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Volkswagen has agreed to a settlement that would end a multidistrict litigation claiming that many vehicles’ engines have a timing chain tensioner that’s defective.
If approved, the potential VW settlement deal will resolve a two-year long multidistrict litigation.
Multiple class action lawsuits that were filed as early as May 2016 claim that a defect in Volkswagen vehicles engines, and engines in the company’s Audi brand, possess a defect that cause the engines to randomly fail, putting drivers and others at risk for injury or death.
This settlement, if approved by the court, would cover the cost for many Volkswagen and Audi drivers to have their vehicles repaired. The proposed Class of drivers include anyone in the United States and Puerto Rico who purchased or leased one of a number of Volkswagen and Audi vehicles made between 2008 and 2014.
Volkswagen has agreed to extend warranties on the timing chains and timing chain tensioners in affected vehicles to cover the parts for 100,000 miles or for 10 years.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, if the timing chain tensioner fails within 10 years or 100,000 miles, Volkswagen will reimburse drivers for the 100% of the cost of a new part if the driver has the repairs done at an authorized VW or Audi dealer.
However, if the vehicle owner has the timing chain tensioner fixed at an independent vehicle repair service center within the 10 years or 100,000 miles, VW will cover the cost of parts and labor up to $1,100.
Likewise, if a Class vehicle’s timing chain needs to be replaced or repaired within 10 years or 100,000 miles, Class Members will receive a refund of the entire cost of labor and parts if the car is taken to an authorized Audi or VW dealership.
Timing chain repairs or replacements that are performed on Class vehicles at an independent dealer will be covered up to $1,500.
If drivers need both the timing chain and timing chain tensioner fixed or replaced, Volkswagen has agreed to cover 100% of the total cost if the car is taken to an Audi or VW dealer.
Class vehicles that require both the timing chain and timing chain tensioner to be repaired or replaced will receive a refund of no more than $2,000.
According to the VW class action settlement terms, Class Members who need to replace or repair their engine because of the damage caused by the timing chain or timing chain tensioner will receive the following benefits:
The highest recovery for Class Members who take their vehicle to an independent service center for an engine repair is $6,500 and will be subject to the same mileage/time constraints presented in the table above.
The drivers state that in addition to the approved terms of the settlement, they will seek $2,500 awards for each of the named plaintiffs in the multidistrict litigation, as well as reasonable expenses and legal fees.
The drivers expressed their approval of the settlement, calling the proposed deal “an outstanding recovery for members of the settlement class.”
The representation for the drivers state that they “have reached the conclusion that the substantial benefits the settlement class members will receive as a result of this settlement [are] eminently fair, reasonable, and adequate, especially when compared to similar settlements and in light of the risks of continued litigation.” Now, the drivers and Volkswagen are awaiting preliminary approval of their proposed settlement deal.
According to the claims in the multidistrict litigation, the engine failure in many Volkswagen and Audi vehicles was caused by the chain tensioning system that would unexpectedly fail.
The VW class action lawsuits stated that “when the Tensioning System suddenly and unexpectedly fails, the Class Vehicles lose engine power, which causes a loss in the ability to accelerate, maintain speed, and/or adequately control the steering wheel or engage the brakes.” Allegedly, this defect put drivers at a risk of collision, endangering their safety and the safety of others.
Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.
The drivers are represented by Carella Byrne Cecchi Olstein Brody & Agnello PC, Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP, Kantrowitz Goldhamer & Graifman PC, Thomas P. Sobran PC, Mazie Seater Katz & Freeman LLC, McCune Wright LLP, Seeger Weiss LLP and Baron & Budd PC.
The Volkswagen, Audi Engine Failure Multidistrict Litigation is In re: Volkswagen Timing Chain Product Liability Litigation, Case No. 2:16-cv-02765, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
UPDATE: September 2018, the Volkswagen timing chain defect class action settlement is now open.Click here to file a claim.UPDATE 2: On Dec. 7, 2018, amid Class Member objections, plaintiffs in a Volkswagen engine defect class action are trying to keep aproposed settlement deal alive.
Plaintiffs in the Volkswagen class action emphasized to the court that there were only 43 objections to the proposed settlement.
