VW to recall over 300 000 models
2013-03-20 08:49
DSG TO BE RECALLED: German automaker Volkswagen will recall defective cars with DSG issues due to pressure from China’s consumer quality watchdog.
SHANGHAI, China - In March 2013, we reported that state-run China Central Television (CCTV) called for a recall of Volkswagen's Direct Shift Gearbox in its annual corporate malpractice exposé.
The report said that the DSG, a long-standing issue for VW, could cause a sudden loss or gain in engine power, posing safety hazards.
Volkswagen will recall 384 181 vehicles in China over gearbox defects, it said after the televised criticism of its transmission.
DSG 'POWER INTERRUPTION'
Volkswagen said an electronic malfunction could cause cars to lose power while being driven.
The automaker said: "In isolated cases, an electronic malfunction in the control unit or a lack of oil pressure inside the gearbox mechatronics may result in a power interruption."
Steering and braking would not be impacted, it added.
The vehicles affected include both imported models such as the Audi A3 and domestically-made ones, among them the Magotan and Passat, said the Chinese government's quality watchdog.
SA NOT AFFECTED
The move followed a year-long investigation, it added, and the cars involved came off the assembly line between December 2008 and March 2013. Volkswagen said it would replace components in the gearbox of affected vehicles for free.
Volkswagen South Africa public relations manager, Andile Dlamini, said the recall will not affect local models.
He said: "The recall is due to a local problem in China, and it will not affect South Africa. China has a VW plant so the problem most likely stems from a component being affected."
Audi SA spokesperson Rudi Venter says local A3 models will not be affected.
Venter said: "The DSG problems are only affecting China. Also, the gearboxes there are left-hand drive and the configurations is slightly different to right-hand drive gearboxes too."
