Volkswagen has announced that it will recall some 25,594 examples of its 2006-2009
Jetta over a potential driveshaft issue. According to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cars with the company's 2.0-liter inline-four may have driveshaft cover plates that weren't manufactured properly, with the consequence that their screws may not be torqued correctly. If the screws back out, drivers may experience a knocking sound while in motion. In the extreme, the driveshaft could conceivably detach from the gearbox, which could cause all kinds of problems that might lead to a crash.
Owners of 2006-2009 Jettas with the 2.0-liter engine should contact their VW dealer for a free inspection and/or replacement of the screws. Affected parties can also contact Volkswagen directly at 1-800-822-8987 to learn more. The recall is set to officially begin on June 19, 2009. The full NHTSA report is after the jump.
[Source: NHTSA]
Press Release:
Report Date : May 21, 2009 at 03:41 PM
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V164000
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
VOLKSWAGEN / JETTA 2006-2009
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC Mfr's Report Date: MAY 13, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 09V164000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Potential Number of Units Affected: 25594
Summary:
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.
Consequence:
IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JUNE 19, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Notes:
VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. 40J2/S4. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
Owners of 2006-2009 Jettas with the 2.0-liter engine should contact their VW dealer for a free inspection and/or replacement of the screws. Affected parties can also contact Volkswagen directly at 1-800-822-8987 to learn more. The recall is set to officially begin on June 19, 2009. The full NHTSA report is after the jump.
[Source: NHTSA]
Press Release:
Report Date : May 21, 2009 at 03:41 PM
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V164000
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
VOLKSWAGEN / JETTA 2006-2009
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC Mfr's Report Date: MAY 13, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 09V164000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Potential Number of Units Affected: 25594
Summary:
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 25,594 MY 2006-2009 JETTA 5TH GENERATION EQUIPPED WITH 2.01 ENGINE. THE FASTENING SCREW CONTACT SURFACES ON THE DRIVESHAFT COVER PLATE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. SOME SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED PROPERLY DURING ASSEMBLY AND COULD LOOSEN OVER TIME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS COULD LOOSEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVESHAFT DETACHES FROM THE GEARBOX.
Consequence:
IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DETACHED DRIVESHAFT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE THE GEARBOX HOUSING. A DAMAGE GEARBOX HOUSING COULD LEAK GEARBOX OIL ONTO THE STREET AND CREATE A RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DRIVESHAFT SCREWS AND REPLACE THE SCREWS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JUNE 19, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Notes:
VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. 40J2/S4. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .