Does water leak into your car when it rains? It could be one of the fifteen models from the Volkswagen and Audi brands which are the subject of a collective action request filed this week.
“He’s anchored in the tank. There are mushrooms growing between my carpets,” testifies Pascal Juneau, 25, resident of Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson, in the Laurentians.
Mr. Juneau is the representative of a class action request which was filed at the Montreal courthouse on Monday. The request targets Volkswagen Group Canada and Audi Canada.
In June, Mr. Juneau purchased a used 2017 Golf SportsWagen from a seller who offers vehicles of different brands. Neither the seller’s inspection nor the independent inspection paid for by Mr. Juneau revealed any particular problem, the motion says.
Even without sunroof
Knowing that certain vehicles of the same brand could have problems with water infiltration through the panoramic roof, he chose a model without a sunroof. Despite this, dark circles quickly appeared on the ceiling of his car.
“Every time it rains, I have to drive with the heater on full blast,” explains Mr. Juneau in an interview. There is water flowing over the wiring,” he illustrates.
Dark circles quickly appeared on the ceiling of the car, a recurring problem according to the Volkswagen mechanic consulted by Pascal Juneau.
PHOTO Courtesy Pascal Juneau
In December, he paid nearly $400 for an inspection by his Volkswagen dealership. He was then told that the problem was common. It was suggested that he change the four speakers in the vehicle… at his own expense, as the warranty had expired. This would mean paying more than $2100.
“If the problem is [fréquent]there is a defect somewhere,” says Mr. Juneau, who feels like he has been cheated.
The problem is however known to Volkswagen. “It can cause, among other things, problems with mold, rust, bad odors as well as defects in the electrical or audio system,” we list in the request.
Another class action was also filed in the United States regarding the same problem, which is said to be due to a “premature failure of the joints,” details the Quebec suit, which speaks of a “hidden defect.”
Shifting Responsibility
In this case, the manufacturers “are only rejecting their responsibility”, when they could have carried out a recall or taken charge of the repairs to correct the defect, explains Jimmy Lambert, the lawyer behind the request.
In the Quebec request, we indicate that we want all people who have purchased or rented a vehicle from a list of 15 models ranging from 2015 to 2023 to be compensated and reimbursed for the repairs to be carried out.
At the time of publishing, neither Volkswagen nor Audi Canada had responded to our email.
The class action request has not yet been authorized by a judge and therefore may not move forward. Potential members can, however, obtain information at www.lambertavocats.ca/recours-collectif-volkswagen/