroner’s inquest into the death of a Golf driver in 2011. Her car was struck from behind by a truck after it appeared to slow suddenly. Volkswagen says there was no mechanical fault with the vehicle. The coroner is due to release the findings next month. 

While 299,000 vehicles have been recalled around the world, it affects only 7181 Volkswagens and 85 Skodas in Australia.The diesel vehicles affected are VW Golf, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and Transporter, and Skoda Octavia and Superb built between 2009 and 2011.VW Group Australia spokesman Karl Gehling says there have been no incidents of diesel leaks reported here."We are proactively contacting owners of vehicles covered by this recall and directing them to take their vehicle to the nearest dealer for the affected parts to be replaced," he says.The fault occurs at certain engine revs where there is excessive vibration causing a crash in the injector line. This can lead to a fuel leak and although diesel fuel is less flammable than petrol, there is still an increased risk of fire in the engine bay.The company has not issued a safety recall in Australia since 2007.

The Victorian Coroner has delayed the report on the death of a Volkswagen Golf driver which sparked widespread public scrutiny of the German car maker’s reliability issues and helped prompt a recall of 25,000 cars across Australia.The findings on the January 2011 crash - in which 32-year-old Melissa Ryan died after her car was struck from behind by a truck on a Melbourne freeway during the afternoon peak hour - were due to be released today.But the Victorian Coroner’s office has confirmed the report has been adjourned. News Corp understands the family has asked for new evidence to be considered but it is unclear what that new evidence contains.A spokesman for Volkswagen Australia said the company had not yet been approached to provide any more technical information about the vehicle involved in the fatal crash or on the issues affecting other vehicles in its model range.The victim was driving a petrol-powered 2008 Volkswagen Golf GTI with a manual transmission. However the safety recalls and “dealer service campaigns” to rectify Volkswagen faults affected diesel-powered cars and automated “DSG” gearboxes after customers complained of “sudden deceleration” or the car going into “limp home mode”.Reports at the time of the fatal crash said the car appeared to slow suddenly to 20km/h while it was travelling in the fast lane. The truck driver reported not seeing brake lights.In June Volkswagen said preliminary inquiries found there was no mechanical fault linked to the fatal crash, which was “completely unrelated” to the car maker’s reliability issues.The incident nevertheless sparked widespread feedback from disgruntled Volkswagen customers who complained of numerous faults with their cars. Several groups of owners have said they plan to mount a legal class action against the car maker but, to date, none have proceeded.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling