Volkswagen Issues Global Recall of 2.64 Million Vehicles

[Diesel_vert]

Another day, another recall...

Bloomberg

By Christoph Rauwald - Nov 14, 2013

Volkswagen AG (VOW) is recalling about 2.64 million vehicles worldwide, including its biggest such move in China, to fix electronic and drive-system flaws in some of its most popular models.

Volkswagen is recommending that mineral oil be used in dual-clutch gearboxes on 1.6 million cars and vans in place of synthetic oil, Michael Franke, a spokesman at the Wolfsburg, Germany-based company, said today by phone. Another 800,000 Tiguan compact sport-utility-vehicles may have lighting defects and 239,000 Amarok pickups should be fixed for fuel leaks, the manufacturer said today...

(Read more)

To be philosophic, I suppose it'd be preferable than nothing be done at all and leave the consumer with a defective vehicle, which could potentially cost the consumer thousands in repair bills down the track.

If it happens that Volkswagen's reputation and profits further suffers, then so be it.

Hopefully, this entire DSG debacle/saga will really act as a wake up call for Volkswagen, because if they want to succeed, they need to address their quality control systems and processes, which appear to be woefully inadequate and have led to poor consistency to say the very least. Not to mention the increasing costs in lost time, money and trust for both manufacturer and consumer alike.




For reference, this is the official blurb:

PRESS RELEASE - VOLKSWAGEN MEDIA SERVICES

Wolfsburg, 14 November 2013

Volkswagen recalls Tiguan for fuse exchange

• Some of the vehicle lights could fail on the Tiguan
• Gearbox oil change with vehicles with DQ200 gearboxes

Within the framework of the continuous monitoring of vehicles in the field, Quality Assurance at Volkswagen AG has found that, in isolated cases, a fuse may trip 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.

Replacing the fuse with one with a tougher surface coating only takes a few minutes. Approximately 800,000 vehicles, which includes 147.000 vehicles in the German market, built between the beginning of 2008 and the middle of 2011, are affected by this global campaign. The relevant vehicle owners will be informed by Volkswagen accordingly.

Within the framework of further quality monitoring in China and Southeast Asia, it has been discovered that, with vehicles with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DQ200), electric malfunctions could occur 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 & go driving.

Studies have established that using of mineral oil will rectify this problem. To continue to ensure customer satisfaction amongst DSG, Volkswagen has decided to launch global voluntary campaign and to request all customers with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DQ200) filled with synthetic oil to visit a workshop for an oil exchange. The vehicle owners will be informed by Volkswagen accordingly.

Copyright © Volkswagen 2013. All Rights reserved.

[Transporter]

Every car manufacturer has recalls and some even bigger. I don't see that the recalls will ever stop.

So, I don't expect that VW would be recalls free.

It's good to see that they identified problem and are fixing it, credit to them.

[phaeton]

The Amarok Recall Press Release

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recalls Amarok

•A small number of Amarok pick-ups may be affected by fuel pipe leaks

Hanover, 14.11.2013 – 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 pick-ups with a 2-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.

The recall affects 239,000 Amarok models globally (12,359 in Germany) built between its launch and June of this year.

The vehicle owners affected have been informed.

[wai]

Unfortunately, this is what Quality Assurance can do for you.

Many do not realise that QA does not imply a "quality product".

I setup QA systems for companies, and one client manufacturing electrical switchgear had a very high reputation for their products, but did not have formal QA accreditation. They engaged an accreditation company who convinced them that guaranteeing 0% failure rate out of the box was just too high a target. They were convinced that having a 5% failure rate out of the box would save them millions of dollars a year, even replacing the 5% that failed. Reluctantly they accepted it, but it almost caused them to close.

You see, not only was there a 5% chance that the switch would not be functional out of the box, but the free replacement also had a 5% chance of failing out of the box. Very quickly their reputation was in tatters, and it was only them going back to their more rigorous inspection system that saw them survive.

