No Recalls, Only Free Inspections, Volkswagen Tells Australian Car Owners
German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen has told car owners from Australian it is willing to conduct free check-up inspections on their units following a coroner's inquest into the death of a Volkswagen Golf driver in Melbourne in 2011.
Volkswagen said it is willing to inspect and fix up to 4,000 cars just to assure car owners of mechanical defects, including engines which suddenly lose power.
"We understand the recent coverage has caused some concern for our customers," the company's letter reads its Facebook site. "We feel the best way to demonstrate our commitment is with several immediate measures."
"For peace of mind, we're offering free inspections of your Volkswagen vehicle at any Volkswagen dealer throughout Australia."
Although the company has issued recalls for mechanical defects in other parts of the world including North America, China, Malaysia and Singapore, it has yet to do one in Australia.
Just last month, Volkswagen recalled 91,000 cars in Japan due to gearbox problems.
"Over the past 10 years more and more Australians have been treating themselves to a European car expecting better reliability, but many have been dumbfounded and disappointed to find the opposite is true," motoring expert Joshua Dowling wrote for News Limited Network.
In 2011, a lady driver was killed, her Volkswagen Golf hit by a truck from behind after appearing to lose speed. According to the truck driver, the car suddenly slowed down but the brake lights didn't show.
The story prompted hundreds of Australian Volkswagen owners to come forward, claiming similar problems of sudden loss of power with their cars.
The Australian coroner will deliver the findings next month.
Volkswagen till to this day maintains there was no mechanical defect with that car.