In March of 2021, the court approved a Class Action Settlement resolving a suit filed against the Volkswagen Group of America. This lawsuit was in response to a claim that certain Audi and Volkswagen models manufactured between 2014 and 2021 came equipped with faulty engine water pumps.
While the Settlement will provide some financial relief to consumers, unfortunately, the individual payout is very small. To protect yourself financially and to secure the full amount of compensation you deserve, you must opt-out of this Settlement before the deadline on July 25th, 2022.
Failing to opt-out of the Settlement means that you will lose your right to pursue any further legal action related to your vehicle’s primary engine water pump. So, if you owned or leased one of the affected Volkswagen or Audi vehicles, let Krohn & Moss, Ltd. defend your rights.
Our team of experienced consumer advocates will fight on your behalf to help you secure the compensation you deserve. We’ll take care of everything—from filing exclusion paperwork to pursuing a Lemon Law case to helping secure reimbursement or a replacement for your faulty vehicle.
Reach out today to schedule your free case review.
Affected Models
The affected models under the 2022 VW & Audi engine water pump Class Action Settlement include:
- 2019-2021 Volkswagen Areteon
- 2018-2020 Volkswagen Atlas
- 2014-2018 Volkswagen Beetle
- 2015-2021 Volkswagen Golf
- 2014-2021 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2014-2021 Volkswagen Passat
- 2020-2021 Volkswagen Terramont
- 2018-2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2015-2020 Audi A3
- 2015-2020 Audi A4
- 2015-2020 Audi A4 Allroad
- 2015-2019 Audi A5
- 2015-2020 Audi A6
- 2015-2020 Audi A7
- 2015-2020 Audi Q3
- 2015-2021 Audi Q5
- 2017-2020 Audi Q7
- 2015-2020 Audi TT
If you are a current or past owner or lessee of one of these vehicles, you may be covered under the Settlement. However, some models may not be covered or may have specific limitations. To see the full list of specific models covered by the Settlement, visit the official Vin Lookup Portal.
About the VW & Audi Class Action Lawsuit
The Lawsuit
On March 3rd, 2021, the United States District Court of New Jersey granted Zhao, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 2:21-cv-11251 preliminary approval. This lawsuit against the Volkswagen Group of America claims that select Volkswagen and Audi vehicles (from 2014 to 2021) were manufactured with faulty engine water pumps.
Although the Volkswagen Group of America denies that their water pumps were defective, they have agreed to settle the claim. As a result, consumers who purchased or leased any of the affected vehicles will be able to file for reimbursement or warranty extension once the case is finalized on August 30th, 2022
The Settlement
While the Settlement equates to millions of dollars in total, the payout individuals will receive is a small fraction of that. Because of this, we strongly suggest that consumers opt out of the Class Action and file a claim for their specific vehicle, which we can do on your behalf.
By filing a Lemon Law claim for your defective vehicle, you may be able to secure a replacement vehicle, a refund, or a cash settlement. Whereas if you participate in the lawsuit, the Volkswagen Group of America will only extend your warranty or provide reimbursement costs for out-of-pocket expenses related to the repair or replacement of your primary engine water pump.
The Volkswagen Group may also reimburse out-of-pocket costs for engine repairs, but only if you can prove that the faulty primary engine water pump directly caused the issues. Ultimately, these benefits will likely only cover a portion of your necessary costs, especially if the water pump in your vehicle damaged other components or you needed to rent a car while your vehicle was in the shop.
To make matters worse, the Settlement has a variety of restrictions for potential benefits hidden in its fine print. For example, if you didn’t get your car repaired at an authorized dealer, your reimbursement will be capped at $1,150, regardless of how much you paid.
How to Opt-Out of the VW Water Pump Settlement
Excluding yourself from this Settlement is the best way to obtain the full compensation to which you’re entitled. The deadline for opting out of the Settlement is 07/25/2022.
If you don’t opt-out in a timely manner, you will become legally bound as a Settlement Class Member, and you will waive your right to pursue further legal action over the primary engine water pump in your vehicle.
To opt-out, you’ll need to send a formal written Request for Exclusion to the claims administrator, the class counsel, and the defense counsel on the case. To make things easier, contact the team at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Our attorneys will handle everything from sending in your Request for Exclusion to initiating more productive legal proceedings on your behalf. Best of all, we offer free case reviews.
Secure the Compensation You’re Entitled To
As soon as we opt out of the lawsuit at hand, our team will start working to recover the compensation you’re owed through a Lemon Lawsuit. Lemon Laws are consumer laws designed to protect people after they’ve bought a defective vehicle. Although these laws vary from state to state, you typically have up to 4 years after your first repair attempt to file a suit.
We understand the stress and disappointment that comes along with making frequent repairs on your vehicle. If your car was affected by a faulty water pump or any other defect, we’ll fight to ensure you receive the reimbursement or replacement vehicle you’re owed.
Don’t wait to exclude yourself from this Class Action Settlement! Reach out to our team before 07/25/22 to schedule your free case review.