A giant automaker is taking action to protect motorists and passengers by recalling over 89,000 vehicles due to a dangerous oil leak that could catch the engine on fire.
Volkswagen, the foreign automaker behind the Audi brand, has recalled nearly 90,000 Q5 and Q5 Sportback models after thousands of reports of dangerous oil leaks that could ignite when coming into contact with hot engine components.
The massive recall affects 89,417 vehicles across North America, including 78,313 regular Q5 models and 11,104 Q5 Sportback models from 2022 to 2024.
American owners will begin taking their expensive German-engineered vehicles back to dealerships for repairs on July 8th, when official notifications begin going out.
According to Volkswagen, the problem stems from improperly tightened cylinder head cover screws that may loosen over time, allowing engine oil to leak.
These manufacturing defects have already resulted in 2,539 warranty claims and 11 fire reports since May 2023, highlighting a significant quality control failure from the foreign automaker.
The pull follows a familiar pattern of foreign car manufacturers having to address dangerous defects after they have already sold thousands of vehicles to American consumers.
Even more concerning, Audi initially attempted to handle the problem quietly, sending only a technical note to dealerships in January 2024 before finally initiating an official recall after complaints continued mounting.
Moreover, the company has advised owners to stop driving immediately if they notice smoke or unusual odors coming from the engine compartment.
Investigations revealed that screws with manufacturing burrs were damaging the sealing surface, leading to reduced torque and potential oil leaks.
While no injuries have been reported yet, Audi has acknowledged multiple “potentially related thermal event cases” – corporate-speak for dangerous vehicle fires that could have resulted in tragedy.
In the meantime, vehicle owners can check if their Audi is affected by visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall website and entering their VIN.
Dealers will inspect and replace any loose cylinder head cover screws free of charge, but owners must still take time out of their schedules to address this manufacturer defect.
This recall joins other recent Volkswagen and Audi quality problems, including a class action lawsuit over defects in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries in certain Audi e-tron SUV models.
Ultimately, it is in the best interest of all 89,417 affected vehicle owners to respond promptly to this recall, avert potential hazards, and ensure continuous road safety.