With cars, there is a continuous process to minimise costs in manufacture. Statistical analysis is carried out and many decisions to go with one item over another is based on what the risk is versus what the cost is. Car makers are also only worried about the manufacturing process and warranty period. During this time, it is the manufacturer who has to pay. Once the warranty expires (and don't even consider any extended warranty insurance as it will not cover this), it is the customer who has to pay.

With this recall, VW will have carried out a risk assessment on what the potential problem would cost them as opposed to what the cost of using a particular oil is and any potential fallout would cost them. The problem is that consumer agencies are now taking a more aggressive stance where if the problem is as a result of something the manufacturer knew could happen but proceeded anyway, they will hold them to account, even if the warranty has expired.

Now it will be really stupid of VW to not do this when the cars are in for their mechatronics recall, but you never know, they might wait and call the cars back again.

[Umai Naa!!]

Generally, they'll try and do as much as they can at the one visit.

However, if parts need to be order, it's another story.

[Transporter]

Now it will be really stupid of VW to not do this when the cars are in for their mechatronics recall, but you never know, they might wait and call the cars back again.

IMO. There wouldn't be enough of the mineral oil to cover the production and also the recall around the world. Unless they use the mineral oil that is common and available.

[Diesel_vert]

Every car manufacturer has recalls and some even bigger. I don't see that the recalls will ever stop.

So, I don't expect that VW would be recalls free.

It's good to see that they identified problem and are fixing it, credit to them.

I would agree with that. Nearly every modern manufacturer has been the subject of recalls, and I don't expect that trend will change significantly anytime soon.

I would also agree it's fortunate that consumers are getting a solution, particularly those with the affected DQ200 gearbox (but we shall see).

However, recall or otherwise, Volkswagen seriously need to do something about the quality of their vehicles rolling off the factory floor - not just in regards to the DSG (for starters), but on a more broader scale.

I don't know what goes on within the VW corridors of power, but someone needs to find a long term solution for their current quality woes (I'd hope they're already on to it) - and the sooner the better, for all concerned.

[Transporter]

I don't know what goes on within the VW corridors of power, but someone needs to find a long term solution for their current quality woes (I'd hope they're already on to it) - and the sooner the better, for all concerned.

So do I.

[sVWatt]

Damned if they didn't recall
Damned because they did?

Give it a break. Don't like them then don't buy them.

[Diesel_vert]

Damned if they didn't recall
Damned because they did?

Give it a break. Don't like them then don't buy them.

The cars are clearly nice enough for lots of people to like and want to buy (otherwise they wouldn't have 2.6 million vehicles to recall in the first place), but an improvement in mechanical quality & reliability wouldn't go astray, irrespective of any recall action.

[ziggyboy]

Wow the article I was reading says that all DSG7's are built in China. Didn't know that.

[Barracuda]

Just called the customer service and apparently my car isn't affected? I've got a 2012 Polo 77TSI DSG. The way I read the VW press release was that it affected ALL 7 Speed DSG's... Odd.

[ziggyboy]

VW customer service may not be briefed on it yet. Or they think people are dumb and just want you to go away until a form statement is made.

[Barracuda]

VW customer service may not be briefed on it yet. Or they think people are dumb and just want you to go away until a form statement is made.

Yeah, I think I'll wait a bit and call a second time. He said something like only 11,000 cars with DSG's were affected in Australia? Not sure how true that is...

[kaanage]

However, recall or otherwise, Volkswagen seriously need to do something about the quality of their vehicles rolling off the factory floor - not just in regards to the DSG (for starters), but on a more broader scale.

I don't know what goes on within the VW corridors of power, but someone needs to find a long term solution for their current quality woes (I'd hope they're already on to it) - and the sooner the better, for all concerned.

I'd say dropping the twincharger engine was at least partially a response to this plus the rumoured abandonment of the DSG for the next round of their smallest models (Up/Polo/Fabia...)