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247 thoughts onVW Will Reimburse Drivers in Faulty Engine Class Action Settlement
Our 2013 audi a4 died at 102,000 miles cylinder 1 has no compression and the car has now been sitting in our garage for almost a year because of its potential to catch on fire if we drive it, now were waiting for a class action lawsuit settlement to cover the cost of repairs as audi says they won’t do anything until they settle in court. Its crazy to think a honda 4 cylinder engine lasts forever and an audi engine dies in its first 100,000 miles.
What happened to the audi brand?
I bought a 2009 Tiguan with 126k miles on it in October and in December the timing chain slipped and ruined the engine was quoted 9k for new engine and labor from a local shop. My question is has anyone heard of vw doing any kind of help at all with cost out of the miles or am I just screwed here?
I have a 2011 VW tiguan with 99k miles. The timing chain and tensioner just recently failed. Now the dealership is denying me the extended warranty because “we can’t prove that you have changed the oil at least 8 times”…. Just a weak attempt to avoid paying for the parts and labor. I personally change the car’s oil and filter every 8k miles, and like everyone else on the planet, I do not keep the receipts when I buy the oil and filter. Just a weak attempt on their part to avoid paying for the parts and labor.
It is currently being looked into by customer care. If they refuse to pay for it, I will be taking them to court.
I am having same issue; changed oil regularly at audi dealership and timing chain broke down last month under 100k miles and now they are refusing for repair even its falling under extended warranty.
Just brought my 2015 Jetta into to VW. The timing chain tensioner is stretched and needs replacing ASAP as the car is jumpy. I wasn’t told about a class action lawsuit or ongoing problems with the timing chain. Do owners of a 2015 model have any recourse?
Any luck here? Just got the bomb dropped on me too.
As many have reported the Audi Dealerships have never notified or warned consumers of the possible defect. We had our 2009 A4 in for its scheduled maintenance at around 98,000 miles. No mention of issues or warning. at 117,000 the tensioner failed and the end result was a new engine. The bill was over $7,000. Audi/VW needs to stand behind their product and either pay for the full repairs, regardless of the mileage or give all A4 consumers a $10K credit towards the purchase of New or Certified Used Audi/VW replacement. This would show the appropriate Corporate Integrity and rebuild consumer confidence/trust in the company.
Are there any options for those of us over 100K in miles?
Did you ever learn anything? I just found out I’m having the same issue at 103k miles.
Just bought a 2010 jetta with cbfa engine. Went to start it and car jumped timing bending valves had the ca 1 month has 90k. Was told the tensioner failed by my mechanic.
On June 20th 2019 my 2013 VW Tiguan Timing Chain and Tensioner broke randomly and the dealership is taking no responsibility for the repair or replacement. It was sold to me in late November 2017 and was driven by 2 other owners previously the dealer told me it was a certified vehicle when they knowingly were aware of the problem and was never communicated as a fault in the car. They want to charge me $8800.00 to repair.
THe tensioner that the class action covered was discontinued sometime in 2012. Your engine should have had the improved replacement part which is why it is not covered.
oops, I just checked and they are taking the Tiguan up to 2013. I got bad information when I discussed it previously.
2013 beetle convertible…55000 miles…catastrophic engine failure..you guessed it timing belt tensioner failure…luckily Volkswagen is covering the timing issues and covering 70% of the engine work…if my car were just 8 months newer it would have been 100% covered..so I count myself lucky that it’s only $1600 of a total bill of about $7400 but I am dumping this thing ASAP…(after one more summer with the top down). How am I supposed to feel comfortable with the same poorly designed engine and timing system put back in my jelopy ?
CAn you give me any information about filing a claim. I know there was a deadline, but I wasn’t aware of this at all. I just purchased a VW this May. Any info would be helpful
2011 Jetta 2.5L just was diagnosed with the same issues, however not covered under class action suit. Dealership quoted $2665 repair cost to tensioner system. 6 months earlier had the car in for same issue and paid $1000 for a cam sensor.
My 2013 vw beetle is making a slight knocking sound, my husband said it sounds like the timing belt. He is taking it to the dealer tomorrow to have them look at it! So tonight I was looking up this problem and the class action law suit game up! I entered my vin number and my car was listed in the suit! I don’t understand my car was at the deal getting an oil change a month ago and no one at VW even mentioned it!