If you drive a late model Volkswagen, listen up. The company suits just announced a recall of 92,000 2015 and 2016 VW Beetle, Jetta, Passat and Golf models registered to owners throughout the US. The move comes after multiple reports of a faulty camshaft issue that can KO your power brake system and sap your engine power.
Turns out the rear camshaft lobe that can actually shear off, causing a vacuum loss in the brake booster and taking out your power brake system. This means your ride will take longer and go further before coming to a complete stop, boosting your risk of rear-ending the vehicle ahead of you. It also can shift your engine into reduced power mode. Though the response is designed to prevent further damage to your ride's mechanics, that won't do much good when you get rear-ended by the car behind you.
All of the rides involved in the recall have 1.8-liter and 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engines. Company officials say they've received multiple reports of camshaft failures, but refuse to fess up as to whether any crashes happened as a result of the defect. They assure us no injuries have been reported, bus seriously - any driver knows that a brake system failure and engine power dump is a multi-car pileup waiting to happen. What's more - Volkswagen says it likely will be March before they'll offer a solution.
If your ride is part of the recall and you can't secure another, we here at E3 Spark Plugs urge you to be extra careful on the roadways.
