Volkswagen, Audi Vehicles With Automatic Emergency Braking Systems

Class Action Asserting Claims Against Bosch And VW For Selling Cars Equipped With Bosch-Made Automatic Emergency Braking Systems – Owners or Lessees Of VW and Audi Vehicles Equipped With AEB Systems Utilizing Either Bosch Mid-Range Radar Sensors Or Long-Range Radar Sensors Encouraged To Contact Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making consumers aware that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Audi AG, Audi Group of America, LLC (collectively, “VW”), and Robert Bosch GmbH and Robert Bosch LLC (collectively, “Bosch”) in United States District Court, Northern District of California.

This class action asserts claims against Bosch and VW who sell vehicles equipped with Bosch-made Automatic Emergency Braking Systems (“AEB Systems”). The vehicles at issue in the class action (i.e., the “Class Vehicles”) include all VW and Audi vehicles equipped with AEB Systems with either Bosch mid-range radar sensors (“MRR”) or long-range radar sensors (“LRR”).  

According to the complaint:

The AEB Systems at issue here have a defect that causes them to falsely engage randomly and unexpectedly (the “AEB Defect”). The AEB Defect causes the Class Vehicles to detect non-existent obstacles, thereby automatically triggering the brakes and causing the Class Vehicles to abruptly slow down or come to a complete stop, sometimes in the middle of traffic. Simply put, as a result of the AEB Defect, the AEB Systems at issue here are a safety hazard, not a safety feature.

Many Class Vehicle owners have reported significant, unexpected slow-downs and stops due to the false engagement of the Class Vehicle’s AEB System, even though no objects were nearby. As one commentator described, ‘[w]hen the systems work, they are brilliant. When they don’t work, they are a frightening and dangerous nightmare.'[] Another aspect of the AEB Defect is that the AEB Systems frequently deactivate themselves for no good reason, rendering this safety feature effectively useless.

. . .

Defendants have known about problems with their AEB Systems for years but have been silent. Disclosing the AEB Defect would likely: (1) put Defendants at a competitive disadvantage both in safety ratings and in the race to get autonomous safety features on the market; (2) have a negative impact on their respective brands; and (3) reduce profits from sales. Instead, the VW Defendants market their vehicles as safe, despite their knowledge that the vehicles are defective and not fit for their intended purpose of providing consumers with safe and reliable transportation at the time of the sale and thereafter. They have actively concealed the true nature and extent of the AEB Defect from Plaintiffs and the other Class members and have failed to disclose it to them at the time of purchase or lease.

Had Plaintiffs and other Class members known about the AEB Defect, they would not have purchased and/or leased the Class Vehicles on the same terms or would have paid less for them. As a result of their reliance on partial representations and/or omissions by Defendants, Plaintiffs and the other Class members have suffered a loss of money and/or loss in value of their Class Vehicles. [Emphasis added.]

Purchasers or lessees of VW or Audi vehicles equipped with AEB Systems with either Bosch mid-range radar sensors (“MRR”) or long-range radar sensors (“LRR”) are encouraged to contact Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. to discuss potential legal claims.

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.