Volkswagen has announced the recall of 130 Passat sedans, Passat wagons and CCs for the 2009 model year. The recall is due to a damaged capacitor in the Passat’s steering system, which could cause the steering not to react as the driver intends.
Although the recall only affects a rather small number of vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that the defect should be taken seriously.
“If this malfunction occurs, the driver’s steering input is not properly processed by the system, and the vehicle may not respond as the driver intends,” the NHTSA said on its web site. “This defect can only occur immediately after vehicle start-up when the steering wheel is moved for the first time and at speeds less than 5 mph.”
The defective capacitor hasn’t resulted in any reported crashes or injuries, but it’s never a good thing when an automaker has to recall an all-new model such as the CC. The recall is set to begin on December 5th.
11/11, 12:42 PM
posted by:
DrFill
A VW with quality problems?
No!
DrFill
11/11, 12:44 PM
posted by:
pav8581
I may be missing something, but if they announce a recall, shouldn’t it be taken into account immediately? Especially one of this magnitude?
11/11, 12:46 PM
posted by:
ckron247
Oh good ol’ VW. Makes me proud to be a VW owner. Gives me that warm, fuzzy, I may not be able to steer my car while driving feeling.
One thing with VW. Never buy new models on the first year they are out. They will always have a recall for something.
11/11, 1:11 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
What ever happened to cars where the steering wheel and gas pedal were actually connected to something in the drivetrane? I hate all this electronic crap. Everything is just connected to computer sensors now… it’s a bunch of crap.
11/11, 1:12 PM
posted by:
mulletmaster
what is this system they speak of? Stability control?
11/11, 1:44 PM
posted by:
beemerdude
Your Comment Why does this seem to occur so frequently with VW models but not Audi’s? Aren’t they engineered by the same people and in many cases, built in the same plants?
Toyota defects don’t typically show up in Lexus – Same for Honda/Acura (etc.)
11/11, 2:02 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
RaineMan, it’s all part of the planned obsolescence conspiracy. This way they can continue to make their coffers swell after the warranty has run out. I’d be scared enough to buy anything European that’s 5 or 10 years old even without all these electronic systems and I don’t see my apprehension going away anytime soon based on news like this.
11/11, 2:46 PM
posted by:
Borat
This recall is so irrelevant. I mean VW sells 200K cars in US per year. 10 of them are those Passats, the rest are Mexican wonders for under 15K that can’t compete with Hyundai and Kia on quality. NHTSA is wasting taxpayers money on this size recall. Most of the affected drivers are already brain dead and can not be killed in an accident.
11/11, 5:47 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Borat… show me a VW that sells for under 15k… please.
11/11, 7:34 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Wow.. VW’s only sold 130 Passat CC, sedan and wagon combined? I knew they were overpriced, but that is ridiculous!