VW Drivers Claim Fear of Touching Steering Wheels Has Led to Lawsuit | Carscoops

      Two plaintiffs express feeling "terrified and hesitant" about driving their vehicles

      Lawsuit targets Volkswagen's capacitive steering wheel buttons due to potential safety risks.

      The plaintiffs claim the company was aware of the issue but did not inform drivers.

      Physical steering wheel buttons are set to return with the upcoming all-electric ID.2all.

      When Volkswagen first introduced touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons, they appeared modern, but they have generated more frustration than appreciation. Now, a new class action lawsuit in the US suggests that these capacitive controls may not merely be inconvenient; they could represent a serious safety threat.

      A few years ago, Volkswagen acknowledged that the touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons were a mistake and committed to returning to physical switches in future vehicles. However, this decision does little to assist current owners who are still dealing with controls that many believe are overly sensitive.

      The lawsuit states that these excessively responsive controls can unintentionally activate the Adaptive Cruise Control with just a light touch, potentially placing drivers in perilous situations.

      Concerning the ID.4

      The lawsuit concentrates on VW ID.4 models featuring these capacitive buttons and identifies two plaintiffs who reportedly feel "terrified and hesitant" to operate their vehicles. The class action also claims that VW has not disclosed the alleged defect or provided suitable repairs or replacements for free, nor has it offered to reimburse its customers.

      The lawsuit further alleges that VW has been aware of the issue due to customer complaints, internal documentation, and information from dealers.

      The plaintiffs claim that Volkswagen has committed common law fraud by omission, breached express and implied warranty, and engaged in unjust enrichment. The lawsuit has been filed in a federal court in New Jersey and also claims that the company has violated consumer protection laws in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

      Although it has been nearly three years since VW announced plans to eliminate its capacitive steering wheel controls, physical buttons will not return until the release of the all-electric ID.2all. Consequently, it may take Volkswagen several years to fully phase out the haptic switches from the remainder of its model lineup.