EPA to Approve Diesel Repair for an Additional 84,000 Volkswagens: Report

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

The Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board will soon announce an approved fix for roughly 84,000 recalled Volkswagen diesels. As part of VW’s buyback program of cars equipped with emissions-cheating defeat devices, the soon-to-be-certified modification allows 2012-2014 Passat TDIs to operate within acceptable pollution guidelines.

Volkswagen has already designed fixes for the Generation 3 diesel 2.0-liter engines, providing vehicle owners the choice to keep and repair their car, or to have it bought back. Similar fixes in Europe have yielded complaints of reduced fuel economy, starting difficulties, trimmed power, weak acceleration, and even abnormal sounds. As usual, if you want to hold onto your TDI, you may be doing so at your own risk.

Still, test data and technical information submitted to EPA and CARB by the automaker has demonstrated that the emissions modifications shouldn’t affect vehicle fuel economy, reliability, or longevity. The agencies also claim to have confirmed those conclusions through independent testing and analysis at their own laboratories.

Nobody would condemn VW owners for thinking it over before they made a commitment, however.

The new mending is specifically for older model Passats equipped with the 2.0-liter engine and automatic transmission. Those vehicles join the 67,000 2015 model year Beetle, Golf, SportWagen, Jetta, Passat, and Audi A3 diesel cars already available with EPA-approved fixes. It’s assumed the repair jobs will function similarly, involving a two-stage software adjustment and swapping some old hardware out for new.

Sources briefed on the matter told Automotive News the fix has already been approved internally, and is only awaiting an official announcement. Volkswagen can then notify owners of their options directly.

This latest news whittles the number of 2.0-liter VW vehicles without a regulator-approved repair down to 325,000.

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

More by Matt Posky

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 7 comments
  • Felix Hoenikker Felix Hoenikker on May 19, 2017

    Speedlaw, Well said. You win the internet today!

  • George B George B on May 19, 2017

    "...test data and technical information submitted to EPA and CARB by the automaker has demonstrated that the emissions modifications shouldn’t affect vehicle fuel economy, reliability, or longevity..." Compared to the prior test data on a dynamometer in a lab or an A/B comparison of cars on a road or test track? It's my understanding that TDI owners saw better fuel economy and lower urea usage on the road in the cheating mode than occur in the emissions-compliant software mode.

  • Kwik_Shift Brands that were considered from China include BYD, Dayun, Great Wall Motors, Maxus, Nio, Omoda/Chery, Seres, XPeng, and Zeekr. KG Mobility from South Korea also made the list of candidates.That's a lot of car companies from there ready to head here.
  • Analoggrotto Clean sweep and unanimous victory for the world affluence engine of 22nd century : Hyundai/Kia/Genesis. Toyota and Lexus, for 120 years of history have not been able to capture the zenith superlative status of Hyundai Motor Corporation the most awarded, decorated and revered automotive corporation in the history of historical. Featuring best ever, first ever and greatest ever e-ATPs the Hyundai Genesis Kia lineup is posed to become the envy of every country club, ivy league college and fortune 500 corporation in the world. I've been taking a roadtrip in my loaner Elantra N, visiting colleges from east to west, elite universities of higher learning to inspect their parking lots. WHat did I find? Leagues of Genesis models, outnumbering Lexus 3 to 1. When I interviewed faculty and staff at these places of greater learning, their response was unanimous : they chose HMC for the ATPs.
  • Mikey 2019 Chevy Impala Premier FWD with 20 inch factory Bridgestones. I'm looking at replacing tires at the 65,000 KLM's (40,000 miles ) mark ....It doesn't thrill me .. I'm pricing Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires ouch !! ..Up here in Canuckastan ....Big $$$$$
  • ToolGuy Honda was robbed.
  • ToolGuy "Honey, someone is trying to cross the moat again"
Next