Volkswagen is recalling 168,000 diesel engine vehicles produced from 2009-2012 over a possible leak from the fuel injectors that could start a fire.

The vehicles in question are Volkswagen Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and Golf models as well as the Audi A3 TDI. 161,144 VWs and 7,131 Audis are involved in the recall, while no injuries or accidents have been reported so far. Volkswagen says that about 20 percent of the vehicles in question have fuel injector lines that could be potentially faulty. The company will begin notifying dealers and owners in November.

[Source: The Detroit News]

In a country where people can sue restaurants over coffee being too hot, the latest recall for the 2011-2012 Volkswagen Jetta is dubious, but legally sound.

According to NHTSA, some vehicles built between March 18, 2010, and Aug. 22, 2011 had a stainless steel exhaust tip installed at the port. The exhaust tip may stick out past the standard muffler’s length, and can burn someone’s leg if they get too hot.

Anyone affected by the recall can contact Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236. The recall is expected to begin in November.

The results for the most successful cars of 2011 so far are in. Automotive data and marketing solutions company Polk has calculated the results from the first six months of 2011 new vehicle registrations and have come up with the top picks for non-premium and premium models.

These results look at model-level performance and determine which ones are doing well so far this year. It’s also important to note that the March Japanese earthquake/tsunamis have had an impact on these results, and the inventory shortages for Toyota and Honda caused by the disaster have impacted the June 2011 CYTD (Calendar Year To Date) retail results for these brands.

Here’s a list of the winners so far, along with the June 2011 CYTD year-over-year improvements in new retail registrations.

Non-Premium

1. Hyundai Sonata (+32%)

2. Volkswagen Jetta (+69%)

3. Ford Fiesta (not on sale in 2010)

4. Chevrolet Cruze/Cobalt (+178%)

5. Jeep Grand Cherokee (+170%)

Other non-premium models that performed well in the first half of 2011 include the Optima, Regal, 200/Sebring, Durango, Elantra and Equinox.

Premium

1. Cadillac CTS (+54%)

2. BMW 5-Series (+56%)

3. Jaguar XJ (+273%)

4. Porsche Cayenne (+178%)

5. BMW X3 (+276%)

An honorable mention goes out to the Volvo S60, another premium model that has performed well in 2011.

[Source: Polk]

Both the new Ford Mustang and the new VW Jetta are facing possible recalls as a result of ongoing investigations by safety officials.

The Mustangs in question are those from the 2011 and 2012 model year equipped with a manual transmission, with reports from owners stating an inability to shift into gears while merging into high speed traffic or while turning left across oncoming traffic. A total of 32 complaints have gone through NHTSA on the Mustang.

On the Volkswagen Jettas equipped with TDI, seven complaints have been filed alleging a leak from the fuel line to the fuel injector. NHTSA has also received one complaint from a VW Golf equipped with the 2.0L TDI. Incidents are being reported between 2,470 to 7,764 miles and could impact 40,000 Jetta TDI vehicles.

Both of these cases may or may not result in recalls.

[Source: Detroit News]

We often take our own personal safety for granted, but in Mexico, the situation is quite different to say the least. While full-size SUVs are generally the vehicle of choice when armoring comes in to play, they’re not always the most discrete, and Volkswagen is cognizant of this.

For about $70,000, Volkswagen will sell you a previous generation Jetta (known as the Bora) with factory installed armoring that can stop small caliber rounds from entering the car. Although it uses the same 2.0T engine and DSG gearbox, the car is much more discrete than the GLI performance model, and with the extra weight, a good deal slower as well. Then again, staying alive, rather than having fun behind the wheel, is the point of this car, and the 2.0T motor is there out of necessity.

The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta just got a lower base price, but it all came at a cost: a lower ranking to boot. Among small sedans, the Jetta came in dead last among its competitors in a Consumer Reports test.

The $15,995 base price meant that VW skimped on minor details such as the interior and suspension, resulting in a laundry list of faults—shoddy handling, lack of cornering grip, cheap interior plastics and finish, a long braking distance, a reluctant transmission, and a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that doesn’t let you forget the $15,995 base price. Consumer Reports put it simply, “a shadow of the agile, well-finished car it once was.”

Some of the other cars tested were the equally-new Chevrolet Cruze and Hyundai Elantra: the Cruze received a midpack Very Good rating, while the Elantra was the overall winner with CR’s official recommendation.

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Volkswagen Jetta review here

With its target of 800,000 sales still firmly in mind, Volkswagen is taking its next step towards achieving their goal, and the company is looking to their dealers for help, as they continue to roll out all new vehicles designed with American consumers in mind.

With the new Passat and Beetle set to be launched by year’s end, Volkswagen’s CEO, Jonathan Browning, is focusing on the dealer network as a means of helping boost sales. Browning noted in an interview with Ward’s Auto that the existing dealer network was capable of handling as many as 500,000 sales per year, but said that more franchises will be needed and “radical change” will be implemented. After all, the brand’s peak sales of 582,000 cars came in 1970.

Browning declined to elaborate on the exact number of dealers that needed to come into the fold, or the exact changes he was looking for, but noted that Volkswagen’s internal projections did not anticipate “pre-crisis” sales levels. On the product front, Browning said that diesels, which account for some 20 percent of VW sales, will be expanded through other product lines, but not every vehicle will be offered with that option. A 7-seater vehicle is also in the cards, and could be based off the Bulli concept shown at this years Geneva Auto Show, or the Touraeg SUV.

[Source: Wards Auto]

Volkswagen is recalling 71,403 2011 Jetta models due to a problem with the vehicle’s wiring. The issue affects the vehicle’s horn and anti-theft system, and Volkswagen said no injuries have been reported.

Owners can check their vehicles build date to see if it falls within the specified range (March 2010 to March 2011) by checking the sticker on the driver’s side doorjamb. Jetta owners can call VW at 800-822-8987 or NHTSA at 888-327-4236. No timeframe has been announced for the recall.

[Source: KickingTires]

NHTSA is investigating certain Volkswagen Golf and Jetta TDI cars, as well as the Audi A3 TDI for a suspected fuel pump defect that could cause vehicles to stall at highway speeds and render them unable to restart.

The agency claims that it has received 160 complaints and one accident report relating to the defect. The TDI diesel vehicles uses high pressure fuel pumps which may fail and clog the fuel system with debris. Volkswagen is co-operating with NHTSA as it investigates the 97,272 cars sold between 2009 and 2010 which may be prone to the defect.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Amid all the disappointment surrounding the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, and the step back it has taken in quality and driving dynamics, Volkswagen wants to show enthusiasts that it hasn’t forgotten them, and is augmenting both the GTI hatchback and the rest of the Jetta lineup with the GLI, a 4-door Jetta that retains features like a punchy turbocharged engine and an independent rear suspension.

The GLI gets its first showing at the Chicago Auto Show‘s media day, but we’ve got some advance information on the car, mere hours before things kick off. The familiar 2.0T 4-cylinder engine makes an appearance, alongside a 6-speed manual and 6-speed dual clutch gearbox, along with the typical aesthetic accouterments that adorn both three-letter sport compacts. The biggest change is the independent rear suspension, which takes the place of the cheaper (and many say inferior) torsion-beam design that’s used in the standard car. A soft-touch plastic dashboard (as opposed to the hard plastic in the standard car), 18″ wheels, sport seats and tinted tail lights are said to be available, for a price of around $24,000. Stay tuned for live shots as the show officially gets underway tomorrow.

[Photo Credit: Fifteen52]