ASE Awards Busch Memorial Scholarships
Proposed $42M Settlement Includes Removal of Takata Airbag Inflators in 1.35M Volkswagen and Audi Vehicles
The ASE Education Foundation announced the recipients of the Michael Busch Memorial Scholarships for the 2021-22 school year. The two honorees, Brendan Arthur of Huntington Valley, PA, and Najah Brown of Philadelphia, PA, were each awarded Busch Scholarships in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement. The Michael Busch Memorial Scholarship fund was created in memory of the son of a former collision shop owner and ASE board member, Jim Busch, who operated a shop in Issaquah, WA, until his retirement. His son, Michael, was an automotive technology student who tragically lost his battle with cancer. Each year, two scholarships are awarded in Michael Busch’s name. Qualified applicants should be a graduating high school senior or have graduated from high school or received a GED certificate, and be enrolled or planning to enroll in a two- or four-year-college or an ASE-accredited program. Source: ASE Education Foundation
Plaintiffs in the Takata Airbag Product Liability Multidistrict Litigation on Sept. 1 filed a class action settlement agreement resolving claims against Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Audi of America, LLC, and its affiliates that will accelerate the removal of dangerous airbag inflators from approximately 1.35 million affected vehicles while also compensating consumers for their economic losses. The proposed $42 million settlement will provide numerous benefits to current and former owners and lessees of the affected vehicles, similar to agreements previously announced with Toyota, BMW, Mazda, Subaru, Nissan, Honda and Ford. The agreement was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, as part of the multidistrict litigation being overseen by Judge Federico A. Moreno. “We are pleased that after three years of hard-fought litigation we have reached a settlement with Volkswagen that will bring significant monetary and other relief to more than a million class members,” said Peter Prieto, court-appointed plain-
tiffs’ chair lead counsel, who, along with other members of the plaintiffs’ leadership, negotiated the settlement on behalf of consumers. “This agreement will not only expand awareness of the Takata recalls and improve driver safety by accelerating the removal of defective airbags from our roads, but will provide compensation to affected VW and Audi consumers,” Prieto said. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute our claims against Mercedes Benz, General Motors and FCA to ensure that our clients obtain the relief they deserve.” Among the benefits provided for in the settlement is an outreach program overseen by an independent settlement special administrator that enhances and expands upon VW’s and Audi’s outreach efforts to significantly increase recall remedy completion rates. The program will regularly contact class members through direct mail, phone calls, email, internet ads and social media to educate them about the settlement and incentivize them to receive the recall remedy and exercise their rights under the settlement agreement.
The settlement also provides compensation to class members for their economic losses resulting from the recall in the form of reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, a possible residual distribution payment of up to $500, requirements to provide rental cars to class members while they wait for their recall remedies and the provision of a customer support program for repairs and adjustments on the replacement inflators, including an extended warranty. This settlement is subject to court approval. If preliminary approval is granted, class members will receive more information about the terms of the settlement. The benefits of the Enhanced Rental Car Loaner Program will be provided no later than the date of preliminary approval. When and if the court grants final approval, the claims process will open to eligible class members pending any appeals that are filed. Personal injury claims related to the Takata Airbag Litigation are not covered by this settlement. Source: Schwartz Media Strategies
2021 Subaru Impreza Owners Shouldn’t Drive Their Cars by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com
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More than 800 model year 2021 Subaru Impreza cars should be parked until dealerships can make repairs to the front left lower control arms. Subaru says the Imprezas may have lower control arms with faulty welds near the connection joints between the arms and the crossmembers. The front lower control arm can separate from the crossmember and even a partial separation can cause the tire to make contact with the wheel well. Subaru learned about a partially separated lower control arm in June, causing an investigation to be opened with the supplier, Yorozu Automotive Tennessee. Another Impreza control arm separated and Subaru found it was similar to the first report, the LOT number stamped on the arms were the same and the production dates were two days apart. The automaker found equipment on the control arm assembly
line was damaged, resulting in contact between the part ejector rod and the welding torch. This welding torch was unable to trace the proper welding path and resulted in an incomplete weld at the joint. The joint investigation determined 75 left front lower control arms had weld problems, enough to convince Subaru to recall the 2021 Impreza cars. Subaru says no crashes or injuries have occurred, but Subaru dealers will need to inspect the control arms to check the LOT numbers and replace any faulty front lower control arms. Model year 2021 Subaru Impreza owners should not drive their cars until the lower control arms are inspected and possibly replaced. Subaru Impreza recall notices are expected to be mailed Sept. 3. Impreza owners may contact Subaru at 844-373-6614 and refer to recall number WRI-21.
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