German automotive giant Audi AG has issued a recall on over several million of its vehicles.
The manufacturer, known for its various lines of luxury vehicles, announced the recall on Tuesday, citing an “internal computer error” in the systems of all Audis manufactured after 2019.
The error, discovered by Audi AG engineers during a routine quality evaluation, causes sudden unintended acceleration, often forcing the affected vehicle to reach speeds of over 100 MPH. Engineers also discovered another error which causes the affected vehicle’s engine to receive a strong magnetic charge, which is strong enough to pull the vehicle towards any vehicle in front of it.
In one reported instance an Audi driver was traveling down an interstate highway when their car suddenly began to accelerate to 105 MPH and tailgate the vehicle in front of them.
“I was scared for my life,” recalled the driver, Dr. Gary Audrey, who was on his way to work when the incident occurred. “I had no control, I had to swerve between the lanes and cut other drivers off to prevent a collision.”
Other Audi drivers have reported similar incidents.
In another reported case, an Audi driver struck another driver from behind on an expressway in Los Angeles after her car reportedly accelerated to speeds over 95 MPH and began to tailgate the vehicle in front of her seemingly out of its own accord. When the other driver was forced to suddenly brake due to another unrelated accident, the Audi driver collided with the rear of the vehicle and was thrown from her vehicle. Miraculously, both drivers survived the collision.
An Audi AG spokesperson said that the error was immediately patched, and the updates were already being rolled out at Audi dealerships across the world. Anyone with an Audi manufactured after 2019 is highly encouraged to bring their vehicle to their nearest authorized Audi dealership to receive the update at no cost.
“Obviously one can see why this would be a major safety issue,” said the spokesperson in a statement to AJnet. “We’ve already fixed it, and anyone with an affected vehicle should go to their nearest authorized Audi dealership as soon as possible to receive the update free of charge.”
The spokesperson added that, while it was believed only Audis manufactured after 2019 were affected, owners of earlier models should remain alert and report any issues.
“We’re still investigating exactly what happened, so until we have all the facts it’s better to err on the side of caution. The safety of drivers should always come first.”
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