Volkswagen recalls 150,000 Tiguans for fuel bubbles
Mon, 11 Aug 2014Volkswagen and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have announced the recall of over 150,000 Tiguans over fuel issues. In the affected units, bubbles may form in winterized fuel that could cause the vehicle to stall. And "a vehicle stall," says the NHTSA, "increases the risk of a crash."
The issue could result from winter fuel that is warmed up, whether in warmer climates, hotter seasons or under "engine hot soak" – tech speak for when a cold fluid (whether a coolant, lubricant or fuel) sits in a hot engine block after it's been shut off. Under such circumstances, deposits could collect in the fuel system, preventing proper circulation and causing the engine to stall shortly after ignition.
The recall affects 151,389 examples of the Tiguan manufactured between July 2007 and June 2014, covering the 2009 through 2014 model years. Volkswagen will notify owners to bring their crossovers in to their local dealership to have the software updated to increase fuel pressure so as to eliminate the bubble issue. The manufacturer reports, however, that no injuries have been reported as a result of such a malfunction occurring. See the notices from both VW and the NHTSA below for further details.
VOLKSWAGEN ISSUES VOLUNTARY RECALL
Aug 11, 2014
Herndon, VA - Volkswagen considers the safety and satisfaction of its consumers and passengers a top priority. As such, Volkswagen of America today notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will be issuing a voluntary safety recall affecting the fuel pump on certain 2009-2014 model year Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles.
The recall affects approximately 151,389 model year 2009-2014 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. In isolated cases, it is possible that gas bubbles may form in the fuel system when winterized fuel with high vapor pressures is used in warmer areas or during months with higher ambient temperatures or during engine hot soak. The condition occurs when the engine is restarted within a short period of time, before the engine has fully cooled down. When the vehicles affected by this recall have been operated under low load for an extended period of time, deposits may collect and degrade the electrical current flow inside the in-tank fuel pump, thus leading to reduced fuel pump performance and pressure. If these conditions occur in combination, the fuel pump may not be able to overcome the vapor pressure under low loads and can potentially result in a vehicle stall directly after engine start. Potentially, this could lead to a crash.
To fix the issue, authorized Volkswagen dealers will install revised Electronic Control Module (ECM) software on all affected vehicles. This will be performed free of charge to the customer.
No accidents or injuries related to this issue have been reported. Volkswagen will notify all owners of affected vehicles and will instruct them to arrange for an appointment with an authorized Volkswagen dealer.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, Eos, Golf, Golf GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, Tiguan, and Touareg vehicles through approximately 644 independent U.S. dealers.
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RECALL Subject : Bubbles in Fuel may Result in Engine Stall
Report Receipt Date: JUL 21, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V441000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 151,389
Manufacturer: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
SUMMARY:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
CONSEQUENCE:
A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
REMEDY:
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
By Noah Joseph