About The Consumer Law Office of Steve Hofer

Steve Hofer has been practicing consumer law in Indiana for more than 20 years. He is a former Indiana State Chairperson of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, a national organization of attorneys striving for fairness in the consumer marketplace. Contact me by phone at 317-662-4529 or via email at hoferlawindyATgmail.com. You can also leave a message through my website at www.hoferlawindy.com.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Volkswagen AdBlue Heater Class Action?

Separate from the issue relating to the falsified emissions test results that are affecting up to 11 million Volkswagen vehicles is a problem that has been reported by many Volkswagen Passat TDI owners.  The key to the emission-system on late model Volkswagen turbodiesel engines is liquid emissions-treatment system that uses a separate tank of urea-based diesel emissions fluid (DEF) which Volkswagen calls Adblue.  The Adblue solution is in a separate tank, and that fluid tank is heated for use during cold weather. Therein lies the problem, There have been reports of the heater element failing outside of the standard 36 month warranty but well within the 100,000 mile emissions warranty.  Volkswagen is refusing to repair these vehicles under the emissions warranty. Owners are being quoted from $900 to $3,000 plus for the repair of what we believe should be covered by the emissions warranty.  We have our first client on this issue and are evaluating the matter for potential class action treatment.  If you have a Volkswagen with premature Adblue heater failure, please contact our office.  If we pursue this as a group case, it will likely be with the participation of other consumer attorneys from different parts of the country.

27 comments:

  1. My heater failed on my ad blue container at 60,600 miles. The dealer quoted $894.00 plus tax for the repair. I called the customer service line and was informed that no relief would be offered.

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  2. my heater failed at just over 38,000 miles, the dealer quoted me $900 in just parts

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  3. My heater failed. The dealer said it's covered under warranty, nothing out of pocket for me. That said, i have less than 30K miles on the car. But live near chicago, where it does get used.

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  4. Mine failed at 41000 miles, not covered under warranty. Quoted $1,200 to fix it. I've found other "fixes" I'm looking into, since I live in Texas and don't need the heater anyways. This is getting ridiculous! First the emissions scandal, followed by the air bag turning into a grenade, followed by an electrical terminal spontaneously bursting into flames, and now part of the adblue system that ISN'T EVEN BEING USED has failed AT MY EXPENSE! I will never buy another VW again! Please let me know if you are going to do the class action, I would love to bury that company! What's worse, I bought the car only WEEKS before the emissions scandal was brought to light. Worst decision I've ever made! First and Last VW.

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  5. Mine failed at 41000 miles, not covered under warranty. Quoted $1,200 to fix it. I've found other "fixes" I'm looking into, since I live in Texas and don't need the heater anyways. This is getting ridiculous! First the emissions scandal, followed by the air bag turning into a grenade, followed by an electrical terminal spontaneously bursting into flames, and now part of the adblue system that ISN'T EVEN BEING USED has failed AT MY EXPENSE! I will never buy another VW again! Please let me know if you are going to do the class action, I would love to bury that company! What's worse, I bought the car only WEEKS before the emissions scandal was brought to light. Worst decision I've ever made! First and Last VW.

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  6. Mine failed at 45000. $1075 to fix it

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  7. 2014 passat just failed at 56k and its for emissions then it should be under warranty, buy back is looking better.

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  8. I looked into legal theories to force the payment of the adblue heater repairs. Quite frankly, I didn't come up with any that I was comfortable with. The heater is carefully not included in the longer emissions warranty. They are allowed ot limit the time period on the general limited warranty to a shorter period of time/miles. General issues regarding merchantability are basically rolled into the buyback remedy that was fashioned for the rigged software. As a former Volkswagen owner myself (though not a TDI model), I can understand your frustration with this company. VW is like General Motors on steroids, they do some things very well, but they can be completely blind as to issues of consumer satisfaction that kill repeat business.

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  9. Second heating element failed at 98,000 miles (Touraeg)
    First failed at 58,000 miles ($1100).
    VW customer care called today.
    no relief given as others have experienced.

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  10. Second heating element failed at 98,000 miles (Touraeg)
    First failed at 58,000 miles ($1100).
    VW customer care called today.
    no relief given as others have experienced.

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  11. I have 2013 Touareg TDI also have failed adblue tank heater . car has 99150 miles on it.

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  12. Mine failed at 80K miles which was less than three years of getting the car in 2013. It coming up to VW buyback time (Nov 2016) so I may just let it go till then. But, I'm finding all these things that are going wrong with their "wonderful: diesel has soured me on VW. No more cars from them.

