This class action alleges that there are defects in certain 2019-2022 vehicles in five different models made by the Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. According to the complaint, the defects cause the wire harness to fail, resulting in application of the emergency brakes on their own, windows opening and closing by themselves, and activation of inappropriate error messages and warning noises.
The Nationwide Class for this action is all persons or entities who bought or leased a 2019-2022 Volkswagen Atlas, Golf, Jetta, Tiguan, or Taos vehicle in the US. In the alternative, it proposes Tennessee and Texas Classes for those who bought or leased the vehicles in those states.
One of the plaintiffs for this class action, Mike Sherrod, has been experiencing the wire harness problem with his 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, the complaint alleges: “On several occasions while Mr. Sherrod was driving…, the vehicle has applied the emergency brakes on its own and [begun] slowing itself down on its own in addition to opening and closing the windows and displaying error messages. To clear the error messages, Mr. Sherrod must pull over and turn off the vehicle and then turn it back on.”
The other plaintiff, Michael Fulbright, also claims to have had problems related to the wire harness with his 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. His wife has experienced braking problems twice, the complaint alleges. This is the complaint’s description of the second time: “While Mrs. Fulbright was … turning onto a major road from a shopping center parking lot, the Fulbright Vehicle suddenly lost power and died while the Fulbright [Vehicle] was perpendicular to oncoming traffic; oncoming vehicles needed to stop short to avoid colliding with the Fulbright Vehicle.”
The complaint quotes a statement from Volkswagen, which appeared in a March 15, 2022 AP News article about the wire harness problem, as saying that “VW is aware of concerns involving faulty door wiring harnesses in certain Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles” and that it is “working closely with the [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)] regarding the next steps toward identifying the affected vehicles.”
The complaint alleges that many people who have experienced the problem have taken their vehicles to their dealerships but cannot get them repaired for months because there are not enough wire harness replacements available. Also, the complaint claims that replacing the wire harness does not fix the problem.
According to the complaint, then, Volkswagen has been aware of the wire harness problem for a while. The company has issued Technical Tip No. 97-21-02TT, and a revised version of it. Yet it has not warned customers, has not recalled the vehicles, and has not made enough replacement wire harnesses available for repairs.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Automobile
Most Recent Case Event
Volkswagen Vehicles Faulty Wire Harness Complaint
March 18, 2022
This class action alleges that there are defects in certain 2019-2022 vehicles in five different models made by the Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. According to the complaint, the defects cause the wire harness to fail, resulting in application of the emergency brakes on their own, windows opening and closing by themselves, and activation of inappropriate error messages and warning noises.
Volkswagen Vehicles Faulty Wire Harness ComplaintCase Event History
Volkswagen Vehicles Faulty Wire Harness Complaint
March 18, 2022
This class action alleges that there are defects in certain 2019-2022 vehicles in five different models made by the Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. According to the complaint, the defects cause the wire harness to fail, resulting in application of the emergency brakes on their own, windows opening and closing by themselves, and activation of inappropriate error messages and warning noises.
Volkswagen Vehicles Faulty Wire Harness Complaint