VW recalled e-Golfs for battery software problem and proves the need for OTA updates

Volkswagen recently confirmed (via Autoblog) that it is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 e-Golf vehicles manufactured between May 21, 2014 and March 1, 2016. We are talking about 5,561 units potentially affected. The problem is in the battery management system (BMS) which can falsely detect an electrical surge and shutdown the electric drive as a result.

The fix is fairly simple: a visit at your local dealership for a BMS software update.

Yet it could be even simpler with over-the-air software updates, but the third-party dealership model is likely the restraining factor for VW here. Dealerships don’t appreciate being left-out of any repair, even if the “repair” is a simple software update.

Here’s the full recall release:

RECALL Subject : Electric Motor may Shutdown Unexpectedly

Report Receipt Date: MAR 07, 2016
NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V138000
Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 5,561
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF 2015-2016
Details

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

SUMMARY:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 e-Golf vehicles manufactured May 21, 2014, to March 1, 2016. Oversensitive diagnostics for the high-voltage battery management system may falsely detect an electrical surge resulting in the vehicle’s electric drive motor shutting down unexpectedly.

CONSEQUENCE:
An unexpected vehicle shutdown can increase the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will update the battery management software, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 93B4.

NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

The current e-Golf gets about 75 miles of range on a single charge, but VW is still incrementally increasing the range of its only all-electric vehicle. Earlier this year at CES, VW head of electronic development Volkmar Tanneberger revealed that the company was working on a new ~108 miles battery pack for the next year model and the next generation e-Golf (2018) is expected to have “186 miles of real-world range”.