VW and Audi Engine Lawsuit: Turbo, EA888 Oil, and EA839 Water Pump

Three class action lawsuits are currently pressing Volkswagen and Audi over alleged engine defects. A turbocharger settlement covering roughly 3.9 million VW and Audi vehicles with EA888 engines received final court approval on December 4, 2025. Two other cases are still in early litigation: one over excessive oil consumption tied to piston rings in EA888 engines, and another over water pump failures in Audi’s EA839 V-6. If you own a covered VW or Audi, the practical question is whether your VIN qualifies for the turbo settlement’s extended warranty and whether either pending lawsuit describes what you’re seeing in your own driveway.

The Turbocharger Settlement

The turbocharger case, Kimball v. Volkswagen Group of America, was filed in June 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The complaint alleged that wastegates in EA888 turbochargers fail prematurely: in older Generation 1 and 2 vehicles from wear at the link plate and pin, and in newer Generation 3 vehicles from corrosion of the wastegate’s fork head and link pin.¹ When the wastegate sticks, the turbo can lose boost control, warning lights come on, and the engine can drop into reduced power.

Volkswagen denied the turbochargers were defective but settled the case, and in March 2025 issued a Technical Service Bulletin titled “Turbocharger Wastegate Stuck” telling dealers to check Generation 3 vehicles for a stuck wastegate rod and try freeing it with rust remover before replacing the turbo.²

What The Settlement Provides

Two benefits are on the table:

An extended factory warranty for Generation 3 vehicles, effective September 15, 2025, running 8.5 years or 85,000 miles from the original in-service date. Inside that window, Volkswagen pays 50 percent of parts and labor on turbocharger repairs caused by wastegate fork head or link pin corrosion when the work is done at an authorized dealer.¹
Reimbursement for owners who already paid out of pocket before September 15, 2025 and were within the 8.5-year, 85,000-mile window. Reimbursement is 50 percent of the invoice when the paperwork specifically identifies a covered wastegate failure, or 40 percent when it doesn’t. Non-dealer repairs are capped at a $3,850 invoice for reimbursement purposes.³

Which Vehicles Are Covered

Coverage is by VIN, not model year alone. Owners can check eligibility at the settlement’s VIN portal or by calling 1-855-779-6685.¹ The covered fleet spans three engine generations:

Generation 1 VW: 2008–2014 GTI and Golf R, 2012–2013 Beetle, 2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2008–2013 Jetta and GLI, 2009–2016 Eos, 2008–2010 Passat, 2009–2017 CC, and 2009–2018 Tiguan. Audi: 2008–2009 A3 and 2015–2018 Q3.¹
Generation 2 Audi only: 2009–2014 A4, 2010–2014 A5, 2013–2015 A6, 2011–2014 Q5, and 2011–2012 TT.⁴
Generation 3 VW: 2015–2018 Golf, 2015–2021 GTI, 2015–2019 Golf R, 2015–2019 Golf Sportwagen and Alltrack, 2019–2024 Jetta GLI, 2019–2021 Arteon, 2018–2023 Atlas, and 2020–2023 Atlas Cross Sport. Audi: 2015–2020 A3, 2019–2024 Q3, and 2016–2023 TT.¹

Is It Too Late To Claim

The reimbursement deadline was November 29, 2025, and that window is closed. Submitted claims are under review, with valid claims to be paid within 150 days of receipt or the settlement’s effective date, whichever is later.³ The extended warranty is a different story. It remains active for eligible Generation 3 vehicles still inside the 8.5-year, 85,000-mile window, so a future wastegate repair can still trigger the 50 percent coverage at an authorized dealer.

