Volkswagen's Clean Air Act violations on 2009+ TDIs spark huge recall, investigations

[bubbagumpshrimp]

Regarding Horn's subcommittee appearance transcript...

This part: Mr. Murphy to Mr. Horn after oath...

421 Let the record show the witness answered yes. You are now
422 under oath and subject to the penalties set forth in Title 18,
423 Section 1011 of the United States Code.
424 You may now give a 5-minute summary of your written
425 statement.

What is Title 18 section 1011?

18 U.S. Code § 1011 - Federal land bank mortgage transactions

Whoever, being a mortgagee, knowingly makes any false statement
in any paper, proposal, or letter, relating to the sale of any mortgage,
to any Federal land bank; or

Whoever, being an appraiser, willfully over-values any land securing such mortgage—

Shall be fined under this title* or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

*Amended 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for
“fined not more than $5,000” in last par.

Anyone have a clue what that is about?

I doubt very much that he has anything to worry about. He stuck to his script. His prepared statement and answers to committee questions were so vague that I would be shocked if they could get him for perjury. Even his answer about when he found out about the cheat device and what he knew about it allows him a LOT of latitude/wiggle room if/when they come up with documentation that he knew about this before he said he did.

 

[rob c]

+1. Not the old VW diesels we knew and loved.

Me, I am pleased to have an extended warranty. The high pressure fuel pump blew out 2 days ago, at only 60,000 miles also damaging the injectors. My son was on the fwy at 70 mph in traffic. The car simply failed on him. He could have been killed. VW dealer says it is a $5,000 repair, seems high but warranty is paying. Dealer says it is a common failure. Add to that the DPF at $3,500 you have $8500 worth of repairs on a $24,000 car at only 60k miles! This is the worst reliable car with greatest repair costs I have ever owned. I would not wish a TDI on anyone. I'm hoping mine gets bought back.

100 % true.

 

[740GLE]

The reason I remain delusional about the Volkswagen Dieselgate situation is that it gives me a sort of imagined comfort zone and that one day I will wake up to good news, like VW came up with an easy fix that can be performed quickly with minimal invasive surgery.
The stall tactics VW have employed since May 2014 are getting a little ridiculous at this point. Day by day these cars are getting junked through crashes, HPFP explosions, export overseas, wear and tear, etc. More and more time means less and less cars they have to worry about.
I'm guessing the main reason EPA is playing hardball with VW is they are settling for nothing less than an AdBlue fix or a buyback. When Feinberg was hired I thought things would get rolling, but even he is at the mercy of the EPA who has rejected the unreleased proposed fix presented by Matthias Muller behind closed doors. Rumors at the time were it would be an easy swap out fix replacing our LNTs with Mullite ones, but it appears that got rejected.
There is no way VW is going to pull off a complicated retrofit with AdBlue to Gen 1s. Perhaps an invention such as a new fluid or converter cooked up in a Wolfsburg laboratory would be blockbuster type of news but I'm not going to hold my breath for that. I'll continue driving the TDI and filling up at busy truck stop type gas stations where I know the diesel is fresh and turns over daily, but even then you never know.
Who really knows anything anyway, we're here today and should try and continue to enjoy these cars.

It's nice to be delusional isn't it?

Is there any reason why VW can't release their "supposed" proposed fix to the public? If VW can stand behind their engineering, release the information for all to see, it'd pitch the public eye against the EPA as being a stalwart opposing VWs progress.

From what was released to the news, looks like VW was dribbling information to EPA/CARB as another stall tactic until EPA rejected it.

 

[IFRCFI]

Is there any reason why VW can't release their "supposed" proposed fix to the public?

Advice of corporate counsel? Admonishment by EPA/CARB to keep their mouths shut with speculation.

When you are at the mercy of someone/something, it's best to say nothing than something wrong.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pwolfe]

So back in November I sent an angry but cordial and professional email to VW Customer care. Just this morning I received an email response:

I’m sorry for my delay in response to your email. Our correspondence level has been higher than normal these past few weeks and this is not a reflection on how we value you as a customer.

The TDI investigation is a difficult time for all of us, but especially our customers who are doing everything they can to find out what information is available about their vehicles. I regret I do not have any information on when a resolution will be available, but I can assure you that when one does come out you will be notified via postal mail of next steps to take with your Golf.

As you express interest in being relieved of the financial obligations to your vehicle, this is something that I can look into for you. If you are still interested, please provide me with the information I have listed below and I will make sure that it is reviewed properly:

· Current mileage on your Golf
· The dealership where you service your vehicle
· Any major repairs completed
· Any other shops where you service your Golf

You can reply directly to this email with that information, or you can fax it to us at 248-754-6504 and reference the number at the top of this page and in the subject line.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,



Sam B.
Customer CARE Advocate

I find it interesting that they offer to look into some manner of addressing my concern instead of just asking for patience, etc.

