Katerina Swanson
Volkswagen's Clean Diesel campaign, spearheaded with Audi in the early 2010s, promised smaller, quieter engines with fantastic fuel economy. However, the campaign was marred by the scandal dubbed Dieselgate, which revealed that Volkswagen had cheated emissions laws worldwide. As a result, Volkswagen recalled millions of diesel vehicles, affecting models like the Jetta, Golf, and Audi A3. The recall addressed a fire hazard caused by defects in the fuel injection system, with Volkswagen offering repairs and buyback programs. While the scandal impacted the resale value of these vehicles, some consumers have taken advantage of the low prices to purchase recalled diesel cars. Despite Volkswagen's assurances that the emissions fix would not impair fuel consumption, this remains a concern for enthusiasts, and time and testing will reveal the true impact on fuel mileage for these vehicles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for recall | Violation of the Clean Air Act regulations |
| Number of cars recalled | 168,275 |
| Models affected | 2009-2012 Jettas, 2010-2012 Golf, 2010-2012 Audi A3 |
| Engine type | 2-liter TDI diesel engine |
| Fix | Minor hardware modification to the car's air intake system, software update, replacement of fuel injector lines, installation of dampers |
| Cost of fix | Free of charge |
| Fuel mileage | No conclusive evidence of a change in fuel mileage post-recall |
| Warranty | Up to 4 years or 48,000 miles (77,249 km) from the date of fix for emissions warranty |
| Oil specification | VW 507.00, a low-ash 5W-30 oil |
| Oil change interval | 10,000 miles (16,000 km) |
| Transmission service interval | 40,000 miles (64,000 km) for DSG transmission |
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What You'll Learn
- VW's recall plan for South Korea was rejected by authorities for not meeting legal requirements
- The EPA issued a notice of violation to VW for failure to comply with the Clean Air Act
- VW's proposed fix involves a hardware modification and software update to achieve EU emissions compliance
- VW will replace the fuel injector line in some models and install dampers to cut vibrations
- VW enthusiasts fear that the fun-to-drive VWs will drink more fuel and lose acceleration after the recall repair
VW's recall plan for South Korea was rejected by authorities for not meeting legal requirements
In 2015, Volkswagen was found to have installed a "defeat device" in its vehicles to cheat on laboratory tests of nitrogen oxide emissions levels. The company was ordered to recall 125,522 vehicles across 15 models, including the popular Tiguan.
In January 2016, Volkswagen submitted a recall plan for South Korea, but this was rejected by the authorities for failing to meet key legal requirements. A revised plan submitted in March 2016 was also rejected for the same reasons. The South Korean government had taken a tough line on Volkswagen, slapping it with a record fine, suspending sales, and indicting several current and former executives and employees.
The recall plan aimed to address 27,000 Tiguan sports utility vehicles to ensure they complied with emissions standards. However, the government found that the proposed fix, which involved removing the software that cheated emissions tests, did not address the impact on fuel economy or performance.
Volkswagen's recall plans have also faced challenges in other countries, including the United States, where regulators rejected the company's proposals for its 2.0-litre diesel engines, stating that they did not adequately address the impacts on vehicle performance, emissions, and safety.
The emissions scandal has had a significant impact on Volkswagen, with the company facing criminal charges, fines, and lawsuits seeking restitution from customers and regulators. The scandal has also led to a loss of trust in the company, with consumers and enthusiasts concerned about the potential impact on fuel economy and performance.
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The EPA issued a notice of violation to VW for failure to comply with the Clean Air Act
In 2015, Volkswagen was embroiled in an emissions scandal, known as "Dieselgate". The company had cheated emissions laws worldwide, with 11 million "clean diesel" cars polluting the air at up to 40 times the federal standard. Volkswagen installed technology to hide the issue from emissions tests.
In light of this, in September 2015, the EPA issued a notice of violation to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America (collectively VW) for failure to comply with Clean Air Act regulations. The EPA determined that certain Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen models emitted more pollutants than legally acceptable, resulting in potential environmental and health implications.
The notice alleged that Volkswagen installed software in its model year 2009-2015 2.0-liter diesel cars that circumvented EPA emissions standards. These vehicles emitted far more pollution than allowed under emissions standards. The EPA also issued a different notice of violation to Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche for producing and selling certain model year 2014-2016 3.0-liter diesel cars and SUVs that included a software device that circumvented EPA emissions standards for specific air pollutants.
The EPA worked closely with the California Air Resources Board to implement the settlement with Volkswagen. The EPA and its partners also tested all current 2015-2016 light-duty diesel vehicles to screen for potential defeat devices. Volkswagen was forced to buy back affected cars and fix their emissions-cheating software and parts. The company also paid a $1.45 billion civil penalty for the alleged civil violations of the Clean Air Act.
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VW's proposed fix involves a hardware modification and software update to achieve EU emissions compliance
The Volkswagen emissions scandal, also known as "Dieselgate", began in September 2015. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice of violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen Group. The EPA found that Volkswagen had intentionally programmed turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel engines to activate their emissions controls only during laboratory emissions testing. This caused the vehicles' NOx output to meet US standards during regulatory testing, but they emitted up to 40 times more NOx in real-world driving.
