Volkswagen May Recall EVs And Plug-Ins: It's 'Plugingate'

VW just can't seem to steer clear of controversy.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last few years, you have likely heard about Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal where the company was forced to buy back cheating diesel models and offer fixes for the affected cars. No recent automotive recall has had quite the same impact as Dieselgate, but it seems like VW is ready to move forward with new electric and plug-in hybrid cars in place of diesel technology.

It appears as though a focus shift to electric and plug-in vehicles was not enough to keep VW out of controversy, because Wirtschaftswoche reports that the company may be forced to recall every car in its EV and plug-in lineup - and yes, that does include Audi and Porshe as well.

The German Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (meaning Federal Motor Transport Authority) has discovered that VW models contain cadmium, a carcinogenic metal, in a section of their charging systems. This will impact all plug-in and electric VW models including the e-Golf, e-Up, Golf GTE, and Passat GTE, and there will likely be some Audi and Porsche models impacted as well. Each car has around .008 grams of cadmium, which would not be harmful to a consumer because it is well-insulated. Unfortunately, the cadmium will have a damaging effect on the environment when the car reaches the end of its useful life and is scrapped.

"Volkswagen has stopped the series production and delivery of the corresponding vehicles immediately, replaced the affected component by that of another supplier and resumed production," said a Volkswagen spokesman. VW says that the data submitted by its original supplier did not contain any information about the use of cadmium. Fortunately for VW, its electric and plug-in cars are nowhere near as popular as its diesel models where, so this should only affect around 124,000 cars. We will still have to wait for an announcement from VW to see how the company will deal with the electrified cars that have already been delivered to consumers.

Audi Ordered To Recall 127,000 Cars For Faulty Diesel Emissions (Again)

Haven't we been down this road before?

The German media is reporting that Audi has been ordered to recall some 127,000 vehicles over – wait for it – “illicit emission-control software in its latest Euro 6 diesel models.” Automotive News Europe has learned from a report in Bild am Sonntag that the recall involves the Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 So, the majority of its current lineup? Pretty much, yes. Haven't been down this road before? Also yes. Here’s what happened: Germany’s KBA motor transport authority somehow detected the software issue.

The affected vehicles’ engine management systems turn off emissions-reducing measures in real-world conditions. But when those vehicles are being tested, everything comes off as just fine. Any of this sound familiar? The KBA is now threatening to withdraw approval for the all-new A8 until this problem is fixed. What’s interesting is that these specific vehicles were part of a voluntary recall of 850,000 diesel vehicles with V6 and V8 TDI engines last summer. The KBA is now focused on vehicles with the V6 TDI. Thing is, VW Group diesel vehicles are still having emissions issues that require recalls.

Just last November, Audi announced a 5,000-vehicle recall in Europe for a software fix due to too much nitrogen oxide being admitted. This time around, the recall appears to only be in Europe (for now), with 77,600 vehicles in Germany alone.

Audi Ordered To Recall 127,000 Cars For Faulty Diesel Emissions (Again)

Haven't we been down this road before?

The German media is reporting that Audi has been ordered to recall some 127,000 vehicles over – wait for it – “illicit emission-control software in its latest Euro 6 diesel models.” Automotive News Europe has learned from a report in Bild am Sonntag that the recall involves the Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 So, the majority of its current lineup? Pretty much, yes. Haven't been down this road before? Also yes. Here’s what happened: Germany’s KBA motor transport authority somehow detected the software issue.

The affected vehicles’ engine management systems turn off emissions-reducing measures in real-world conditions. But when those vehicles are being tested, everything comes off as just fine. Any of this sound familiar? The KBA is now threatening to withdraw approval for the all-new A8 until this problem is fixed. What’s interesting is that these specific vehicles were part of a voluntary recall of 850,000 diesel vehicles with V6 and V8 TDI engines last summer. The KBA is now focused on vehicles with the V6 TDI. Thing is, VW Group diesel vehicles are still having emissions issues that require recalls.

Just last November, Audi announced a 5,000-vehicle recall in Europe for a software fix due to too much nitrogen oxide being admitted. This time around, the recall appears to only be in Europe (for now), with 77,600 vehicles in Germany alone.

Volkswagen May Recall EVs And Plug-Ins: It's 'Plugingate'

VW just can't seem to steer clear of controversy.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last few years, you have likely heard about Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal where the company was forced to buy back cheating diesel models and offer fixes for the affected cars. No recent automotive recall has had quite the same impact as Dieselgate, but it seems like VW is ready to move forward with new electric and plug-in hybrid cars in place of diesel technology.

It appears as though a focus shift to electric and plug-in vehicles was not enough to keep VW out of controversy, because Wirtschaftswoche reports that the company may be forced to recall every car in its EV and plug-in lineup - and yes, that does include Audi and Porshe as well.

The German Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (meaning Federal Motor Transport Authority) has discovered that VW models contain cadmium, a carcinogenic metal, in a section of their charging systems. This will impact all plug-in and electric VW models including the e-Golf, e-Up, Golf GTE, and Passat GTE, and there will likely be some Audi and Porsche models impacted as well. Each car has around .008 grams of cadmium, which would not be harmful to a consumer because it is well-insulated. Unfortunately, the cadmium will have a damaging effect on the environment when the car reaches the end of its useful life and is scrapped.

"Volkswagen has stopped the series production and delivery of the corresponding vehicles immediately, replaced the affected component by that of another supplier and resumed production," said a Volkswagen spokesman. VW says that the data submitted by its original supplier did not contain any information about the use of cadmium. Fortunately for VW, its electric and plug-in cars are nowhere near as popular as its diesel models where, so this should only affect around 124,000 cars. We will still have to wait for an announcement from VW to see how the company will deal with the electrified cars that have already been delivered to consumers.

Audi Ordered To Recall 127,000 Cars For Faulty Diesel Emissions (Again)

Haven't we been down this road before?

The German media is reporting that Audi has been ordered to recall some 127,000 vehicles over – wait for it – “illicit emission-control software in its latest Euro 6 diesel models.” Automotive News Europe has learned from a report in Bild am Sonntag that the recall involves the Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5 and Q7 So, the majority of its current lineup? Pretty much, yes. Haven't been down this road before? Also yes. Here’s what happened: Germany’s KBA motor transport authority somehow detected the software issue.

The affected vehicles’ engine management systems turn off emissions-reducing measures in real-world conditions. But when those vehicles are being tested, everything comes off as just fine. Any of this sound familiar? The KBA is now threatening to withdraw approval for the all-new A8 until this problem is fixed. What’s interesting is that these specific vehicles were part of a voluntary recall of 850,000 diesel vehicles with V6 and V8 TDI engines last summer. The KBA is now focused on vehicles with the V6 TDI. Thing is, VW Group diesel vehicles are still having emissions issues that require recalls.

Just last November, Audi announced a 5,000-vehicle recall in Europe for a software fix due to too much nitrogen oxide being admitted. This time around, the recall appears to only be in Europe (for now), with 77,600 vehicles in Germany alone.