Audi, a Volkswagen subsidiary, has said it will have to recall hundreds of thousands of cars due to technical issues.
The primary reason was due to problems regarding the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system, a response to the ecological obligation to lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions as mandated by European regulations and judgements.
That has led to the need to recall the A4, A5, A6, and Q5 model series manufactured between 2009 and 2017 at authorised workshops worldwide, a total of 703,172 Audi vehicles.
An ordered software update for the engine control systems of the cars subject to the recall is intended to correct the situation by optimising the EGR function in compliance with applicable requirements.
Audi has also had to to recall 342,179 vehicles of the A4, A6 and A8 model series manufactured between 2005 and 2010 worldwide.
Again, this was due to emission regulations, specifically addressing the presence of unauthorised so-called defeat devices and modifications that reduced the effectiveness of the vehicle’s emission control systems.
Such changes caused the cars to exceed allowable pollution limits, necessitating corrective action to bring them back into compliance with environmental standards via a software update.
For both recalls, Audi has set up a hotline at 0800-28347378423. Owners of the affected vehicles are advised to contact an official dealer or workshop immediately.
Audi has assured that all work will be carried out as quickly as possible in order to meet legal requirements and reduce environmental impact.
Audi had to call back some of its hybrid cars in the US, online automotive news outlet Autoevolution reported on December 4, because their engines risked catching fire.
Those vehicles are equipped with Samsung SDI cells, high-voltage batteries that may overheat and burst in flames.
The recalled crossovers were produced between August 10, 2021, and December 10, 2022. These included the Q5 55 TFSI e quattro, a plug-in hybrid and the A7 55 TFSI e quattro.
Most of the recalled hybrids are Q5s. The root cause for the overheating condition has not been determined yet, Audi said.
Car makers’ problems came as the Volkswagen group, the mother company of the brand, has been struggling itself, facing economic downturns in many parts of its market, with a sharp decline in sales and profits leading to a downgraded financial forecast.
The company is also struggling to transition to electric vehicles (EVs), as mandated by the European Union, while losing ground to more competitive Chinese EV manufacturers.
Volkswagen’s drop in sales has created substantial overcapacity, forcing it to implement major lay-offs for the first time in its history, including the closure of several manufacturing plants.
