Water and Fire: Audi Recalling 1.16 Million Vehicles

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Audi is recalling some 1.16 million vehicles worldwide, 342,867 of them in the United States, to prevent the risk of fire in several 2.0-liter models.

The issue stems from a component Audi’s had trouble with before: the coolant pump. According to the automaker’s engineers, the pump can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system or short-circuit from moisture within the pump. Regardless of the cause, an increasing number of reports of overheating pumps tipped Audi off that its earlier recall wasn’t enough.

The recall covers the 2013-2016 Audi A4, 2013-2017 A5 and A5 Cabriolet, 2012-2015 A6, and 2013-2017 Q5. All of these vehicles carry a turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder.

A couple of days before Christmas 2016, Audi initiated a recall of these same models to update the vehicles’ engine control units (ECU) software. The update saw the coolant pumps shut off if the vehicle detected a blockage, notifying the driver via an indicator light. recalls started at the end of January 2017.

However, even as the recall was underway, complaints about overheating pumps kept cropping up. Audi ordered the inspection of parts gathered from owners. Complaints really ramped up after the completion of the recall, leading Audi’s product safety committee to double down on their analysis. “Testing showed that not just debris but also moisture was a factor,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wrote in its report.

Audi eventually decided to replace the pumps in all affected vehicles, free of charge, with one that prevents moisture accumulation. The only problem is, the automaker doesn’t have the new pumps right now.

Notices will be sent to owners starting June 11th, with a second notice arriving once the pumps become available.

[Image: Audi]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Verbal Verbal on Apr 25, 2018

    An electrically-driven water pump. I am without words.

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    • Guitar man Guitar man on Apr 26, 2018

      >>"Audi eventually decided to replace the pumps in all affected vehicles, free of charge, with one that prevents moisture accumulation.">> Now, who'd have thought "moisture accumulation" might occur on a water pump ?

  • Tele Vision Tele Vision on Apr 25, 2018

    My Mom's A4 was already fixed. This was in Canada, though - a relatively small market.

    • White Shadow White Shadow on Apr 26, 2018

      No, it wasn't fixed. What could have been done was the software update, but that has been proven ineffective. So now they're replacing the actual pumps instead of flashing the software. Problem is that the new pumps aren't even available yet and they're saying that it will be November before the updated pumps will be ready to go. So in the meantime, they are willing to replace the pumps with a new pump of the current version, which is just a Band-Aid for now until the newly designed pumps are available.

  • ToolGuy TG grows skeptical about his government protecting him from bad decisions.
  • Calrson Fan Jeff - Agree with what you said. I think currently an EV pick-up could work in a commercial/fleet application. As someone on this site stated, w/current tech. battery vehicles just do not scale well. EBFlex - No one wanted to hate the Cyber Truck more than me but I can't ignore all the new technology and innovative thinking that went into it. There is a lot I like about it. GM, Ford & Ram should incorporate some it's design cues into their ICE trucks.
  • Michael S6 Very confusing if the move is permanent or temporary.
  • Jrhurren Worked in Detroit 18 years, live 20 minutes away. Ren Cen is a gem, but a very terrible design inside. I’m surprised GM stuck it out as long as they did there.
  • Carson D I thought that this was going to be a comparison of BFGoodrich's different truck tires.
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