VOLKSWAGEN, AUDI AND PORSCHE RECALL 80,000 VEHICLES BECAUSE LEAKING FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CAN LEAD TO FIRE
January 27, 2015
Because a fuel leak could lead to a vehicle fire,
Volkswagen is recalling nearly 26,000 sedans and SUVS in the U.S. and 80,000
worldwide.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
reports [PDF] that Volkswagen has issued a recall for 26,008 vehicles
in the United States after receiving reports of small fuel leaks in a number of
models.
Affected vehicles include the 2012 model year Audi A6
and Volkswagen Touareg hybrid, model year 2012 to 2013 Audi A7 and the model
year 2011 to 2012 Audi Q7, S4 and S5.
According to a notice [PDF] from Volkswagen, which owns the Audi brand, vibration
during driving, and production issues can cause small leaks in the vehicles’
fuel injection system.
Officials say that a leak – no matter how small – in the
presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
All the vehicles have 3-liter V-6 engines,
according to documents posted Tuesday by U.S. National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration. Also, the documents show a separate but similar
recall from Porsche covering the Cayenne and Panamera S hybrids from
2011 to 2012 for a similar problem.
While Volkswagen says it is unaware of any fires or
injuries caused by the issue, reports received by NHTSA detail consumers’
concerns regarding the leaks.
The U.S. documents show about 27,000 VW, Audi and Porsche vehicles are being recalled in the U.S.
The problem was discovered in March of 2013 when customers complained of fuel odor, according to the NHTSA documents. VW investigated and decided Jan. 12 to do a recall.
In one report, the consumer claims fuel fumes appeared
under the hood and through the air conditioner vents in their 2012 Audi A6. A
local dealer determined the vehicle had a fuel leak.
Owners of affected vehicles will be notified in March
and dealers will replace free of charge fuel injector rails and corresponding seals.