Volkswagen deployed this software in about 11 million cars worldwide, including 500,000 in the United States, in model years 2009 through 2015. The company announced that it would earmark over seven billion dollars to deal with the costs of rectifying the software at the heart of the pollution statements.
In November 2015, Volkswagen stated that the fix for the 1.6 diesel engine involved a minor hardware modification to the car's air intake system, along with a software update. This solution contradicted earlier speculation about the possible fitting of new injection nozzles and catalytic converters. In December 2015, Volkswagen clarified that the affected 1.2-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines needed only a software update. The KBA approved these fixes, and the first recalls were expected to begin in January 2016.
According to VW, these measures aimed to achieve legal EU emissions compliance without negatively impacting engine output, fuel consumption, or performance. The fixes involved simple, inexpensive parts and software that were not available when the engines were initially developed due to technological limitations.
While Volkswagen worked to address the emissions issue, concerns arose about the potential impact of the recall repair on fuel economy and performance. This was a significant worry among VW enthusiasts, who feared that the fun-to-drive VWs would consume more fuel and lose acceleration. However, despite these concerns, some owners of recalled VW diesel vehicles reported positive experiences after having the emissions fix performed.
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VW will replace the fuel injector line in some models and install dampers to cut vibrations
In 2020, Volkswagen recalled certain diesel engine models to fix a fuel-injection system defect. The recall includes 161,144 Golf and Jetta models, and 7,131 Audi A3s. The issue was caused by a vibration that can occur when the fuel injection system pulses, which can lead to cracks in the injector fuel lines and cause fuel leaks.
This recall is separate from the Volkswagen emissions scandal, also known as "Dieselgate", in which Volkswagen was found to have cheated emissions laws worldwide. The scandal involved 11 million "clean diesel" cars that were polluting at up to 40 times the federal standard. Volkswagen was forced to buy back the affected cars and fix their emissions-cheating software and parts.
Despite the emissions scandal, recalled VW diesel cars can be purchased at low prices and offer great fuel economy. However, there are some things to look out for before buying a recalled VW diesel. It is important to check for weather damage, especially on rubber components such as tires, brake lines, fuel lines, and CV boots. It is also recommended to start the car cold to ensure the battery is functioning properly.
In terms of maintenance, there are some specific practices to be aware of when owning a VW diesel. For example, the oil-change interval for a TDI is typically 10,000 miles, and the fuel filter should be changed every 20,000 miles.
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VW enthusiasts fear that the fun-to-drive VWs will drink more fuel and lose acceleration after the recall repair
Volkswagen's "Clean Diesel" campaign in the early 2010s was a renaissance for diesel technology in passenger cars. The campaign, spearheaded by Volkswagen and Audi, resulted in smaller, quieter engines that delivered fantastic fuel economy and lots of power. However, the campaign was also a deception, as Volkswagen cheated emissions laws worldwide. This led to the “Dieselgate” scandal, which revealed that Volkswagen's 11 million "clean diesel" cars had been polluting the air at up to 40 times the federal standard.
The scandal resulted in Volkswagen being forced to buy back affected cars and fix their emissions-cheating software and parts. The recalled cars are often available at low prices, making them attractive purchases. However, VW enthusiasts fear that the fun-to-drive nature of these cars will be compromised after the recall repair. Specifically, they worry that the repaired cars will consume more fuel and experience a loss of acceleration.
These fears are not unfounded, as fixing the emissions issue may indeed result in lower performance and fuel economy. Additionally, there is concern that the recall repair will adversely affect engine output and performance. Volkswagen has stated that the fixes will achieve legal EU emissions compliance without impacting fuel consumption or performance. However, time and testing will tell if these assurances hold true.
The recall process has been complex, with Volkswagen facing criminal cases and fines in various countries, including the United States and South Korea. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States has the authority to order Volkswagen to recall the vehicles, but its power to compel consumers to get their cars repaired is limited. This has led to reluctant diesel owners who may decline to have their cars repaired, even though they continue to emit harmful pollutants.
Overall, while the recalled VW diesel cars offer a lot of value for money, the impact of the recall repair on fuel consumption and acceleration remains a concern for enthusiasts. The true impact of the repairs will only be known through comprehensive testing and owner experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
Volkswagen was found to have installed software that changed the vehicles' emissions production during official testing. The company programmed computers in these cars to detect when they were undergoing official emissions testing, and only then did the cars turn on their full emission control systems. Controls were then turned off during actual road use, resulting in better fuel economy and performance but producing significantly greater pollutants.
The EPA determined that certain Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen models emitted more pollutants than legally acceptable, with potential environmental and health implications. There were also financial repercussions, with Volkswagen facing fines and penalties, and a drop in resale values of the affected vehicles.
The recall includes 161,144 Golf and Jetta models and 7,131 Audi A3s. The recall affects 2009-2012 Jettas, 2010-2012 Golf small cars, and Audi A3 cars from 2010-2012, all equipped with 2-liter TDI diesel engines.
Volkswagen initially proposed a minor hardware modification to the car's air intake system and a software update. However, this was rejected by US regulators as it did not adequately address the issues. The final solution involved a software update and, in some cases, larger catalytic converters.
It is expected that the fixes will result in reduced fuel economy for the recalled Volkswagen diesel vehicles. The reprogramming of the onboard computers will likely lead to lower engine power and torque, impacting the vehicles' fuel efficiency.
