The defect
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L TDI COMMON RAIL DIESEL ENGINE/CLEAN DIESEL ENGINE. THE FUEL INJECTION PULSES COULD COINCIDE WITH THE NATURAL FREQUENCY OF THE INJECTOR LINE #2, IN SPECIFIC LOAD AND RPM CONDITIONS. THIS RESONANCE CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS IN THE FUEL LINE.
The risk
DUE TO THE RESONANCE CONDITION, INJECTOR LINE NUMBER 2 COULD DEVELOP SMALL CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
The remedy
VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FUEL INJECTOR LINE FOR THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER ON CERTAIN VEHICLES AND WILL INSTALL VIBRATION DAMPERS ON ALL OF THE INJECTOR LINES. VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO HAVE THE VEHICLES REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Audi A3 | 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A3 | 2010 | 50 | 5 |
| Audi A3 | 2011 | 43 | 4 |
| Audi A3 | 2012 | 43 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2010 | 69 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2011 | 110 | 6 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 2012 | 48 | 6 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2009 | 889 | 6 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2010 | 852 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2011 | 607 | 7 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 2012 | 500 | 5 |
Other fuel system, diesel recalls in 2011
5 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the fuel system, diesel; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC filed 63 campaigns in all.
| 11V569000 2 Dec 2011 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 11V496000 3 Oct 2011 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 11V478000 16 Sept 2011 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 11V441000 19 Aug 2011 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011