Audi Class Action Lawsuit
In his Audi Class Action lawsuit, Pitts claims that the factory engine shut off the engine at the same time the air bags went on. Plaintiff’s car continues to run as it did before the shut off. After Plaintiff’s car is driven approximately two thousand miles, the car overheats and brakes burn through, causing serious damage and preventing him from driving his car for eight months. During this time, the battery fails and he is stranded in an unfamiliar location with no way to call for help. He has no working vehicle and no means to phone someone to come and tow his car for him. His laptop computer is dead and there are no other means of communication.
According to the Class Action lawsuit, the Audi manufacturer, Audi LLC, did know that its vehicles came with factory specifications stating that the engine oil must be checked after every thousand miles and it should be changed only when necessary.
Plaintiff was aware that such stringent maintenance requirements existed. He also was aware that a Class Action lawsuit is in progress against Audi. But according to the Class Action lawsuit, it was not until November 2021 that the engine oil was checked, despite the stipulations set forth in the manufacturer’s warranty policy. This was despite the fact that the plaintiff had brought the matter to the attention of his dealership, according to the Class Action lawsuit.
The Class Action lawsuit further states that Audi also failed to instruct the vehicle owners as to the proper care and maintenance of the vehicle.
They also failed to instruct them that the engine should be started in a completely enclosed garage, with the doors closed. Plaintiff and his family were exposed to very dangerous levels of particulate and fuel contaminants that could have been potentially lethal. They also were not instructed that they must wear protective gear and use a specific start-stop system. Such Gear must only be used “as recommended by the manufacturers.” Audi has also been ordered to pay punitive damages and attorney fees to the Class Action lawsuit victims.
According to the Class Action lawsuit, the reason why Audi allowed the defective cars into their dealership before learning of the problem was because of “defects” in the electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is responsible for the car’s engine. It “is a sophisticated system that monitors engine conditions and can sense engine problems, including possible stalls, before the vehicle comes to a screeching halt.” The Class Action lawsuit claims that Audi allowed the start-stop system to fail because it did not know the risks of using the defective cars.
The Class Action lawsuit continues, “After the cars came to the dealership, the defects were not discovered or repaired.
The defects continued to increase and the Car was never free of defects. The defects were so severe that the passengers became seriously injured and one died as a result of the defective car’s failure at the time of delivery.” The Class Action lawsuit is asking for financial compensation for the injuries to the passengers and damage to their vehicle. The Class Action lawsuit also claims that Audi failed to warn the public about the defect risk.
In addition to seeking damages for their customers, Audi is also trying to limit the damages that could be awarded in class action lawsuits.
In a filing with the Federal Trade Commission, Audi has requested that Class Action lawsuits be limited to cases in which the manufacturer has provided adequate warning about the potential risks of using the cars. The company is also asking the court to exclude evidence of misstatements regarding the design of the cars. In essence, Audi is asking the court to exclude evidence of what could have been reasonably expected to happen if the cars had been manufactured correctly. The Class Action lawsuit could be worth millions of dollars if it could be shown that there was a safety defect that was known to the general public.
The Class Action lawsuit alleges a number of defects with the Avanti car line, including, misalignment of the front wheel on the X5s, the dashboard oxygen tank not fitting securely on the engine, and the presence of a manufacturing defect that allowed the oil to escape from the crankcase.
The lawsuit additionally charges Audi of negligence in labeling the engine oil as “flammable”. Audi contends that it has always used the correct wording on the labels. The company also points out that the engine oil label is posted in visible locations on the vehicle, such as on the dash and the instrument panel. Additionally, the company says that it regularly cleans the oil under normal circumstances without ever having a customer notice the “flammable” language.
If the Class Action lawsuit is found to have merit then you could potentially be part of a large class-action lawsuit that consists of many people who purchased Avanti cars during the time frame that the illegal oil leak occurred. As I mentioned above, this all took place three years ago. Now that the dust has settled and the class-action lawsuit has been filed, do I have anything to do with it? Nope, but my lawyer is reviewing the case and I will follow whatever direction he or she decides to take. However, one thing I can tell you is that as a car buyer, I have to make sure that I am completely informed about my rights and what the manufacturer’s liability is in regard to the problem.
In his Audi Class Action lawsuit, Pitts claims that the factory engine shut off the engine at the same time the air bags went on. Plaintiff’s car continues to run as it did before the shut off. After Plaintiff’s car is driven approximately two thousand miles, the car overheats and brakes burn through, causing serious…