VW Expands Audi Fuel Pump Recall
Volkswagen Group of America (VW) announced a 2016 recall for bad fuel pump flanges that will expand to include additional Audi vehicles.
VW notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 3, 2017 they are expanding a recall originally ordered Sept. 1, 2016. The expanded recall includes 240,487 2013-2017 Audi Q5s and 2013-2017 Audi Q7s.
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The recall surrounds fuel filter flanges that develop fine, hairline cracks after extended use. Small fuel amounts can leak out through these cracks, causing a fuel odor and raising fire risk.
Oxidation and other stressors reduce the flange’s strength over time, creating cracks allowing fuel seepage.
VW first acknowledged the problem in fall 2015 after receiving complaints of fuel odors and leaks in affected vehicles. Investigators found small cracks and fissures in those vehicles’ fuel pump flanges. Analysis and testing continued into August 2016, when engineers chose butyl rubber bands to protect the fuel pump.
VW’s report filed May 3, 2017, which expanded the recall, did not give a “distinct cause” for the cracks, but did say they discovered “indications for an outside contamination by a liquid material corroding the structure of the flange.”
Germany-based component manufacturer Continental Automotive provided the defective flanges.
VW will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 2, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 20Z8. 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.