Dieselgate: Aussie VW owners still waiting
Australian recall to fix emissions-cheating Volkswagens rests with government; Amarok will be firstThe recall of Volkswagen Group vehicles affected by the 'Dieselgate' emissions scandal in Australia is in a holding pattern until the federal government gives the green light for the rectification measures Volkswagen has proposed.
Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) said in October last year that the recall would likely commence in February, although that is now increasingly looking unlikely.
Speaking to motoring.com.au at yesterday’s Passat Alltrack launch, VGA public relations manager Kurt McGuiness said the procedures required to make the vehicles compliant have been sent to the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Planning for its approval.
“The department has the information and is going through it,” he said.
McGuiness explained that the department might be taking its time due the complexity of the software patch. “Although the fix is quick, it is complex in its parameters,” he said.
McGuiness also said that the Amarok would be the first model to be recalled — once VGA had federal approval to do so — followed by the Passat and then others in the range.
The reason these models are lined up first for the recall is because “our head office in Germany provide the technical updates for the affected vehicles and are moving through the vehicles model by model.
"Volkswagen has adopted this approach worldwide, given the number of models and variants affected”.
McGuiness also said “Volkswagen expects to commence roll out shortly, once approval is received from Australian authorities. Other models will follow throughout the year.
"Owners of affected vehicles will receive a letter from Volkswagen Group Australia, inviting them to make an appointment with their nearest Volkswagen dealer.”
The vehicles affected locally by Dieselgate include just under 100,000 Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen models fitted with EA189 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines.
The recall fix, according to McGuiness, will take “about 30 minutes for the 2.0-litre — it only requires a software upgrade — and about an hour for the 1.6.
"The 1.6 needs a software upgrade and an air-flow transformer fitted to the inlet system”.
Volkswagen insists the changes to make the two engines emissions-legal do not affect performance or economy.
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