Volkswagen announces massive worldwide recalls
New Jersey Volkswagen owners may have heard that the automaker has announced a very significant recall. The company is recalling about 2.6 million cars worldwide due to a variety of problems. While many of the issues are somewhat minor, some of them may present safety concerns.
According to a news report, about 800,000 Tiguan compact sport-utility vehicles have been recalled due to potentially malfunctioning lights. Amarok pick-up trucks are being recalled due to possible fuel leaks. In addition to these and other recalls, Volkswagen is warning 1.6 million customers about using mineral oil instead of synthetic oil, which can lead to electric problems.
The variety of defects and the number of makes and models affected has led to speculation about quality control at Volkswagen. Volkswagen’s current business strategy involves increasing the number of auto parts that can be shared across brands and models in order to allow for quicker and cheaper production. Business analysts have previously warned that this strategy could lead to large recalls if a cross-brand auto part proves defective.
When auto companies have inadequate quality control measures in place, defective parts make their way into vehicles and they may ultimately cause accidents that injure or even kill people.
Car manufacturers can and should be held liable for defective auto parts and design flaws that harm New Jersey residents. Automakers often try to blame defect-related incidents on regular wear and tear, making it very important for consumers to work with skilled attorneys in order to prove an automaker’s negligence and obtain compensation.
Source: Reuters, “VW hit by 2.6 million vehicle recall focused on China,” Andreas Cremer, Nov. 14, 2013
