Volkswagen AG announces international recalls

Volkswagen AG issued an international recall notice on Friday which will affect over 2.6 million vehicles worldwide.

A total of three campaigns are being run:

1. Tiguan vehicle lights (affecting approximately 800,000 vehicles)
2. DQ200 DSG oil change (affecting approximately 1.6 million vehicles)
3. Amarok fuel pipe (affecting approximately 240,000 vehicles)

Tiguans built between 2008–11 will have a fuse replaced to remove the possibility of a faulty fuse blowing and causing one of the two light circuits to fail.

All vehicles fitted with a DQ200 7-speed DSG which use synthetic oil will be recalled to replace the synthetic oil with mineral oil. This is to prevent “electric malfunctions” on vehicles “subject to a hot and humid climate, coupled with a high proportion of stop and go driving”.

Volkswagen Australia says it has already issued a recall covering 25,928 vehicles with DSG gearboxes built between June 2008 and September 2011. About 40% of owners affected by this recall have already had their gearbox oil changed and they will not need to return their vehicles for further attention as a result of this new recall.

Some Amarok models fitted with a 2.0 litre TDI engine can suffer from a leaking fuel pipe in the engine compartment. Volkswagen Australia will contact owners of affected vehicles and bring them in to fit a chafe protector to the affected areas.

Volkswagen AG announces International Vehicle Recalls

• Fuse fault found on the Tiguan
  
• Gearbox oil change with vehicles with DQ200 DSG gearboxes
  
• A number of Amaroks may be affected by fuel pipe leaks

15 November 2013. Volkswagen AG in Germany has announced overnight three international voluntary recalls which will affect Australian customers. In response, Volkswagen Group Australia today confirmed it will begin preparations for the recalls immediately.

Tiguan vehicle lights

Quality Assurance at Volkswagen AG has found that, in isolated cases, a fuse may blow in the Tiguan, thus resulting in failure of one of the two vehicle light circuits.

This in turn causes individual light functions to fail. However, the vehicle’s electric circuitry ensures that some lights remain on all around the vehicle. The driver is immediately informed of this on the instrument cluster.

The recall will involve the replacement of the fuse with one with a stronger surface coating.

Tiguan vehicles built between 2008 and 2011 are affected by this global recall.

Volkswagen Australia is reviewing specific requirements to initiate the necessary repairs and will commence the process of the recall immediately. Relevant vehicle owners will be informed by mail accordingly.

Volkswagen Group Australia will provide further local specific information on the recalls announced today in due course.

DQ200 DSG oil change

Within the framework of the continuous monitoring of vehicles in the field, Quality Assurance at Volkswagen AG has found that in vehicles with a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox (DQ200), electric malfunctions could occur in rare cases in the gearbox power supply if synthetic gearbox oil is used.

This applies in particular if the vehicle is subject to a hot and humid climate, coupled with a high proportion of stop and go driving.

Studies have established that using mineral oil will rectify this problem.

This recall does not affect vehicles equipped with a manual or a six-speed DSG transmission.

Volkswagen Australia is reviewing specific requirements to initiate the necessary repairs and will commence the process of the recall immediately.

Customers with affected vehicles are still able to drive their cars prior to the oil change.

To continue to ensure satisfaction amongst DSG customers, Volkswagen will notify all owners of affected vehicles with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DQ200) filled with synthetic oil and advise them of when to visit a workshop for an oil exchange. The owners of affected vehicles will be informed by mail.

Volkswagen Australia is currently conducting a voluntary recall of 25,928 vehicles with DSG gearboxes manufactured between June 2008 and September 2011 with repairs expected to be completed next year. That program is approximately 40 per cent complete and is progressing in line with the timeframe anticipated at its commencement.

Customers who have already brought their vehicles in for the current recall are not affected by the new announcement as the oil in their gearboxes has already been replaced.

Amarok fuel pipe

As part of its continual monitoring of the vehicle fleet, the Volkswagen AG quality assurance team has identified defects on some individual Amarok models.

Some Amarok utes with a 2.0-litre TDI engine may be affected by leaks to the fuel pipe within the engine compartment. In order to avoid any accidental damage to the fuel lines a chafe protector is being fitted at the affected points as part of a global recall programme.

Volkswagen Australia is reviewing specific requirements to initiate the necessary repairs and will commence the process of the recall immediately. Relevant vehicle owners will be informed by mail accordingly.

Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Australia, John White today said:

“Volkswagen Group Australia will ensure these recalls are conducted promptly and efficiently. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience that this may cause our customers.

We will notify our dealer network today and will commence planning for the rollout of these recalls immediately.

Customer safety and satisfaction are the highest priorities for Volkswagen Group Australia and have been so since Volkswagen began operations here more than 60 years ago.”