Audi Recalls More Than 1,500 Units Due to Coolant Leak

Audi AG has announced a recall of some model years of the A8 series luxury passenger cars which have been up for sale in South Korea, due to a leak of coolant which could result to the car losing power while in use, which could end up being the root cause of accidents.

The investigation has been initiated be the local government beginning in June 2014 after there were reports from owners received by the Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Ministry of the said country.

The sudden stopping of the vehicle is due to the leaking coolant making its way into the connector for the engine control unit, causing the said device to be shorted. The problem, however, was not acknowledged by the Korean branch of the German car manufacturer, as it claims that the said leak is not as serious as initially thought of, as the short is caused by a warning signal which allows drivers 2 minutes to stop their car somewhere safe, and instead of recalls, are merely issuing a service bulleting for the month of February.

These service bulletins leave car owners with the freedom to choose whether they would have their cars brought in for repairs or not and that they are not in any way, obliged to inform vehicle owners of the particular problem. It was insisted, however, by the transportation ministry that this problem was a primary safety issue, and therefore has caused the Korea Transportation Safety Authority back in June, and has already ordered Audi to initiate a safety recall.

After several months of deliberations between Audi and the transportation ministry, the car manufacturing company has already passed on its plans to recall the vehicles to the government a week ago. The affected models include the Audi A8 4.2 FSI Quattro, 1,534 units of which were created between July 16, 2010, and April 13, 2012.

The recall would be the first ever for the German car manufacturer, and is also expected to announce recalls for the US a few weeks from now. Repair Services shall be given for free beginning Thursday at all service centers for the Audi Volkswagen in Korea.