Jessy Edwards  |  May 17, 2021

Category: Auto News

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Volkswagen concealed a water pump defect in 25 models of its cars, a class action alleges.
(Photo Credit: David1992/DepositPhotos.com)

Volkswagen concealed a water pump defect in 25 models of its cars sold in the United States, which its customers then had to pay to get fixed themselves, a new nationwide class action alleges.

In the class action lawsuit filed Friday in a New Jersey federal court, Plaintiffs Michael Zhao and Dean Marriott allege Volkswagen USA broke federal warranty laws and state consumer laws in its actions regarding the “latent defect.” 

It says Volkswagen USA, a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, knew since 2016 that at least 25 models of its vehicles contain a defectively manufactured thermoplastic water pump module that causes it to prematurely fail.

“When the Defect manifests, it may cause the engines in the Class Vehicles to overheat, resulting in sudden and catastrophic engine failure,” the class action states.

Engine failure causes the cars to unexpectedly stop, the class action claims, posing a danger to the drivers of the vehicles and to other people on the road.

The class action lawsuit alleges that Volkswagen actively tried to conceal the fact the cars were prone to the defect, omitting the flaw in its marketing and sale of the vehicles, in violation of the law.

The issue also diminished the value of the Class members’ vehicles, the drivers say.

When owners of cars with the water pump issue contacted Volkswagen about the defect, they claim the company was “unable or unwilling to adequately repair the Class Vehicles.” Instead it would tell owners and lessees that the cars are “operating as intended” and therefore cannot be repaired under warranty or otherwise. 

“Once the Class Vehicles fall outside the warranty period, Defendants then charge the owners and lessees for the costly repairs necessitated by the Defect.”

In Zhao’s case, he bought a new 2018 Volkswagen Golf R in 2018 from Volkswagen of Downtown LA. After the car presented the defect, he said he had to pay $1,340.82 out of pocket for repairs. Marriott had a similar experience with his leased Volkswagen GTI Sport.

“As a result of Defendants’ unfair, deceptive and/or fraudulent business practices, owners and/or lessees of the Class Vehicles, including Plaintiff, have suffered an ascertainable loss of money and/or property and/or loss in value,” the class action says.

The class action is bringing the case against Volkswagen Group of America for breaches of federal express and implied warranties laws and for unfair, unlawful, and deceptive trade practices under California law. 

Zhao and Marriott are looking to represent anyone in the United States who bought one of the 25 listed vehicles, plus a California subclass.

They are also seeking certification of the class action, damages, interest, fees, an injunction and a jury trial.

The Class vehicles are: 2015-2020 Audi A3, MY2015-2019 Audi A3 Quattro, MY2017-2019 Audi A4, MY2017-2019 Audi A4 Allroad, MY2017-2019 Audi A4 Quattro, MY2018-2019 Audi A5 Quattro, MY2018-2019 Audi A5 Sportback, MY 2015-2018 Audi A6, MY 2015-2018 A6 Quattro, MY2015-2018 Audi Q3, MY2015-2018 Audi Q3 Quattro, MY 2018-2020 Audi Q5, MY2016-2020 Audi TT Quattro, MY2017-2019 Audi Q7, MY2015-2019 Audi S3, MY2016- 2020 Audi TTS Quattro, MY2019-2020 Volkswagen Arteon, MY2018-2020 Atlas, MY2015- 2019 Volkswagen Beetle, MY2015-2018 Volkswagen Golf, MY2017-2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, MY2015-2019 Volkswagen Golf R, MY2015-2019 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen, MY2015-2020 Volkswagen GTI, and MY2018-2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 

Meanwhile, Volkswagen AG is facing a nationwide class action lawsuit saying that its executives artificially inflated stock prices in a gag marketing ploy that used the false name “Voltswagen” to emphasize the company’s focus on electric vehicles.  

What do you think of Volkswagen’s alleged handling of consumer complaints? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf LLC.

The Volkswagen Water Pump Class Action Lawsuit is Zhao et al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc, Case No. 2:21-cv-11251-MCA-MF, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.


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115 thoughts onVolkswagen Hid Water Pump Defect in 25 Models of Its Vehicles, Class Action Alleges

  1. Justin Justice says:

    My 2017 VW Jetta water pump failed and the engine has suffered catastrophic engine damage.

  2. JanetThomas says:

    I have 2016 VW Pass at took it in 2 yrs ago under 80000 miles because I smelled antifreeze they said there’s no leak maybe reservoir is leaking they could replace it for 247.00 for me …here it is 2023 and every week my over heating comes on I have to add coolant top off the reservoir and reset dash light signal there is a leak some where the hoses that sit above the water pump housing on a heating hose or it the pump weeping about to go out it is building up on a electrical plug that house to my transmission housing block with a white substance its antifreeze….know I’m out of warranty pass my mileage and no way I can afford to get it fixed……

  3. Greg Jones says:

    My wife’s 2016 jetta waterpump failed also and the coupling from waterpump to oil cooler has leaked for over a year,include us Kim and Greg Jones

  4. Randy Rostie says:

    I got a low coolant warning on my 2019 VW Jetta GLI, which has the same engine as the 2019 GTI, but is not mentioned in the lawsuit. I have an appointment in 2 weeks to get it looked at and received the letter about the water pump warranty extension.
    A forum post on Facebook mentioned a dealership is changing 4 water pumps a day.

  5. Dave says:

    Same water pump problem on my 2017 golf wagon. Looking at $1800 repair bill. Please include me in the class action suit.

    1. Dave says:

      With more research I found there is an extended warranty for this problem that was issued by VW in June 2022. Dealer was not even aware. My pump is now being replaced under extended warranty.

      1. Paige Woodward says:

        Our 2019 vw atlas is in the shop now with a failed water pump. Can you tell me where you found more info on the lawsuit and how we can notify someone in order to be on the list? Thank you! ☺️

  6. Katie Mann says:

    2017 VW Golf Wagon. Replaced water pump in February of 21. Less than 2 years later the coolant is leaking again. Part was 250 and labor 375. Labor is so much because they have to take the entire engine out to access the water pump. Faulty design on VWs part. They should pay. I want in on this law suit.

  7. Duncan says:

    My 2017 Audi SQ5 developed this Water pump problem in 2020 I requested the dealership look at the New Jersey Class action regarding the water pump issue but they decline . I also decline the repairs and now my vehicle is at the same dealership from 11/21/2022 being diagnose with a severe leak to the water pump and engine light issue , and currently the dealership has refuse to respond with the diagnosis as of 11/30/2022.

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