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Volkswagen/Audi Headlight Class Action Settlement Preliminarily Approved
By Matt O’Donnell
UPDATE 1: Details on how to file a claim for the Volkswagen/Audi HID Headlight Class Action Settlement are up!
UPDATE 2: The Court granted final approval to the class action settlement on Oct. 30, 2013.
A federal judge on Friday preliminarily approved a class action lawsuit settlement that will require Volkswagen Group of America Inc. to fully reimburse Audi and VW vehicle owners who paid to repair or replace defective high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. The deal will also extend the warranty for HID headlight parts.
U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty approved the Volkswagen/Audi headlight settlement as “fair, reasonable, and adequate,” and conditionally certified a class of all persons or entities in the U.S. who purchased or leased any 2005-2006 Audi A4 (B7), 2005 Audi A4 (B6), and 2004-2007 (pre-GP) Volkswagen Touareg vehicle.
The settlement resolves multiple class action lawsuits filed in 2010 alleging the vehicles were equipped with faulty HID headlights that would randomly flicker or shut off. Plaintiffs said Volkswagen marketed the headlights as superior over less expensive halogen headlights, and that repairing the defective HID headlamps cost hundreds of dollars to repair.
Under the deal, Volkswagen will fully reimburse qualified Class Members for the cost (both parts and labor) previously paid for repairing or replacing HID headlight parts within 5 years or 50,000 miles following the date of the first original sale or lease of the vehicle.
Likewise, any Class Member who has documented proof of an HID headlight problem during that time period, but paid to repair the problem after the 5 year/50,000 mile period, will also be entitled to a full reimbursement.
In addition, Volkswagen will extend its New Vehicle Limited Warranties to cover the repair or replacement of HID headlight parts at an authorized dealer up to 5 years or 50,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
A notice detailing the Volkswagen/Audi headlight class action settlement and how to file a claim will be mailed within in the next three months, according to court documents. Sign up for Settlement Alerts below to receive notification of claims filing instructions once they’re available.
A Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2013.
The Volkswagen/Audi HID Headlight Class Action Lawsuit Settlement case is Kennedy-Lebar et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America Inc., Case No. 10-cv-05126, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
2 thoughts onVolkswagen/Audi Headlight Class Action Settlement Preliminarily Approved
I provided all the necessary documentation for $1500 and my claim was denied because I could not prove the headlight ballasts were defective prior to the 5 year/50K cutoff. Audi has known for years this was a safety issue and has failed to accept responsibility. Who has ever heard of a car where the headlights flicker off while driving down a highway at night? It is a safety issue and any responsible parent would never allow their children to be driven in an Audi that requires ballasts/igniters for the headlights. I personally will never purchase another Audi because the dealer network and the company don’t stand behind their products.
I have a 2004 Touareg that has had 4 batteries installed in 4 years….no one can figure it out..not even VW…would love to see a class action suit on this issue.