VW Recalls

Following the VW diesel fiasco, large recalls leave many drivers without wheels. Here’s what you need to know about the VW recall and your legal rights.

Diesel vehicles have generally been thought of as a more eco-friendly alternative to regular gasoline cars, without making the leap all the way to electric. For this reason, many people have flocked to Volkswagen's popular TDI “Clean Diesel” engines, hoping to lessen their environmental impact and potentially shift the market away from gas in the long run.

Unfortunately for owners of some models, some 10-40 times the EPA-allowable level of nitrogen oxide when not in a testing environment. Now, Volkswagen is issuing recalls for the affected models, and faces fines up to a possible $18 billion.

The Recall

If you own a diesel Golf (2009-2015), Jetta (2009-2015), New Beetle (2009-2015), Passat (2014-2015), or Audi A3 (2009-2015), you may be affected. Aside from the obvious frustration with being sold an “environmentally friendly” vehicle that has turned out to be environmentally harmful according to the EPA, you may face other difficulties. Due to this illegal flaw in the engine design, you may find that the value of your car is decreased more significantly than it would otherwise have, in turn decreasing its resale value. Additionally, if you own one of the affected models, you may end up paying more in fuel costs over the long run.

Volkswagen has repeatedly marketed its “Clean Diesel” vehicles as better for the environment than other cars, and asked consumers to pay a premium for that aspect. Now that it's been revealed that the models with this “defeat device” software are in fact potentially harmful to the environment (per EPA guidelines), Volkswagen's business ethics have been called into question – and the owners of these vehicles are understandably outraged. Essentially, Volkswagen has lied to not only the EPA and the automotive business community at large, but also to its loyal customers. Those customers are the victims of unethical business practices and deserve more than just a company apology.

Know Your Rights

If you own one of the potentially-affected Volkswagen diesel models, there is a chance you could be entitled to significant compensation from the manufacturer. In cases such as this one, where individual consumers are up against giant international companies, it's imperative to talk with a lawyer to discuss what you can do and what your rights are.

Our firm has many years of experience in helping clients get fair compensation in product defect cases. Whether an individual case or part of a class lawsuit, we are dedicated to ensuring you get the compensation you deserve.

To schedule your free initial consultation, call us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).