By John Irwin, Crain News Service
DETROIT (Nov. 5, 2015) — Volkswagen Group is recalling 91,867 cars for flaws that can lead to the loss of power braking.
The recall covers Jetta, Beetle, Golf and Passat models from the 2015-16 model years, each with 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter gasoline engines, according to documents posted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“The camshaft lobe has the potential to unexpectedly shear off from the camshaft,” leading to a loss in vacuum pump power in the brakes, Volkswagen said. Power would also be reduced in the engine. That can force a greater braking effort on the driver's part, raising the risk of a crash.
The auto maker does not yet have a fix for the problem but said it expects to have one by March. It said the cars are safe to drive in the meantime.
“To date, the root cause of camshaft failures has not been fully understood,” VW said in a NHTSA document.
Drivers who have their warning lights come on and their vehicle in reduced engine power mode should make an appointment with a dealership for an inspection, VW said.
ThyssenKrupp Presta Danville in Illinois was identified as the supplier in a NHTSA document.
No injuries have been connected to the defect. Volkswagen began receiving reports of camshaft failures in February, which launched an investigation that concluded in October.
This report appeared on the website of Automotive News, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.