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  13. Mine failed at 80K miles which was less than three years of getting the car in 2013. It coming up to VW buyback time (Nov 2016) so I may just let it go till then. But, I'm finding all these things that are going wrong with their "wonderful: diesel has soured me on VW. No more cars from them.

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  14. I Have a 2013 passat tdi. Car has about 35000 miles and the warranty ran out about 4 months ago and now the AD Blue heater is broken and dealer is asking about $1000 to fix it.
    Called VW today and asked for help, they refuse to fix it. My family and I have owned about 7 VW and cannot believe being treated like this...
    Kevin Pourmaleki

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  15. My 2012 Passat TDI SEL 48,000 miles is currently sitting at the dealership due to engine light warning. Service manager stated the AdBlue heater failed. Was quoted $1100 for repair kit plus $900 labor! This at a minimum should be treated as a RECALL due to he high volume of premature failures.

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  16. I have a 2013 passat TDI SE. Adblue heater failed at 94000. I found the part for $302, but this is ridiculous. My first and last VW.

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  17. I have a 2012 Touareg TDI with 88k mikes and my adblue heater failed. Quoted $1100 for the repairs. Will absolutely not fix this out of pocket unless VW decides to eat this cost via a recall or there's a class action lawsuit against VW. I will keep contributing global warming until there is a paid fix.

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  18. I have a 2012 Touareg TDI with 88k mikes and my adblue heater failed. Quoted $1100 for the repairs. Will absolutely not fix this out of pocket unless VW decides to eat this cost via a recall or there's a class action lawsuit against VW. I will keep contributing global warming until there is a paid fix.

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  19. Just at 40,000 miles on a '12 Passat TDI. Engine light came on, thought is was for the 40 service. Adblue heater failed quoted $1100 to fix. Many others out there with the same issue. Just look at: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/02/volkswagen-tdi-owners-being-stuck-with-1000-adblue-heater-repairs-still-not-epa-compliant/

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  20. I have just over 50,000 miles on my 2013 VW Touareg TDI and the check engine light came on. Dealership tells me the AdBlue heater needs to be replaced and it is not covered under the 80K emissions warranty and will cost me $1,200 to repair. How can this not be covered when AdBlue's sole purpose is to remove NO2 for emissions? Now I am faced with an excessive repair for a vehicle that doesn't even meet emissions anyway! Owners of TDI 3.0 liters, such as myself, still have no idea what the fate of our vehicles will be since the VW diesel scandal broke over a year ago. No idea if there will be a fix or a buyback. I am stuck with a car that is not only leaking harmful NO2 into the air, but has significantly diminished in value. And now I need to invest another $1,200?!??! I called VW and they are not willing to offer any financial compensation for this repair, nor is the dealership willing to provide a goodwill repair. And I'm told if I don't repair it, after a certain number of miles the car won't start. So, I'm having to invest in a part for the emissions system and it still won't be EPA-compliant. That just doesn't seem right.

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    Replies
    1. I read your comment and I get so angry my stomach hurts. The majority of VW owners tend to be people who think carefully about their purchase of a vehicle. Especially when making a diesel purchase. We got piss poor quality and no customer support- and cars that are worth a fraction of what they should be.

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  21. I have a 2012 Touareg TDI Sport, that was diagnosed at 113,000 miles for the adblue heater issue. I couldn't do the $1500 to repair it, so didn't. Then, 3 days after it passed 120,000 miles, I received a extended warranty offer from VW, that would pay for the parts to repair this. Only, it was good to 120,000 miles. I called around, including VW, to see if they would help out despite having 120,600 miles on the vehicle. Nope. I'm out of luck. Then yesterday, I now have a adBlue fault with a 700 mile countdown, midway to Thanksgiving dinner with family. I can get it home, and maybe one day of commute to work then it will not start again unless repaired. Thanks VW. I've been a loyal customer since my I purchased my TDI Jetta new, in '03. Never again, even if the Atlas was to be marked with TDI in the US. I'm done. Now, what to do with my soon to be bricked Touareg?

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  22. Mine failed today. Less than 10 days after its 50k check up with all fluids and filters changed out by the dealer. 2013 VW Passat TDI. This pricey repair on such a new car should NOT be put on us to fix!

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  23. Mine failed this week. 2015 with 39k miles and not covered under warranty!! Another guy brought THE SAME CAR, SAME YEAR, SAME PROBLEM in to them today aso well but zilch from VW! I can't even do the recall issue until I pay the $3k for the part to clear my check engine code!!

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  24. It is my understanding that VW has now approved an extension on the warranty for reductant ad blue heater for specific range of model years to include Touareg and Passat.

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