Audi, Volkswagen Face Class Action Lawsuit for Defective Batteries

HIGHLIGHTS

• Audi and Volkswagen are facing a class action lawsuit over allegations that it knowingly sold vehicles with battery defects
• The plaintiff alleged that the two firms failed to disclose or adequately repair the defect in high voltage lithium-ion batteries for Audi e-tron SUV electric vehicles under year models 2019 to 2024
• The defect was said to have caused the batteries to drain power and short-circuit
  

  An Audi car parked on the roadside. Photo by Ryan West on Pexels

Luxury carmakers Audi AG and Volkswagen Group of America Inc. are facing a class action lawsuit over allegations that they were aware of selling vehicles with battery defects.

Plaintiff Dwight Kelly, in a lawsuit, alleged that Audi and Volkswagen failed to disclose or adequately repair the defect in high voltage lithium-ion batteries for Audi e-tron SUV electric vehicles under year models 2019 to 2024.

Kelly explained that the defect caused the batteries to drain power and short-circuit, posing a fire hazard.

“The battery defect presents an unreasonable safety risk to drivers and passengers of the class vehicles and to people in residential homes and other structures where the vehicles are parked or nearby,” the lawsuit said.

Kelly said he wanted to represent a class of consumers from Georgia who own, owned, lease, and/or leased a 2019 to 2024 year model Audi e-tron SUV EV as of Jan. 3, 2024.

Aware of defects since 2020

According to Kelly, Audi has been aware of a defect in the high-voltage battery pack of the Audi e-tron quattro since April 2020, when it received a claim outside the US linking the defect to a fire in one of the vehicles.

Despite this, Kelly said that Audi’s subsequent recalls failed to address the underlying cause of the issue, adding that the automaker refused to “affirmatively repair or replace all the defective batteries.”

“Audi e-tron owners placed their trust in the Audi brand and the company’s assurances, only to be left with what amounts to a ticking time bomb,” the plaintiff said.

Kelly accused Audi and its parent company Volkswagen of fraudulent concealment, negligent omission, and breach of implied warranty.

The plaintiff was seeking a jury trial and demanded declaratory and injunctive relief, along with compensatory, punitive, treble, and exemplary damages for himself and all affected class members.

In May 2024, Audi and Volkswagen reached a settlement to resolve claims that they had improperly forced drivers to pay for repairs to the automatic emergency braking system, allegedly due to a defect originating from the manufacturer.

Oil Consumption Lawsuit

Audi and Volkswagen’s class action lawsuit followed a complaint last year, also suing the companies for defective pistons that caused excessive oil consumption.

The settlement benefited current and former owners and lessees who purchased or leased certain 2012-2014 Audi A4; 2012-2014 Audi A5; 2012-2014 Audi A6; 2012-2014 Audi Q5; 2012-2014 and 2016-2017 Audi TT; and 2015-2017 Audi A3 vehicles in the United States and Puerto Rico.

According to the now-settled lawsuit, certain Audi vehicles were equipped with defective pistons and piston rings, which caused vehicle engines to consume too much oil. This allegedly caused serious problems for drivers, from frequent oil changes to engine damage due to a lack of oil.