Volkswagen is recalling 260,000 small cars due to fire risk

CNN
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Volkswagen is recalling more than 260,000 subcompact cars in the United States due to the possibility of fuel leaking from a pump located inside the gas tank, which could lead to a fire.

Participating vehicles are various Volkswagen Golf, Golf GTI, Golf Sportwagen, Jetta and Audi A3s from the 2015 through 2020 model years. Each model year is not included for each of these models, and only front-wheel drive versions are included, not SUV. Audi is Volkswagen's luxury brand, and they are all closely related models.

An improperly installed seal around the suction pump near the gas tank can cause fuel to build up in the system designed to trap gasoline vapors. From there, fuel can leak from the car. If gasoline arrives With a spark or other ignition source, this could result in a fire. Volkswagen says that so far no fires have been caused by this problem.

Volkswagen will mail letters starting in mid-April to owners of vehicles involved in the recall. Owners will be directed to take their vehicle to the dealer where the pump will be replaced free of charge.

Some of these models were also involved in a 2016 recall for the same issue, but the replacement fuel pump installed at the time did not completely resolve the issue, according to documents in Volkswagen's recall filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Vehicle owners can check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Safecar.gov website to see if their vehicle in question is involved. Owners can also contact Volkswagen Customer Service at 800-893-5298 or Audi Customer Service at 800-253-2834.