- Volkswagen is recalling 168,275 vehicles with the 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine, including the 2010-'12 Audi A3 and the 2009-'12 Volkswagen Jetta because of fuel leakage that could lead to a fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Other vehicles in the recall include the 2010-'12 Volkswagen Golf and the 2009-'12 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen.
- Volkswagen said it is not aware of any fire, crash or injury caused by the defect.
WASHINGTON — Volkswagen is recalling 168,275 vehicles with the 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine, including the 2010-'12 Audi A3 and the 2009-'12 Volkswagen Jetta because of fuel leakage that could lead to a fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Other vehicles in the recall include the 2010-'12 Volkswagen Golf and the 2009-'12 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen.
"The fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of the injector line number two, in specific load and rpm conditions," said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. "This resonance creates additional stress in the fuel line. Due to the resonance condition, injector line number 2 could develop small cracks which could lead to fuel leakage. Leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire."
Volkswagen said it is not aware of any fire, crash or injury caused by the defect.
Volkswagen and Audi dealers will install an improved fuel injector line for the number two cylinder and will install vibration dampers on all of the injector lines. The recall is expected to begin in November. Owners can contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Inside Line says: If you own one of the aforementioned Volkswagen or Audi vehicles, be aware that a recall is in the works.
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jeremy_c says:
01:37 PM, 10/06/2011
@dwharwood - you must be a lawyer. That's like arguing whether someone tried to kill you (attempted murder) or actually was successful in killing you (murder). LOL!
graspthefact says:
01:30 PM, 10/06/2011
Have owned multiple cars from multiple manufacturing.
In terms of realibility.. VW/Audi did very well for us.
The worst cars include
Range Rover, Jaguar, Buick and Mitsubishi
So-so cars
Toyota, MB, Mazda, Ford
The best cars
Acura, Hyundai, VW/Audi
dwharwood says:
12:59 PM, 10/06/2011
The title and caption here are a disservice. There has been no "fuel leak" in the cars. They are recalled to abate the risk of a potential fuel leak. That is not nitpicking, that is accuracy. Espeically as in this case, there is no evidence that any such leak actually has occurred, and no evidence that if it did occur, it would lead to a fire. That is, the cars have not been "recalled for fuel-leak."
I'll now not file my personal anecdote about how my VAG car was or was not awesome.
jeremy_c says:
12:16 PM, 10/06/2011
@lions208487 - agree with you totally. Silv is missing the point. Nobody is saying that 100% of cars made by Audi/VW will breakdown all the time but its all about probabilities. So Silv says because his one Audi happen to run fine, then all Audi are reliable? Is that a statistically valid sample size? hardly. It's like a lottery winner saying everyone should buy a ticket because you are guarantee to win? On the flipside a Honda, Subaru, Toyota may not always be trouble free, but their track record shows that you have a higher likelihood of getting a more reliable car. Afterall a lot of decisions are made everyday based on past experience. for example, whether you buy a stock, whether you hire someone based on his or her references, whether the bank will give you credit.
VW/Audi are more likely to have problems as experience and history will prove. Part of this is bad attitude on the part of VW/Audi who refuse to acknowledge, fix and improve their products. They continue to ignore numberous cases of DSG transmission sensor failure, ignition coil problems, fuel pump problems, carbon deposit buildup. Google the web and you see many owners complain about these. VW/Audi just don't seem to care!
lions208487 says:
10:54 AM, 10/06/2011
@ Silv- I had engine coil issues with my 1.8T as well, and all I ever used was Penzoil or Catsrol synthetic. One co-worker with an 07 Audi had the same exact issues and she always had her car serviced at the Audi dealer as scheduled by the dealer and manufacturer, and still her Audi broke down. My other co-wroker still has his 05, 1.8 liter turbo Jetta, and despite 5K in repairs over the past year he still has his VW.
Consumer Reports and JD Power & Associates has VW and Audi at the bottom in terms of dependability for a reason.
Now I am happy that your parents have not had to spend time and money on repairs with their Audi, but many thousands of people have.
My neighbor has an 03 Outback with 320K miles and zero issues, my 09 Legacy GT has 50K miles and no problems, and my cousin with an 04 WRX has 179K miles and no problems what so ever. So in both cases it seems, both good and bad, with your families Audi, and your previous Subaru, are isolated cases.
You want the court docket number on the Audi USA lawsuit, because I would be happy to provide it to you.
juan_mx says:
09:02 AM, 10/06/2011
@acbayard
I agree that in the case of a bridge it can happen, you can only simulate the structure before you build it.
In the case of the TDI engines (or any engine), they test them for the equivalent of millions of miles before releasing them for production. So they should have detected this problem.
Maybe some "intelligent" guy at the production line or the supply chain decided to change something (length, anchor, etc.) at the line for injector 2 without reporting it to the engineers.
silvbullit says:
08:24 AM, 10/06/2011
My parents have a 2001 Audi A4 Avant with 167k, with zero sludge issues because it only used synthetic; not Jiffy Lube crude. The car has had no issues since new with anything. They still drive it everyday with no worries. The only service has been timing belts, plugs, filters, and coils. I had a 2002 Impreza Outback that I bought used and at 98k miles, a rod bearing went. The bottom end was toast.
Look up how many Subaru EJ25 motors have headgasket and rod bearing issues right around 100k. It is right on par with the sludge issues of VW 1.8T motors. All the problems are terminal, but also related to maintenance.
acbayard says:
08:19 AM, 10/06/2011
@juan_mx: Shit happens. Resonance issues get past structural engineers and causes bridges to fail. Had the fuel rails been anchored just a tad bit differently or were of a different length, none of this would have happened.
kaidan33 says:
08:19 AM, 10/06/2011
Another quality brought to you by the people at Volkswagen...
wikiwiki says:
08:14 AM, 10/06/2011
Das aut..KABLAM!!!!!!