Volkswagen Group of America is recalling more than 300,000 vehicles containing faulty cooling pumps that can malfunction and potentially cause fires.
The manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) they will recall 342,867 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, 2012-2015 Audi A6, 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan, 2013-2016 Audi A4 Allroad, 2013-2017 Audi Q5 built between April 4, 2011 and Dec. 20, 2016 with the 2.0L TFSI engine.
The affected vehicles contain electric cooling pump with two potential error patterns: debris can block the pump causing overheating, or moisture within the pump can cause a short circuit.
Audi’s Product Safety Committee decided to conduct a recall on Dec. 23, 2016 after finding a software issue involving water pumps in the affected vehicles. However Audi continued receiving overheating reports from March to August 2017. Audi engineers investigated the cases but could not reach a conclusion, requesting additional parts for further analysis. Audi noted another increase in overheating reports in September and October 2017, after the previous recall campaign ended. Audi engineers intensified field testing and laboratory analysis from October 2017 to March 2018, hoping to find root causes, influential factors and error patterns.
Engineering tests found both debris and moisture were factors in the coolant pump failures.
The Audi Product Safety Committee determined on April 4, 2018 the coolant pumps needed to be replaced.
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners will be sent an initial notification beginning on June 11, 2018. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi’s number’s for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Concerned consumers can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you.
Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.