Volkswagen Group Australia announces voluntary recall of 61,000 vehicles for diesel software fix

Confirming Federal Government approval for the recall today, VGA said that a software fix is now available for "more than 35,000" cars, with other model-specific software solutions to become available "shortly".

In each case, the fix will update the software that controls the affected 2.0- and 1.6-litre diesel engines, while some - those fitted with the 1.6-litre engine - will involve a "minor" hardware update.

That additional change will be the installation of a new flow rectifier (also known as a flow transformer) in front of the engine's air mass sensor, designed to produce smoother airflow for better measurement.

Crucially, the company has promised the update will leave power and performance unaffected.

“Our confidence in this solution is based on the experience of thousands of Amarok owners in Australia and more than 1.7 million customers internationally who have had the update implemented," Volkswagen Group Australia managing director Michael Bartsch said in a statement today.

“The type approval authorities in Europe conducted a review and certified that following the update, the fuel figures and Co2 emissions originally listed by the manufacturer were confirmed. Engine performance, maximum torque and noise emissions were unaffected."

The action, which joins the 9000 Amarok utes recalled earlier this year, is expected to be the final Australian-market recall in the so-called Dieselgate scandal for Volkswagen and Skoda models.

Audi, managed separately in Australia, has also initiated its own voluntary recall for nearly 17,000 cars equipped with the same EA189 engine, manufactured "within a specific period".

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