VW launches largest recall plan in China involving 1.81 million cars

Volkswagen launched the largest one-time recall plan in China. However, the cause is not the hidden danger of Takata's airbags.

According to the announcement of domestic passenger car recall issued by the AQSIQ's Defective Product Management Center on September 4, Volkswagen (China) Sales Co., Ltd. and Volkswagen’s two joint-venture vehicle manufacturers in China are planning to recall more than 1.81 million vehicles. Due to its fuel pump safety hazards.

“In a few cases, the current fuel pump control unit will cause the engine to stall.” The relevant person in charge of the Public Relations Department of China (China) told the “China Business” reporter that he had indeed received complaints from consumers and claimed 18,392 complaints. "There are currently no reports of personal injury and accidents."

According to statistics, this is already the 12th batch of recall plans initiated by Volkswagen in the Chinese market in 2017. From January to June, the cumulative recall volume of Volkswagen in the Chinese market has reached 3,768,400 units, both in terms of recall frequency and quantity. The history of the most.

"The number of recalls this year is indeed more than in previous years." FAW-Volkswagen insiders told reporters that this aspect reflects the country's recall system is upgrading, on the other hand, Volkswagen's attention to domestic consumers continues to increase.

Remedy

"Finally recalled." After interviewing a number of Magotan owners, the reporter found that most of the vehicles were in the recall. The engine stall due to fuel pump hidden dangers has been “experienced” by most owners.

On September 4, Volkswagen filed a recall plan with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ) on the basis of the “Regulations on the Management of Defective Automobile Products Recall”. It was decided that since December 25, 2017, 1,881,300 vehicles had been returned with hidden fuel pump models. Among them, part of the Magotan, Volkswagen CC sedan and Passat sedan that were manufactured between 2007 and 2015 were involved. FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC-Volkswagen involved 985,700 vehicles and 810,300 vehicles respectively.

It is understood that the auto defect recalled is that some vehicle fuel pump control units will cause non-load currents to rise and cause overheating under certain load conditions. At the same time, due to the influence of the mechanical pressure caused by the installation position, the internal control unit electronics The device may fail, causing the engine to stall and there is a safety hazard.

For this recalled vehicle solution, Volkswagen stated that it will replace the improved fuel pump control unit for vehicles within the recall scope free of charge to eliminate potential safety hazards.

"Recall time is from December 25, 2017, the current dealerships have begun to do related preparations." FAW-Volkswagen related sources said that by then will notify the owner through a registered letter. At the same time, the owner can also provide the frame number of the vehicle through FAW-Volkswagen's “Recall Vehicle Inquiry” page or official customer service hotline to confirm whether the vehicle involves the recall.

"The parts used for recall are improved fuel pump control units provided by different suppliers." According to FAW-Volkswagen insiders, in order to reduce the impact of heat energy and mechanical pressure, the new replacement parts will be installed on the vehicle. Change has occurred.

The solution given by Volkswagen will improve the "trouble" of the owners. According to the reporter's understanding, since 2009, some vehicle owners have caused vehicle failures due to defects in fuel pump controllers. Even after the first maintenance, the component has experienced problems again in less than one year. The failure rate is extremely high. Previous repairs have passed claims. , at their own expense and other ways.

"Now wait for the formal recall of new parts." A FAW-Volkswagen MAGOTAN owner from Suzhou stated that he is still very much looking forward to the recall. After all, the situation in which people encounter daily flameouts is still very influential.

Worries about performance

The huge remedial measures also mean an increase in operating expenses. For Volkswagen, which has seen a dramatic increase in recalls this year, recall costs may have an impact on the financial year.

The reporter learned that Magotan and Volkswagen CC owners who had exchanged their fuel pump controllers at their own expense had learned that “I have lost 3 of my Magotan's 40,000 km of fuel pump controllers, and a 1300 Yuan fee has been spent on 4S shop replacement.” "When the speed of my Magotan is 80,000 kilometers and there is high temperature in summer, there will be flameout, and a controller will be replaced at the 4S shop for almost 1,000 yuan." "The car bought in December 2009 is a manual and comfortable model. Also turn off, and then spend more than 100 in the Taobao bought a line of oil pump controller, their own change "," March 27,2010 when the car run 27500, to 4S change the oil pump controller warranty period of normal claims "......

Through investigation, it is found that the price difference of the controller of the fuel pump at the owner’s own expense is quite different, and the cost of replacing the new piece of the 4S shop (accounting for working hours) is basically above 1,000 yuan. “Before the replacement of this part, only the rear seat cushion was removed. Simply plugging and unplugging the two plugs can be completed.” A magotan owner told reporters, but his replacement is prone to problems.

According to FAW-Volkswagen, this will replace the new supplier's improved fuel pump control unit for recalled vehicles. However, FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC-Volkswagen have indicated that it is not convenient to disclose the specific costs to be incurred in the recall. Judging from the current situation, this recall has exceeded Volkswagen's total sales in China from January to July this year.

According to public statistics, from January to July 2017, VW sales in China amounted to 1,710,700 units, an increase of 3% year-on-year. SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen sales were 1,082,400 units and 1,053.8 thousand units respectively. In the Chinese market, Volkswagen has been one of the largest car brands in terms of sales volume.

The MAGOTAN and Passat models with a higher percentage of recalls, as FAW-Volkswagen and Shanghai Volkswagen mid- to high-end vehicles, also occupy an important position in their respective product systems. According to the data released by the National Passenger Vehicle Market Information Association, in July, sales of MAGOTAN were 18,975 units, an increase of 47.61% year-on-year, accounting for 18.63% of FAW-Volkswagen’s total sales in July; sales of Passat were 8,582 units, an increase of 10.44% over the same period of last year. , accounting for 7.78% of SAIC's total sales.

“In the first half of 2017, relevant preparations have been made for the fuel pump control unit. The recall will have a limited financial impact in the second half of the year,” said a person in the Volkswagen Group.

In addition, just in July, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine had collectively interviewed Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and General Motors on the issue of gas generator rupture, and asked companies to fulfill their legal obligations and recall vehicles equipped with defective airbags to eliminate potential safety hazards. Although the current Volkswagen has not responded with corresponding actions, this recall plan will not be too far away. By then, the cost of Volkswagen seems to have to be drawn up again.