Volkswagen Recalls Faulty ABS Modules

By Chris Chase

Jan 3, 2017

Summary

Poor electrical connection could disable safety systems

Volkswagen Canada has recalled more than 12,000 cars to replace failure-prone anti-lock braking modules.

In the affected cars, a poor electrical connection to the powertrain control computer (PCU) could cause the ABS unit to fail, disabling the anti-lock braking and stability control systems, and lighting up dashboard warning indicators alerting the driver to the fault.

This recall affects Volkswagen Golf, Golf station wagon, GTI, Jetta, Rabbit and Eos models, as well as the Audi A3, from model years 2006 through 2010. Volkswagen is instructing its dealer service departments to update the software in the ABS modules with an improved diagnostic capability to detect a poor connection with the PCU. In cars where that poor connection is detected, dealers will replace the ABS module with a new one.

Meet the Author

As a child, Chris spent most of his time playing with toy cars in his parents’ basement or making car sounds while riding his bicycle. Now he's an award-winning Algonquin College Journalism grad who has been playing with real cars that make their own noises since the early 2000s.