I'm not sure what I should to this. my gut tells me ignore it and wait. Im perfectly happy with my car, love it in fact! However my wife and I have a 2nd child on the way and my Golf is just not gonna cut it any more, I need something bigger and so am wanting to get out of the Golf in the next few months.

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

So back in November I sent an angry but cordial and professional email to VW Customer care. Just this morning I received an email response:

I find it interesting that they offer to look into some manner of addressing my concern instead of just asking for patience, etc.

I'm not sure what I should to this. my gut tells me ignore it and wait. Im perfectly happy with my car, love it in fact! However my wife and I have a 2nd child on the way and my Golf is just not gonna cut it any more, I need something bigger and so am wanting to get out of the Golf in the next few months.

I don't think it could hurt to respond and see what they come back with. I sent them an email a while back, but all I got back was the same cut and paste crap that they sent everyone else.

 

[autdi]

So back in November I sent an angry but cordial and professional email to VW Customer care. Just this morning I received an email response:



I find it interesting that they offer to look into some manner of addressing my concern instead of just asking for patience, etc.

I'm not sure what I should to this. my gut tells me ignore it and wait. Im perfectly happy with my car, love it in fact! However my wife and I have a 2nd child on the way and my Golf is just not gonna cut it any more, I need something bigger and so am wanting to get out of the Golf in the next few months.

They probably recognized that some people need/want to trade the car, and currently the car for trade purposes is a paperweight. I see a number of valid reasons for this, one being the family no longer fits and you need something bigger, or that fits 2 car seats in the back. If the car is 4 years old, you may still have a loan on it, and an unsellable car, you are effectively locked into a car that while the car is operational, isn't functional for what you need it to do. When you bought, you expected that you could sell it down the road as an operational car for normal depreciation. The emissions deal messed that up, so there is a potential claim if you bought it new that they sold a non-merchantable item. States vary in what the warranty of merchantability is, so some may be better than others, but you were sold something you now can't sell reasonably.

 

[oilhammer]

So back in November I sent an angry but cordial and professional email to VW Customer care. Just this morning I received an email response:
I find it interesting that they offer to look into some manner of addressing my concern instead of just asking for patience, etc.
I'm not sure what I should to this. my gut tells me ignore it and wait. Im perfectly happy with my car, love it in fact! However my wife and I have a 2nd child on the way and my Golf is just not gonna cut it any more, I need something bigger and so am wanting to get out of the Golf in the next few months.

Funny how human babies must be larger in some areas. In Europe, the Golf is year after year one of the top picks for "family" cars. I had zero problems fitting two children in my A2 Jetta, and my A3 Jetta (both smaller than the newer Golfs) and it only was when my children who are disabled got to the point where we needed to use wheelchairs that we could no longer use a small car. If they were still able bodied at 11 and 16 years of age, we'd still have no issue with a smaller car for 90% of family transport duties.

I still routinely use my 2000 Golf to carry nieces and nephews around (I have a whole bunch of them). Never been a problem. The hatch is very real-world useful, too. Lots of rear headroom, and a giant gaping hole in the rear that opens up. If I had to pick ONE car to have out of my small fleet, a Golf would be it (wheelchair lift issues being a separate thing for me).

 

[autdi]

Funny how human babies must be larger in some areas. In Europe, the Golf is year after year one of the top picks for "family" cars. I had zero problems fitting two children in my A2 Jetta, and my A3 Jetta (both smaller than the newer Golfs) and it only was when my children who are disabled got to the point where we needed to use wheelchairs that we could no longer use a small car. If they were still able bodied at 11 and 16 years of age, we'd still have no issue with a smaller car for 90% of family transport duties.

I still routinely use my 2000 Golf to carry nieces and nephews around (I have a whole bunch of them). Never been a problem. The hatch is very real-world useful, too. Lots of rear headroom, and a giant gaping hole in the rear that opens up. If I had to pick ONE car to have out of my small fleet, a Golf would be it (wheelchair lift issues being a separate thing for me).

Our Jetta was good until kid #3, 3 car seats just didn't fit, and we tried shuffling them through all 3 locations trying to not get something else. The rear facing and front facing nearly worked next to each other, but couldn't get it to lock the base flat on the seat, and get the shoulder bar to come down on the front facing one. For 2 in a 4 door golf, I expect it would work. Now a 2 door golf, not so much, getting the kid into the back seat just isn't viable in a carrier. We had a bug at the same time, that car seat carrier just wasn't wanting to get in the back seat.

