Volkswagen Passat Recall Issued, As Sales Stopped on Other Models

Due to two separate problems with certain Volkswagen vehicles, the auto maker has stopped selling several popular models that could pose a fire risk, shortly after initiating a recall for over 150,000 Passat vehicles that may have headlights with loose electrical connections. 

On April 8, Volkswagen Group of America Inc. received a government-issued mandatory stop-sale for roughly 25,000 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat vehicles, due to possible transmission oil cooler leaks.

The order to stop selling the popular vehicles came from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), after an investigation indicated a mechanical gasket connecting the automatic transmission cooler was defective and allowing oil leaks, according to a report by Automotive News.

A spokesperson for Volkswagen, Scott Vazin, released a statement indicating that the stop of sale is due to an error on the supplier’s part, because they changed the specifications of the mechanical gaskets, allowing fuel to leak. Vazin stated there have not been any fires or incidents reported but in extreme cases it could cause a fire.

The stop-sale order affects some 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat models with 1.8T engines and automatic transmission manufactured from February 1 to present. They cannot be sold until the oil leaking gasket issues are resolved.

The automaker plans to release a follow-up communication with dealers as quickly as possible to provide stop of sale codes and supply them with inspection and repair parts within the next week. Customers with affected vehicles should not sell, lease, or trade their vehicles in until the repairs are made.

The stop sale order comes on the heels of a Volkswagen Passat recall announced on March 17, which was issued after the manufacturer recognized that the low beam headlights bulbs may become disconnected from the electrical contact, causing a loss of headlights. To date no injuries, fires or accidents have been reported to the automaker.

The recall includes an estimated 150,201 Passats with model years between 2012 and 2013 sold in the United States and Canada. The affected vehicles were manufactured by Volkswagen Group of America Inc., from January 2011 through November 2012.

The Passat headlight recall is expected to begin in May 2014, and owners will receive notification about a free service repair at their local dealer in the mail.

Photo Courtesy of RoadOver / C.C. by 2.0