Volkswagen class action overview:
- Who: Five Volkswagen and Audi drivers have sued the automakers.
- Why: The plaintiffs say the company sold vehicles with a dangerous defect.
- Where: The Volkswagen class action lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.
Five Volkswagen and Audi drivers have filed a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers, alleging that the companies sold vehicles with dangerous defects without informing consumers.
Plaintiffs Jagger Hardy, Andrew Montemayor, Nancy Pickett, Geri Darrow, and Luis Viteri filed the class action complaint against Audi of America Inc., Volkswagen AG and Audi AG on Aug. 2 in a New Jersey federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
The plaintiffs argue that the automakers knew about defects in several models but failed to disclose it, putting drivers and passengers at risk.
Class action: Automakers had longstanding knowledge of defects
The lawsuit is seeking to represent owners and lessees of 2015-2020 Volkswagen Golf, 2015-2020 Audi A3, and 2022-2024 Volkswagen Taos vehicles.
According to the plaintiffs, these vehicles contain defects in the suction jet pump and fuel tank components, leading to fuel leaks, premature nozzle shutoffs, fuel spillbacks and gas odors inside the vehicle.
These issues, dubbed the “Suction Pump Defect,” pose a significant fire hazard and compromise the engine’s ability to receive fuel, the lawsuit states.
The plaintiffs claim that Volkswagen and Audi have been aware of these defects since at least 2015 but chose to conceal the information. They allege that the automakers not only failed to disclose the defect but also took active steps to hide it from consumers.
Warranty and repair issues
Volkswagen sold the vehicles with warranties covering fuel tank and suction jet pump components, the plaintiffs say. However, numerous complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that authorized dealerships often refused adequate repairs even within the warranty period. This left many owners and lessees dealing with recurring issues and costly repairs, they say.
Safety concerns
Hardy says he purchased a 2015 Volkswagen GTI SE for personal use, attracted by its advertised safety and reliability.
However, in 2017, he began to notice gas odors inside the vehicle, which escalated to fuel spilling out of the tank in 2022. Despite multiple attempts to repair the vehicle under warranty, the problem persisted. A dealership eventually advised Hardyto stop driving the car due to the unresolved defect, he says.
As a result, the plaintiffs seek to represent all U.S. residents who purchased or leased the vehicles with the alleged defect. They are suing for violations of consumer protection laws, fraud, and unjust enrichment, and are demanding class certification, damages, and a jury trial.
Meanwhile, in May, Volkswagen Group of America issued a recall for nearly 80,000 of its model year 2021-2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles over concerns their rearview camera displays could fail to display an image or be delayed.
What do you think of the allegations against Volkswagen? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Berger Montague PC and Capstone Law APC.
The Volkswagen class action lawsuit is Jagger Hardy et al., v. Volkswagen Group of America Inc. et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-08251-KMW-SAK in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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30 thoughts onVolkswagen class action claims suction jet pumps, fuel tanks contain defects
I purchased the 2025 VW Taos and was told it has an Audi engine and how great that is because I’m not having to pay that price. However, I’m experiencing electrical issues no connectivity and a host of other problems that I plan to take back to the dealership so please count me in on this.