 

[whitedog]

I was curious also about the tilde usage. It is NOT a regular form of punctuation and I did NOT find it in lists of printer's symbols. I then searched to see what Wikipedia said about the tilde: it is usually a diacritical mark to denote a change in pronunciation but can also be used to denote spaces, similar to the en and em dashes.

Now we are talking about rappers? I though this was a thread about grammer.

 

[TDILeo]

Now we are talking about rappers? I though this was a thread about grammer.

Seriously, let's get this thread back on topic to the goats. Bring back the goat pics!

 

[autdi]

Seriously, let's get this thread back on topic to the goats. Bring back the goat pics!

I've got 10 acres, how many goats do I need to park the lawn mower?

 

[romad]

Advice of corporate counsel? Admonishment by EPA/CARB to keep their mouths shut with speculation.

Probably the latter in a scenario like this:

CARB/EPA: We CAN'T issue a gag order to prevent you from releasing information on your proposed solution, but we CAN warn you that such release will have a negative impact to you monetarily.

Or maybe via a back channel: Release your proposed solution and we'll come down on you like a ton of bricks!

In other words, CARB/EPA made VW an "offer they couldn't refuse".

 

[romad]

Now we are talking about rappers? I though this was a thread about grammer.

Sorry, Whitedog, my grammer passed away back in 1986.

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

Anyone check out the new "R-Line" Passat? It looks like it's just the '16 version of the Passat Sport. Now extra power (1.8T), but it's got a 'R' badge and sweet rims.

 

[pwolfe]

Funny how human babies must be larger in some areas. In Europe, the Golf is year after year one of the top picks for "family" cars. I had zero problems fitting two children in my A2 Jetta, and my A3 Jetta (both smaller than the newer Golfs) and it only was when my children who are disabled got to the point where we needed to use wheelchairs that we could no longer use a small car. If they were still able bodied at 11 and 16 years of age, we'd still have no issue with a smaller car for 90% of family transport duties.
I still routinely use my 2000 Golf to carry nieces and nephews around (I have a whole bunch of them). Never been a problem. The hatch is very real-world useful, too. Lots of rear headroom, and a giant gaping hole in the rear that opens up. If I had to pick ONE car to have out of my small fleet, a Golf would be it (wheelchair lift issues being a separate thing for me).

Will 2 child seats fit in the Golf? Sure - no sweat. Will I be able to comfortably sit in the car as a 6'4" adult without contorting my chair and resting my chin on the steering wheel? I think not. I mean hell, with my 3 year old in the middle seat, his feet sit on the driver's middle arm rest.

I really have 7 months before I feel I have to act, I think its in my best interest to sit it out and wait for Mr. Feinberg's work to be hopefully available.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

They probably recognized that some people need/want to trade the car, and currently the car for trade purposes is a paperweight. <snip> .

Agreed ~~ It all boils down to awful resale value.

My reasons for needing-wanting-deserving the classic generous-dependable-great resale value is surely different than other owners.

To wit ~~ some of us do not fit 100% into the drive more worry less class forever

 

[JohnNS]

Speaking of delusional.. VW's UK ads!

https://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr...new-ad-campaign-shows-contempt-for-consumers/

I guess "It's more than just a car, it's a lifelong companion" is technically true since people aren't touching the TDI's

 

[Keith63]

I believe that VW is under the impression that VW TDI owners initially were extremely upset with the cheat so they provided a Goodwill package to calm us all down and to show the CARB/EPA, that hey, we are trying to make thing right. Now the folks of VW have taken a step back to see if the longer they wait to provide a solution, the less of a solution the VW owner/EPA/CARB will expect. I think that the folks at VW are dragging their feet in a strategic direction thinking that the longer they drag this out, the better it will be financially for VW. I am willing to bet that they won't have any solutions anytime soon.

 

[mjLyco]

So back in November I sent an angry but cordial and professional email to VW Customer care. Just this morning I received an email response:
I find it interesting that they offer to look into some manner of addressing my concern instead of just asking for patience, etc.
I'm not sure what I should to this. my gut tells me ignore it and wait. Im perfectly happy with my car, love it in fact! However my wife and I have a 2nd child on the way and my Golf is just not gonna cut it any more, I need something bigger and so am wanting to get out of the Golf in the next few months.

