Audi is conducting a new safety campaign on certain 2017 Q7 SUVs in the United States to prevent steering failure.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are just 8 affected units in the country, produced between November 11 and 23, 2015, which could have left the plant without a proper inspection of the circuit board in the electric power steering.
This should have been protected by a silicone gel, but due to a human error over at the supplier, Continental in this case, particles may enter in the area and lead to a possible short circuit, which, in turn, could cut off the power steering assist completely, making the driver put more effort into steering the Q7 and increasing the risk of a crash.
“On November 2nd, 2015, a production failure happened in the Continental Budapest factory at the silgel dispensing station. Due to human error, both containers were filled up with cartridges containing the same component A. Therefore, the dispended silgel couldn’t harden completely inside the ECUs produced“, the NHTSA writes.
Drivers will be warned with a power steering indicator light on the instrument panel that the power steering assist has failed. Owners of the 2017 Audi Q7s will be notified by the automaker and dealers will replace the steering rack, free of charge. An exact notification schedule has yet to be released.
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