Audi Gateway Control Module Recall Inadequate, Says Lawsuit


Class action lawsuit says Audi cars will shut down if moisture enters gateway control modules.

January 30, 2022 – A recall of the Audi gateway control module is reportedly not good enough to fix Audi vehicles and prevent them from activating numerous warning lights before shutting down the vehicles.

The class action lawsuit against the Audi Gateway Control Module includes consumers “who purchased or leased a 2017 or later model Audi vehicle equipped with a Gateway Control Module (referred to by defendants as a ‘J533’ module) that is located under the rear seats”.

These include the Audi Q5, Audi SQ5, Audi Q7 and Audi A8 vehicles up to 2018.

The Audi gateway control module lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs Meghan Gioffe (Connecticut), Melissa Anido (Florida) and Alan Rootbacker (Illinois).

According to the lawsuit, Audi made a mistake by placing the gateway control module under the rear seat and cup holders, where it can be damaged by moisture in an unsealed compartment.

The Audi class-action lawsuit describes the module as a unit that “acts as a relay through which various control modules communicate, including the modules responsible for controlling a vehicle’s powertrain and airbags.”

A damaged gateway control module will cause multiple warnings and the module will shut down, putting the Audi in a reduced power mode. However, the plaintiffs also allege that the engines can die and the drivers cannot restart the vehicles.

Audi gateway control module recall

A recall of the Audi gateway control module was announced in December 2021 for approximately 289,000 Audi Q5 Sportback, SQ5 Sportback and Audi Q5 and SQ5 model years 2021-2022 and 2018-2022.

According to Audi, liquid could spill in the rear seats and cause the gateway control modules to shut down. The automaker also found problems with the body seams underneath the vehicles, which allowed water to get into the modules.

Documents filed with the government regarding the recall of Audi gateway control modules indicate that the modules have safety mechanisms that shut down the modules if liquid enters the components.

Fluid can also cause short circuits that turn off Gateway control modules, but Audi says the vehicles retain steering and brakes even with reduced power.

When recalling the Audi gateway control module, dealers install covers on the modules to protect them from getting wet. Dealers also apply sealant to underbody seams to prevent water from entering the modules.

According to the class action lawsuit, the recall repairs aren’t good enough because Audi dealerships will simply cover the Gateway control modules with plastic bags.

Plaintiffs claim that this is “hardly an adequate remedy as the plastic bag can and will cause condensation to collect inside and interfere with the functioning of the gateway control module”.

The lawsuit also argues that the Gateway control module recall will not provide refunds to Audi owners who paid their own money for repairs.

The Audi class action lawsuit claims that replacing the Gateway control module will cost between $1,300 and $1,800 “excluding repairs to other components, which may also be damaged if the module is shorted out.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Audi will sometimes offer “goodwill” replacements of the Gateway control modules, but dealers reportedly tell owners that any additional damage will not be covered.

The Audi gateway control module lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey: Gioffe, et al., v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al.

The plaintiffs are represented by Berger Montague.

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