My father and I both received similar letters months ago. After providing the information, we were both told to kick rocks.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

I believe that VW is under the impression that VW TDI owners initially were extremely upset with the cheat so they provided a Goodwill package to calm us all down and to show the CARB/EPA, that hey, we are trying to make thing right. Now the folks of VW have taken a step back to see if the longer they wait to provide a solution, the less of a solution the VW owner/EPA/CARB will expect. I think that the folks at VW are dragging their feet in a strategic direction thinking that the longer they drag this out, the better it will be financially for VW. I am willing to bet that they won't have any solutions anytime soon.

VW cheating (in the first place) sets the stage for any and all vwcrapola.

Even car population depletion is working for the corp. All in the calculations (sic)

 

[MichVW]

Will 2 child seats fit in the Golf? Sure - no sweat. Will I be able to comfortably sit in the car as a 6'4" adult without contorting my chair and resting my chin on the steering wheel? I think not. I mean hell, with my 3 year old in the middle seat, his feet sit on the driver's middle arm rest.
I really have 7 months before I feel I have to act, I think its in my best interest to sit it out and wait for Mr. Feinberg's work to be hopefully available.

Exactly.. I brought up this same issue many pages back. I am 6'4" and there is no way I can sit in front of a car seat (rear facing placed in the back seat) with any level of comfort in EITHER of our vehicles.
Heck, my wife who is 5'7" almost has her knees touching the glove box on the passenger side. We are using a normal, britax, rear facing infant seat. Nothing special.

My mother drives a 2015 Passat gasser. IF I am forced (And I really mean forced....) to take advantage of dealer incentives as part of my compensation. I would POSSIBLY consider a gasser Passat for my wife. Rear seat room is massive.

 

[MichVW]

Speaking of delusional.. VW's UK ads!
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr...new-ad-campaign-shows-contempt-for-consumers/
I guess "It's more than just a car, it's a lifelong companion" is technically true since people aren't touching the TDI's

Funny you mention this... Watching prime time TV most nights, I have noticed an overwhelming amount of VW commercials offering incentives, rebates etc. Way more than I have noticed in the past.

Seems as if VW is trying to boost sales and PR in this area at least.. I wish they were as concerned about the 500,000 customers driving TDIs with cheat software installed.

 

[philip_g]

sure getting tired of letters from lawyers trying to get a class action going. Like I really want a hundred bucks while you make millions.

 

[TomB]

Our Jetta was good until kid #3, 3 car seats just didn't fit, and we tried shuffling them through all 3 locations trying to not get something else. The rear facing and front facing nearly worked next to each other, but couldn't get it to lock the base flat on the seat, and get the shoulder bar to come down on the front facing one. For 2 in a 4 door golf, I expect it would work. Now a 2 door golf, not so much, getting the kid into the back seat just isn't viable in a carrier. We had a bug at the same time, that car seat carrier just wasn't wanting to get in the back seat.

Hmmm. Since most Europeans stop at 2 kids (population responsible in only replacing themselves), maybe that is why they don't need Suburbans and Escalades.

 

[mjLyco]

Exactly.. I brought up this same issue many pages back. I am 6'4" and there is no way I can sit in front of a car seat (rear facing placed in the back seat) with any level of comfort in EITHER of our vehicles.
Heck, my wife who is 5'7" almost has her knees touching the glove box on the passenger side. We are using a normal, britax, rear facing infant seat. Nothing special.
My mother drives a 2015 Passat gasser. IF I am forced (And I really mean forced....) to take advantage of dealer incentives as part of my compensation. I would POSSIBLY consider a gasser Passat for my wife. Rear seat room is massive.

Until we can get into new cars, this blog post is great for seeing how long some car seats really are. http://carseatblog.com/22818/the-ultimate-rear-facing-convertible-space-comparison-review-size-matters/

 

[kitarkus]

sure getting tired of letters from lawyers trying to get a class action going. Like I really want a hundred bucks while you make millions.

I have not received a single letter in the mail from a lawyer regarding the VW issue. When I was on facebook...by thread was flooded with ads....but no letters in my mailbox. Interesting.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

Funny you mention this... Watching prime time TV most nights, I have noticed an overwhelming amount of VW commercials offering incentives, rebates etc. Way more than I have noticed in the past.

Seems as if VW is trying to boost sales and PR in this area at least.. I wish they were as concerned about the 500,000 customers driving TDIs with cheat software installed.

Discouraging-disparaging they are poring $$$$ into NEW customers

VW cheating (in the first place) sets the stage for any and all shenanigans

--------------------

My old sweetie ~~ gasser ~~ 2003 GSL 5 manual

 

[redbarron55]

Fred is going to have to move to a server with larger drives to keep this thread going!

 

[redbarron55]

Delusions create the comfort zones for most of us.
Reality can be too painful and we avoid it most of the time.