Volkswagen Timing Chain Class Action Settlement Gets Final Approval

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A federal judge has granted final approval of a Volkswagen class action settlement over allegedly defective timing chains.

The Volkswagen class action lawsuit settlement will end the consolidated consumer claims against Audi and Volkswagen that the manufacturers knew about defects in their timing chain that could cause complete engine failure.

Class Members included in the Volkswagen class action lawsuit will be eligible to recover up to $2,000 in timing chain system repair costs and up to $6,500 in engine repairs if those consumers went to an independent repair business.

As part of the VW class action settlement, the manufacturers will extend timing chain warranties on impacted vehicles to cover those for 100,000 miles or 10 years.

Chief U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares determined that the Volkswagen class action settlement offer was fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the defendants and those who filed the suit.

The original Volkswagen class action lawsuit was filed by a group of consumers who discovered problems with their timing chain system in their vehicles and had to have it replaced. The lawsuit argued that drivers of those vehicles were at risk for rear-end and unavoidable accidents.

The VW class action lawsuit also included claims that the general public was at risk of being hurt in a serious accident if a Volkswagen or Audi vehicle suffered the timing chain problem unexpectedly on the roads.

The consumers said in the Volkswagen class action lawsuit that the makers of the cars knew about or should have known about the risks and failed to warn drivers and the public about the dangers.

Following the proposed settlement in the Volkswagen class action lawsuit, a total of 43 objections were filed. Many of those concerns related to the 100,000 mile or 10-year warranty. Some of the drivers involved in the suit said that those should be extended.

The defendants argued against any further extensions to the warranty suggestions, noting that the settlement offer did not have to agree with every desire of the Class Members involved.

The judge agreed, stating that so long as the settlement was reasonable and fair that it could be allowed to proceed. The judge overruled the objections and said they were without merit in his order.

To close out that Volkswagen class action lawsuit, the judge certified a settlement Class of entities and persons who leased or purchased a 2008 through 2014 Audi and Volkswagen vehicle in Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Attorneys’ fees of $8.5 million were approved by the judge in addition to reimbursement of $150,000 in expenses and fees incurred by the legal team in filing and trying the case.

The Class Members in the Volkswagen class action lawsuit are represented by Carella Byrne Cecchi Olstein Brody & Agnello PC, Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP, Kantrowitz Goldhmaer & Graifman PC, Thomas P. Sobran PC, Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman LLP, Seeger Weiss LLP, Baron & Budd PC, and Podhurt Orseck PA.

The Volkswagen Timing Chain Class Action Lawsuit is In re: Volkswagen Timing Chain Product Liability Litigation, Case No. 2:16-cv-02765, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.