Volkswagen, Audi defective water pumps class action settlement

Volkswagen Group agreed to a water pump class action settlement to resolve claims that certain Volkswagen and Audi vehicles are equipped with defective water pumps.

The settlement benefits owners and lessees of certain Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2014 to 2021. 

Affected Volkswagen models include:

• 2019-2021 Areteon
• 2018-2020 Atlas
• 2014-2018 Beetle
• 2015-2021 Golf
• 2014-2021 Jetta
• 2014-2021 Passat
• 2020-2021 Terramont
• 2018-2021 Tiguan

Affected Audi models include:

• 2015-2020 A3
• 2015-2020 A4
• 2015-2019 A5
• 2015-2020 A6
• 2015-2020 Q3
• 2015-2021 Q5
• 2017-2020 Q7
• 2015-2020 TT 

However, not all vehicles from these model years are included in the settlement. Prospective class members can check their eligibility using the settlement website’s VIN lookup tool.

Volkswagen and Audi are two luxury car brands owned by the Volkswagen Group. The company also sells cars under brands such as Porsche, Lamborghini, Ducati and Bentley.

According to a 2021 class action lawsuit, Volkswagen and Audi vehicles are equipped with defective engine water pumps. These components are allegedly manufactured with defective thermoplastic that can fail prematurely and overheat, resulting in sudden catastrophic engine failure.

When a water pump fails in a Volkswagen or Audi vehicle, drivers may unexpectedly stop — posing a danger to themselves and others. Even if they escape the situation unscathed, owners and lessees of these vehicles are allegedly forced to pay out of pocket to repair the issue. 

Drivers say Volkswagen was aware of this issue and should have paid to repair defective engine parts instead of passing the bill to drivers.

Volkswagen hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve these allegations with a class action settlement. The total settlement fund amount has not been disclosed.

The Volkswagen and Audi water pump settlement provides reimbursement for one past engine water pump repair that occurred within eight years or 80,000 of service. Repairs completed by an authorized dealer will be 100% reimbursed. Repairs not completed by an authorized Volkswagen or Audi dealer will be limited to a maximum reimbursement of $1,150.

Class members can recover similar reimbursement for engine damage caused by a failure of a defective engine water pump. 

Reimbursement for these repairs ranges from 5% to 100% depending on the number of miles and years on the vehicles at the time of the repairs. Authorized dealer repairs are not otherwise limited, while repairs not by authorized VW or Audi dealers are capped at $4,500 maximum reimbursement.

In addition to providing cash payments, the water pump settlement provides a warranty extension. The extended warranty covers one repair or replacement of a failed engine water pump within eight years or 80,000 miles of service. The extended warranty also covers engine damage resulting from a defective water pump, though coverage for these repairs ranges from 5% to 100% depending on the age and mileage of a vehicle. These repairs must be completed by an authorized Volkswagen or Audi dealer.

The deadline for exclusion and objection in the Volkswagen and Audi defective water pumps settlement is July 25, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the deal is scheduled for Aug. 30, 2022.

In order to receive reimbursements from the Volkswagen and Audi water pump settlement, class members must submit a valid claim form by Sept. 8, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits owners and lessees of certain Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2014 to 2021. 

Affected Volkswagen models include:

• 2019-2021 Areteon
• 2018-2020 Atlas
• 2014-2018 Beetle
• 2015-2021 Golf
• 2014-2021 Jetta
• 2014-2021 Passat
• 2020-2021 Terramont
• 2018-2021 Tiguan

Affected Audi models include:

• 2015-2020 A3
• 2015-2020 A4
• 2015-2019 A5
• 2015-2020 A6
• 2015-2020 Q3
• 2015-2021 Q5
• 2017-2020 Q7
• 2015-2020 TT 

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

A repair order and/or other records (original or legible copies) for the repair that include the following information:

• Name
• Address
• Make, model and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of class vehicle that had the repair
• Date of the repair 
• Name and address of the authorized VW or Audi dealership or non-dealer service facility that performed the repair
• Description of the repair work performed (demonstrating this was a repair covered under the settlement), including the parts repaired or replaced and a breakdown of parts and labor costs
• Vehicle’s mileage at the time of the repair
• Proof of payment, including the amount paid, for the repair

Proof of adherence to vehicle maintenance schedule set forth in the warranty and maintenance booklet that are relevant to the coolant system, including use of the specification of coolant fluid recommended by VW or Audi, during the period you owned and/or leased the vehicle up to the date/mileage of the repair or replacement. Adherence to these maintenance requirements can be within a variance of 10% of each required time/mileage maintenance interval. If the class member is unable to obtain said documents or records despite a good-faith effort to obtain them, they may submit a declaration, signed under penalty of perjury, detailing the efforts made to obtain the records, why the records are not available, and attesting to adherence to the vehicle maintenance schedule relevant to the cooling system while the class member owned the vehicle.

Claim Forms

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

09/08/2022

Case Name

Michael Zhao, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 2:21-cv-11251 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Final Hearing

08/30/2022

Settlement Website

WaterPumpSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Water Pump Settlement – 7577
PO Box 2636
Faribault, MN 55021-9636
info@waterpumpsettlement.com
833-711-0261

Class Counsel

Matthew Schelkopf
Joseph Kenney
SAUDER SCHELKOPF LLC

Bonner Walsh
WALSH PLLC

Defense Counsel

Michael B. Gallub Esq
Brian T. Carr Esq
HERZFELD & RUBIN PC