VW Tiguan vehicles consume high rate of engine oil, class action claims

VW class action overview: 

• Who: Volkswagen has been hit with a class action lawsuit by owners and lessees of 2022-2023 Tiguan vehicles. 
• Why: The plaintiffs claim the vehicles consume an overly-high rate of engine oil.
• Where: The VW class action was filed in a New Jersey federal court.

Volkswagen is facing a new class action lawsuit from drivers who allege certain 2022-2023 Tiguan vehicles suffer from a critical design flaw causing excessive oil consumption. 

Plaintiffs Stacy Zeiders and Calvin Westlund filed the class action complaint against Volkswagen Group of America on Dec. 16 in a New Jersey federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

The plaintiffs allege that the oil consumption defect forces Tiguan owners to replenish engine oil more frequently than specified in Volkswagen’s maintenance guidelines. This defect can reportedly lead to unexpected engine failure or stalling, increasing the risk of accidents.

According to the complaint, the defect imposes additional financial burdens on owners who must purchase extra oil or pay for frequent servicing.

Zeiders, who purchased a 2022 VW Tiguan in Pennsylvania, said she spent over $360 on oil changes and additional oil purchases.

“Plaintiff Zeiders relies on her vehicle for her profession and is concerned that the Oil Consumption Defect could impact the safety of the vehicle, cause her to end up stranded somewhere, or that she will have to rely on her own intuition to check the Vehicle’s oil level because the oil level warning light has failed to warn Plaintiff of low oil levels in the past,” the lawsuit says.

Volkswagen knew about the issue but failed to disclose it, lawsuit claims

The plaintiffs allege that Volkswagen has long been aware of the defect but routinely dismisses consumer complaints. 

When VW Tiguan owners report issues to dealerships, they are allegedly told there’s nothing wrong with their vehicles. Zeiders described numerous visits to Volkswagen dealerships in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina, where her concerns about oil levels and engine sputtering were inadequately addressed.

As a result, the plaintiffs are looking to represent anyone in the United States who bought or leased a 2022-2023 VW Tiguan. They are suing for breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and violations of Pennsylvania and Maryland consumer protection laws, and seek certification of the class action, damages, compensation for diminished vehicle value and reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen recently issued a trio of recalls over concerns involving defective Takata-brand airbag inflators, door handles and front passenger airbags, and was hit with two class actions concerning allegedly defective braking systems and suction jet pump and fuel tank components. 

What do you think of the allegations in this VW class action? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Benjamin F. Johns, Samantha E. Holbrook and Andrea L. Bonner of Shub & Johns LLC

The VW class action is Stacy Zeiders et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-11197-BRM-JSA in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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