Volkswagen / Audi Front Assist Class Action Settlement - Lemon Law
Audi / Volkswagen and owners of various models have struck a settlement in the VW Front Assist class action lawsuit.
All the details can be accessed here at the Settlement Coordinators webpage, along with the deadline of 7/15/2024 for the claims form and their contact information if you have questions for them.
Audi / Volkswagen Extended Warranty for Pre-sense
The automatic emergency braking systems installed in Audi and Volkswagen vehicles are allegedly harmful due to the possibility of an unintentional, unexpected activation while the vehicle is being driven. AEB is basically a preventive device that, at least it was supposed to, lessen and shield the car from potentially fatal collisions. Using cameras and radars, the system scans the road to look for potential collisions with other objects. Research has indicated that although an AEB is not 100% effective in every scenario, when designed well, it can significantly lower the impact's danger and severity.
Volkswagen maintains in the deal there is nothing wrong with the cars or the autonomous braking systems in exchange for agreeing to resolve the Front Assist class action case.
Additionally, the company states that no laws or guarantees have been broken and that there are no system flaws. Notwithstanding that, though, there is still a settlement and it concerns the following vehicles:
Volkswagen Vehicles (Equipped with “Front Assist” Autonomous Braking Systems)
2019-2023 Volkswagen Arteon
2018-2023 Volkswagen Atlas
2020-2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
2016-2017 Volkswagen CC
2016-2021 Volkswagen Golf
2016-2019 and 2022-2023 Volkswagen Golf R
2016-2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen
2016-2023 Volkswagen GTI
2016-2019 Volkswagen e-Golf
2021-2023 Volkswagen ID.4
2016-2023 Volkswagen Jetta
2016-2022 Volkswagen Passat
2022-2023 Volkswagen Taos
2018-2023 Volkswagen Tiguan
2015-2017 Volkswagen Touareg
Audi Vehicles (Equipped with “Audi Braking Guard,” “Pre Sense Front,” “Audi Pre Sense City,” and/or “Turn assist” Autonomous Braking Systems)
2015-2020 and 2022-2023 Audi A3
2019-2023 Audi Q3
2013-2023 Audi A4
2013-2023 Audi A5
2013-2023 Audi Q5
2012-2023 Audi A6
2012-2023 Audi A7
2011-2023 Audi A8
2017-2023 Audi Q7
2019-2023 Audi Q8
2019-2023 Audi e-tron
2022-2023 Audi e-tron GT
2022-2023 Audi Q4 e-tron
Potential Audi Pre Sense Settlement Benefits
A comparatively small warranty is provided by the settlement for the automated emergency braking systems.
The new vehicle limited warranty will be extended by an extra 12 months or 12,000 miles with the automated emergency braking warranty extension.
Owners of Audi and VW vehicles will still have to pay for repairs, though, as the warranty extension only pays for 75% of approved repairs made by a dealership. Regarding the definition of what a “Covered Repair” is, the settlement says:
"A Covered Repair is a repair or replacement (parts and labor) of a diagnosed and confirmed malfunction or failure of a Settlement Class Vehicle’s AEB system that resulted from failure or malfunction of the AEB system’s control unit, camera(s), radar, LIDAR, and/or sensors which enable automatic emergency braking functionality in Settlement Cass Vehicles."
Reimbursement for Audi / Volkswagen Autonomous Braking Out of Pocket Repairs
A potential partial reimbursement is also included in the class action settlement for automatic emergency braking if the customer had to pay for previous covered repairs that happened before the notice date of the class action settlement and within a year or 12,000 miles (whichever came first) following the new vehicle limited warranty's expiration.
But only 75% of the costs for a single covered repair are reimbursed.
Additionally, according to the settlement agreement, Volkswagen has to provide more information about the capabilities and restrictions of the various autonomous emergency braking systems on its website and in other publications.
Here is the main settlement document highlighting the terms of the settlement.
If you're in California and you’ve taken your 2017 or newer Audi or VW to a dealership for issues above, from phantom braking, pre-collision false positive warnings, front assist failure, Autonomous Emergency Braking problems, or any warranty condition, we can help get your vehicle bought back from you…. AT NO COST TO YOU! Valero Law, APC is a California consumer protection firm dedicated to protecting the lemon law rights of California consumers and ALL cases are taken on a contingency basis, meaning if there is no recovery, there is absolutely no fee to you. We will fight to have your vehicle repurchased from you from the manufacturer under California Lemon Law.