How to Know If You’re Affected By the VW Recall

Volkswagen has reportedly set aside more than $7 billion in order to fix all 11 million U.S. vehicles installed with emissions-cheating software allegedly used to skirt federal regulations.

The VW scandal was brought to light just days ago after a federal investigation led to the discovery that so-called “clean diesel” vehicles were equipped with a “defeat device,” which would trick emissions testing but at all other times the cars emitted 40 times more toxic fumes than permitted under the Clean Air Act.

VW owners, who say they paid a premium for what they believed was an environmentally conscious vehicle, are furious and have already started filing dozens of federal class action lawsuits.

As more Americans begin to express their resentment with Volkswagen for their alleged deceptive practices, here’s what you need to know to find out if your vehicle is affected by the recall.

VW Recall Affected Vehicles

The Volkswagen emissions scam affected certain diesel-fueled engines but not all of them, so VW owners must first know their engine model.

According to a statement released by Volkswagen, Type EA 189 engines contain a “noticeable deviation between bench test results and actual road use.”

These VW diesel engine vehicles include the following models:

• 2012 – 2015 Beetle
• 2013 – 2015 Beetle Convertible
• 2009 – 2015 Jetta
• 2009 – 2014 Jetta SportWagen TDI
• 2010 – 2015 Golf
• 2015 – Golf SportWagen TDI
• 2012 – 2015 Passat
• 2010 – 2015 Audi A3

The Environment Protection Agency issued a Notice of Violation letter to Volkswagen after discovering nearly 500,000 VW diesel vehicles in the United States were emitting high levels of toxic fumes. The EPA ordered Volkswagen to recall and fix all cars installed with the defeat device. The federal agency also stated that the German car manufacturer may be liable for civil penalties for the alleged violations.

Volkswagen has admitted that the EPA allegations are true. VW CEO Martin Winterkorn stated “I personally am deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public.”

Volkswagen Emissions Fraud Lawsuits

The VW emissions scam has already led to numerous lawsuits and more are expected to follow as owners claim the environmentally-friendly portrayal was deceptive and they paid extra for the sham.

According to one Volkswagen class action lawsuit, VW owners pay thousands more for a clean diesel vehicle over a base model. For example, a 2015 VW Jetta that was a “clean diesel” model would cost $3,000 more than the price of a standard model.

In general, plaintiffs claim they would not have purchased the VW vehicles had they known it was installed with the “defeat device” used to trick emissions testing.

Some plaintiffs allege that even if Volkswagen fixes the emissions-cheating software installed in their vehicle, the fuel efficiency of the affected vehicles will be altered and potentially damaged.

UPDATE: On June 28, 2016, Volkswagen reached proposed settlements with both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission following the VW emissions scandal. VW’s deal with the DOJ includes up to $14.7 billion along with vehicle buyback provisions as well as funding for pollution control programs. In addition to the DOJ settlement, Volkswagen will also spend up to $10 billion in a buyback and lease termination settlement with the FTC that is expected to include about 475,000 vehicles.
UPDATE 2: The Volkswagen, Audi diesel emissions class action settlement is now open!Click here to file a claim!