CARB Rejects VW Recall Plan for 3.0L Diesels

The California Air Resources Board has rejected a Volkswagen Group proposal for repairing emissions control and defeat devices on 3.0-liter diesel passenger cars made from 2009-2016. This decision affects about 16,000 3.0-liter diesel Volkswagens, Audis and Porsches sold in California.

CARB determined that the recall plans submitted were incomplete and that continued ongoing technical discussions will be required to find a legally acceptable resolution. CARB says that the following points were failures in the VW proposal:

  • Adequately describe the nonconformities and undisclosed AECDs/defeat devices;
  • Sufficiently describe the remedial procedure;
  • Specify the system by which VW will ensure the availability of sufficient repair parts;
  • Describe the impact of proposed fixes on fuel economy, drivability, performance and safety;
  • Describe the impact of repairs on emissions, particularly average noncompliance emission levels, average emission reductions per pollutant, and an average emission level after proposed fixes;
  • Demonstrate how the proposed fixes are designed to correct the nonconformities;
  • Provide onboard diagnostic system demonstration data;
  • Demonstrate how the plan is designed to correct the nonconformities in an expeditious manner; and
  • Provide sufficient detail for ARB to evaluate the feasibility and success of the proposed plan.

Aaron Turpen
An automotive enthusiast for most of his adult life, Aaron has worked in and around the industry in many ways. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA), and freelances as a writer and journalist around the Web and in print. You can find his portfolio at AaronOnAutos.com.