Volkswagon Vehicle Recall Covers 2.6 Million Vehicles Globally, Some in US

On Thursday, November 14th, the famous German car company Volkswagon issued a global vehicle recall for 2.6 million vehicles. According to reports, the cars are mostly in China, but some are in the US, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Volkswagon’s vehicle recall affects 62,000 Tiguan sport utility vehicles from the 2009-2011 model years because they can lose exterior lighting, as well as 3,900 Jetta hybrids from model years 2013-14 because the synthetic fluid used inside the gearbox for the automatic transmission can cause electrical problems by allowing corrosion of the internal lead frame of the gearbox.

On November 4th, the NHTSA opened an investigation into the lighting problem, after the agency received 26 consumer complaints about the issue. Volkswagon sent a report to the safety agency when it issued the vehicle recall on Thursday, noting that a fuse socket could overheat, which could “cause a partial loss, but not a complete failure, of the vehicle’s exterior lighting.” However, the NHTSA said that some consumer complaints claimed that the vehicle could lose all exterior lighting.

Volkswagon informed the NHTSA, regarding the vehicle recalls due to transmission problems, that the 2013-14 model year Jetta hybrid is the only vehicle sold in the United States that has that specific model of transmission, and the manufacturer will replace the synthetic fluid with a mineral-based oil.

The new style of transmission, which Volkswagon calls the DQ200, was primarily sold in vehicles in China. There are about 1.6 million vehicles worldwide under a vehicle recall which feature that style of transmission, according to Mark Gillies, a VW spokesman.

Volkswagon is not aware of any injuries caused by the transmission problem vehicle recall, according to the NHTSA.

What To Do If You Have Been Injured, and the Manufacturer Did Not Issue a Vehicle Recall

If a defect in your vehicle caused a car accident, you may not know immediately what recourse you have. Although the law is complicated, you do have legal recourse against the vehicle’s manufacturer. It is important for manufacturers to pay attention to the quality of their products and issue vehicle recall notices in a timely fashion – however, not all automobile manufacturers will do so, and consumers can be seriously injured or killed.

Under products liability law, it’s the injured party’s burden to prove that the product was defective. Therefore, it is important that the product be inspected by one or more qualified experts to determine the exact nature of the defect and whether that defect caused the harm suffered. If the product is not recovered, the customer may be left with no proof that the product was defective.

Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective products. A defective product lawyer can help you with an injury you may receive. Many of these injuries could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety. Defective products that commonly cause injuries include medical devices, pharmaceutical products, and other defective products such as toys, cars and automotive parts.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Personal Injury and Vehicle Recalls

If you have experienced a problem with a defective product in your automobile, especially if a defective part has led to an auto accident or personal injury, and a proper vehicle recall notice has not been issued, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We can help you with complicated auto insurance claims, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to help you with lost income and medical bills. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today at (803) 252-4800.