Audi class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Two consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Volkswagen Group of America Inc., Audi of America Inc., Volkswagen AG and Audi AG.
- Why: The plaintiffs claim Audi concealed defective water pumps and denied repairs on affected vehicles, such as the Audi A4.
- Where: The Audi class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court.
A new class action lawsuit alleges certain Audi vehicles have defective water pumps that can cause catastrophic engine damage.
Plaintiffs Doug Larr and Kaelin Crawford filed the class action complaint against Volkswagen Group of America, Audi of America, Volkswagen and Audi on May 18 in New Jersey federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
The class action lawsuit alleges that certain model year 2018-2024 Audi vehicles, including Audi A4, A5, S5, RS 5 and SQ5 models, are equipped with defective water pumps that can cause coolant leaks and lead to catastrophic engine damage.
“Unlike ordinary external coolant leaks that are visible to drivers and technicians, the defect permits coolant to migrate internally through the vacuum system, often without immediately observable external leakage, thereby concealing the severity of the condition until substantial damage has already occurred,” the Audi class action lawsuit says.
The class action claims that the water pump defect is a known issue that Audi has failed to adequately address, leaving consumers with costly repair bills and diminished vehicle value.
Audi water pumps defective since at least 2018, lawsuit claims
According to the complaint, the defect affects Audi vehicles equipped with 2.9T and 3.0T EA839 engines. The water pumps in these vehicles are prone to premature failure, allowing coolant to leak internally and cause engine damage.
The class action lawsuit alleges that Audi has known about the defect since at least 2018 but has failed to disclose it to consumers or provide an adequate fix.
As a result, many Audi owners have been forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket to repair their vehicles, the plaintiffs say. Larr and Crawford allege they each paid in excess of $1,000 to repair their vehicles after the water pump defect caused engine damage.
The plaintiffs are seeking class action status on behalf of all owners of affected Audi vehicles, including those with the Audi A4. The lawsuit is seeking reimbursement for repair costs as well as damages for diminished vehicle value.
The plaintiffs are suing for violations of California and New Jersey consumer protection laws, breach of warranty and fraud. They are seeking damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Another lawsuit targeting Audi alleges the company knew, since at least 2019, that certain vehicles had a door lock defect that could lock passengers in or out of the vehicles but failed to disclose the issue or recall the vehicles.
What do you think of the allegations made in this Audi class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf LLC.
The Audi class action lawsuit is Larr, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America Inc., et al., Case No. 2:26-cv-05678, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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