VW Diesel emissions fraud.

Doom and gloom, first diesel now a "limited" number of gazoline engines involved as well:

VW räumt weitere Unregelmäßigkeiten bei Abgaswerten ein - SPIEGEL ONLINE

 

It keeps getting worse:

Automotive supplier notified EU Commission about the emission fraud back in 2011. EU didn't react, out of frustation the whistleblower notified the US ICCT:

VW-Abgas-Skandal: EU-Kommission über Betrug bei Abgasmessungen seit 2011 informiert

At the same time another sign of the dismal state of the EU.

 

And the German Government (Merkel included) probably knew about the fraud back in 2010:

Rolle der Kanzlerin im VW-Abgasskandal: "Angela Merkel schadet der Bundesrepublik"

 

Thank you for that interesting update.
The Google translation certainly didn't make it clear, was the whistleblower identified?

 

I don't think that the main issue

Report doesn't mention the whistleblower being identified as such (whistleblower is only described as the "automotive supplier"), is says the whistleblower notified the responsible EU Commission. Then due to lack of action taken by the EU, frustrated EU employees notified the US Environmental Originization ICCT.

The report doesn't mention whether the whistleblower was done officially by said supplier or it being a "one man job", an individual acting from within the supplier so to speak.

But earlier reports said the automotive supplier (Bosch??) warned VW not to mis/ab -use their software for cheating/fraudulent pruposes. I can imagine when this specific supplier found out VW did, they warned the EU out of fear being draged into a fraud. But that's speculation of my part.

 

are you going to take the offer from VW for $500 Visa card/$500 parts and service credit?

as I understand it, taking it doesn't waive future claims or litigation.

 

Most likely. I need to do some more digging on how taking it will impact a future settlement, buy back, etc..

When they first announced the program there were very few details. In fact, for the first day or 2 you could sign up for the program, but there were no terms posted online anywhere. I have been waiting to see what the solution is for the EPA before I did anything.

If I really can participate in the goodwill program and it won't impact anything else down the line then I will do it.

 

I have heard others say that taking the goodwill package won't prevent you from future benefits...but I haven't seen it written anywhere by VW. Is this documented anywhere?

 

I certainly don't have an original source, but I did hear that reported on the news.

 

I got an email from VW saying specifically that. My car is a 2015 TDI wagon. I am happy: can get the bike rack I wanted for free with the dealer voucher and $500 towards Xmas gifts with the Visa. Gotta say i also love the car and will be keeping it so not really bothered about all the emissions drama.

 

Got my letter from Audi, it clearly states in the letter this:

I hope that clears it up. I think people aren't reading the back of their letters.

 

For whatever reason i have never gotten a letter or anything from VW. Shortly after I posted that I went back on the VWDielselinfo website and they added the language stating that it doesn't prevent you from seeking further damages.

I signed up for the good will program about 2 weeks ago. Will post here when I get it.

 

Had an interesting observation recently that is probably related.

Took our ML350 Bluetec in for a major service at the dealer, and had a gas loaner ML. In the past the service intervals have been 10,000 miles once reset. Noticed this time it was 9,000.

The ML has a seven gallon AdBlue tank that is designed to last the service interval without needing to replenish. Could it be that in light of the VAG debacle, Mercedes issued a secret software update to squirt a little more AdBlue into the exhaust, just to make sure they are not caught out as well? Using it more quickly would require a shorter service interval to ensure customers are not then complaining about the AdBlue tank being empty early.

Haven't had the car out on a long trip since to see if fuel mileage has been affected, although my wife commented it didn't seem as peppy as she remembered, she had the gas ML for over a week. Interesting.

 

Thanks, I'll be interested in hearing about the experience.

I plan on doing it eventually.

Very interesting thought.

 

I figure the dealer credit is paying for the next year of service on the car, and the Visa gift card is going to cover my Xmas shopping this year. I see no downside to doing it.

 

The VW 4 cylinder TDI engines do not have urea injection

 

I'm aware of that, it was more an observation that other manufacturers could be covering their butts as well.

When news of this scandal broke, you know every other manufacturer double-checked exactly how their emissions compliance was achieved as they would expect to be also under additional scrutiny.

 

the Passat and Toureag use Adblue, which is sorta similar-isa.

I think you're on to something. probably more a precaution, but who knows. I assume BMW and Mercedes are sweating bullets...

 

Oh of course. That $500 will go a long ways.

I have been thinking since it seems like the A3 was initially going to be left out of the goodwill campaign, it makes me wonder if the A3 may not have necessarily been affected by all of this. It seems strange.

 

Audi Board of Management Member Ulrich Hackenberg Steps Down

 

Finally got my goodwill package in the mail from VW. Now I need to go to a dealer to activate it. I wonder what that conversation will be like.

Ironically I also got a marketing letter from the dealer where I bought the car telling me they have lots of customers looking for a car like mine and I should come trade it in...right

 

Actually that's just the standard phone call.

I got one last year trying to get me to upgrade to a new A3. I told them no way am I going to go from a hatchback to small sedan.

I am looking forward to your experience.

 

Oddly enough one of my best friends has a TDI Toureg and recieved his car package...

Tried to enroll his car. They said it wasn't eligible over the automated system.

He made a phone call and they confirmed his car was eligible for the credit and they had no idea why the system wouldn't accept his car/vin.

GREAT customer service so far... Talk about frustrating. Luckily my friend is very cool headed and was only annoyed by it.

 

Stories have been popping up about VW presenting a plan today to either compensate owners $5K and fix the cars, or buy the cars back. I haven't seen anything official, but I am really hoping to finally get some resolution to this issue.

 

I still fail to see a problem though. My car works perfectly.

Want to send me $5K for no reason the okay, but I still plan on buying another Audi.