A class-action lawsuit settlement has been brought against Volkswagen to resolve claims that the automotive giant built certain Audi vehicles with a defective direct-shift gearbox (DSG) transmission. The settlement terms are expected to benefit both current and former owners and lessees of the Audi S4 or S5 models of the year 2010, 2011, or 2012 that were imported and distributed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc for either sale or lease in the United States or Puerto Rico.
Settlement Website: DSGTransmissionSettlement.com
Objection Deadline: 4/25/2022
Exclusion Deadline: 4/25/2022
Claim Form: https://angeion-public.s3.amazonaws.com/www.DSGTransmissionSettlement.com/docs/AudiChessGillard_ClaimForm_FINAL_generic.pdf
Deadline For Submitting Claim Form: 7/29/2022
Final Hearing Date: 8/18/2022
Settlement Amount: up to $7205 (per claim)
Potential Claim Amount: Variable
Proof Of Purchase: Documentation of expenses including invoices, receipts, and other proof has to be submitted with the claim forms.
Volkswagen is a renowned car maker and Audi is its subsidiary manufacturing luxury car models. Though the brand is popular for its vehicles having an expensive price tag, both Volkswagen and Audi have been subjected to multiple recalls over the past years including the latest recall for fire risk. This recall is expected to affect around 42300 owners of Volkswagen Passats, Golfs, Tiguans, and Arteons globally and 24400 owners of Seat and Skoda. The German carmaker has notified that there is a risk of fire in vehicles connecting a conventional combustion engine with an electric drive due to insufficiently insulated high-voltage battery.
Although the Audi S4 and S5 vehicles in the 2010 to 2012 recalls do not suffer from fire hazards, their defective transmission can add up to the driver’s repair expenses. As per a 2017 class-action lawsuit, these vehicles had defective DSG transmissions which allegedly judder, shudder, rough shift, and enter the limp mode unexpectedly for no apparent reason. The class-action lawsuit alleged that the drivers had to incur out-of-pocket repair expenses for these transmissions although Volkswagen had full knowledge of the issue.
Though Volkswagen hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing, they have agreed to settle all claims with a class action settlement. Additionally, Volkswagen has stated that the transmissions aren’t defective, rather they are properly designed and manufactured without breaching any warranties or violating any laws or statutes.
Class members are eligible to receive warranty extensions and reimbursement payments under the terms of the Audi transmission settlement. If any class member incurred out-of-pocket expenses for transmission repair (parts, labor, and taxes), they will be reimbursed for a portion of their expenses provided the repairs occurred within nine years of service and 90000 miles. The reimbursement rates will vary according to the age of the vehicle and the number of miles traveled at the time of repairs. If the repair is done within 50000 miles and four years, then the plaintiffs will be eligible for a 100% reimbursement. However, the rate is going to drop off depending on the age and mileage given by the vehicles. The lowest reimbursement rate is 20% for a vehicle within eight to nine years of service and for traveling between 80001 to 90000 miles. You can refer to a complete table of reimbursement rates on the Audi transmission settlement website.
Apart from the past repairs, the settlement is also going to extend Audi’s warranties to bring future repairs under its purview. One transmission repair is covered within 90000 miles or nine years under the extended warranty. If an authorized dealer diagnoses the vehicle with rough shifting, juddering, transmission shuddering, and/or “limp mode” then the repairs will be covered.