EA888 Oil Consumption Lawsuits

A separate group of lawsuits targets a different problem in the same EA888 engine family. The complaints allege that piston rings in certain 2.0-liter TSI engines lack proper tension, letting oil slip past the pistons and burn in the combustion chamber. The resulting carbon buildup can jam the positive crankcase ventilation valve, overpressurize the crankcase, damage seals, and crack the plastic oil pan cover. Owners have reported oil burn rates that require top-offs every few hundred miles, and the cascade can end in engine failure.⁵

The broadest case, Reece v. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (Case No. 2:26-cv-00745), was filed on February 4, 2026 in New Jersey federal court. It covers 2018-and-newer VW Tiguan, Atlas, Passat, and Jetta GLI, plus Audi Q3, Q5, and Q7 models, and seeks compensatory, punitive, and statutory damages.⁵

An earlier and narrower case, Zeiders v. Volkswagen Group of America (Case No. 2:24-cv-11197), focuses on the 2022 and 2023 VW Tiguan. In January 2026 the court largely denied Volkswagen’s motion to dismiss, letting claims for breach of express and implied warranty, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and consumer fraud move forward on the theory that the complaint adequately alleged a workmanship defect involving incorrectly installed piston rings.⁶ The court dismissed claims brought on behalf of consumers in states where no named plaintiff resides or was injured.⁷

A recurring allegation across the filings is that Volkswagen and Audi have not released an adequate fix and have pushed repair costs onto owners. One plaintiff, Hernan Gonzalez, reported that his 2015 Audi Q5 began consuming oil excessively at about 26,000 miles, was eventually diagnosed with cracked pistons, and was charged $7,500 for repairs.⁸ No settlement or class certification has been reached in either oil consumption case, so there is nothing to claim yet. Keep repair records and dealer diagnoses if your vehicle fits the class description.

Audi EA839 Water Pump Lawsuit

The newest case targets a different engine. Larr v. Volkswagen Group of America (Case No. 2:26-cv-05678), filed on May 19, 2026, alleges that the coolant pump in Audi’s 2.9-liter and 3.0-liter EA839 V-6 engines has seals and internal parts that wear out prematurely under normal operating temperatures. Coolant then leaks into the vacuum system, which the complaint says can cause turbocharger problems, overheating, and engine failure.⁹¹⁰

The suit covers 2018–2024 Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, S5, S6, S7, RS 5, SQ5, Q7, and Q8.¹¹ Plaintiffs allege Audi has known about the defect since at least November 2018 and point to at least three Technical Service Bulletins issued between March 2020 and December 2025.⁹ Named plaintiff Doug Larr reported paying nearly $6,000 for water pump, PCV valve, and vacuum hose work on his 2019 A6. Kaelin Crawford paid about $1,460 after Audi denied warranty coverage on his 2021 SQ5, which had passed the four-year, 50,000-mile warranty.¹⁰

The case is in its early stages, moving toward discovery and class certification.¹² No class has been certified and no settlement exists, so there is no claim form to file. Owners who have paid for water pump or related repairs on a listed model should hold on to invoices and diagnostic reports in case a settlement or certified class comes later.

What To Do If You Own One Of These Vehicles

Start with the turbo settlement, since it is the only one with active benefits. Run your VIN through the settlement portal or call the administrator; if the car is a Generation 3 vehicle still inside 8.5 years and 85,000 miles, the extended warranty is available for a qualifying wastegate repair at an authorized dealer. For the oil consumption and water pump cases, there is nothing to claim yet, but documented dealer diagnoses and paid invoices are what turn a future settlement into money back. If a dealer has already told you the engine is burning oil or the water pump is leaking coolant into the vacuum system, get that in writing.

1
TurboClassSettlement.com. Kimball v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Settlement
2
NHTSA. TSB 2077251/1 – Turbocharger Wastegate Stuck
3
TurboClassSettlement.com FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions
4
ClassAction.org. VW Audi Turbocharger Class Settlement
5
Top Class Actions. Volkswagen Class Action Alleges Vehicles Have Oil Consumption Defect
6
Justia. Zeiders et al v. Volkswagen Group of America Inc.
7
Law360. VW Can’t Nix Bulk of Tiguan Oil-Guzzling Defect Suit
8
ClassAction.org. Gonzalez v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
9
ClassAction.org. Audi Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over Allegedly Defective Water Pumps
10
CarComplaints.com. Audi Water Pump Lawsuit EA839 Engines
11
Yahoo Autos. Audi Slapped Class Action Lawsuit
12
Top Class Actions. Audi Class Action Alleges Automaker Concealed Defective Water Pumps