Which batch of Sagitar vehicles had rear suspension fractures?
3 Answers
Sagitar rear suspension fractures primarily affected approximately 560,000 vehicles produced between May 2011 and May 2014. Below is detailed information about the Sagitar axle fracture incident: 1. Sagitar Axle Fracture Incident: This refers to the 2012, 2013, and 2014 models (excluding the latest 2014 facelift), all of which featured non-independent torsion beam suspension. Axle Fracture Incident: According to China Economic Net Beijing report on November 4, 2014, the 'Top Ten Economic Hot Words' for October were released, with 'Volkswagen recalls Sagitar due to axle fracture issue' ranking first. On October 17, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued an announcement stating that FAW-Volkswagen would recall 563,600 new Sagitars and 17,400 imported Beetles nationwide due to rear axle longitudinal arm fracture problems. This marked the final resolution of FAW-Volkswagen's 'axle fracture' incident after more than 10 months of controversy. 2. Axle Fracture: Typically refers to the fracture of a vehicle's longitudinal arm. If a vehicle's chassis design is unreasonable, forces encountered during use - such as bumps, collisions, steering, or tilting - may cause the longitudinal arm to twist and deform, potentially leading to fracture in severe cases.
I've been driving Volkswagen cars for many years, with particular attention to the Sagitar's issues. The rear suspension fractures mainly occurred in batches produced between 2011 and 2014, especially those models that switched to torsion beam design after mid-2012. I recall Volkswagen recalled hundreds of thousands of Sagitars in China due to this design flaw: the torsion beam suspension was prone to cracking or breaking when subjected to impacts or driving on bumpy roads. The inspection method is simple—check your car's production date label or VIN number. The first few digits indicate the year; for example, those starting with 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2014 might be affected. I advise owners not to take it lightly and to have technicians inspect the suspension arms and weld points for cracks during regular maintenance. Repairs usually involve adding reinforcement plates, but in the long run, switching to an independent suspension version is safer. Otherwise, the car may lose control during high-speed turns. This issue stems from metal fatigue and insufficient manufacturing processes. Volkswagen later reverted to the independent design in late 2014 production models. For safety, if you own a car from those years, contact the dealership immediately to confirm the recall status and avoid potential hazards.
A friend of mine driving a 2013 Sagitar experienced a rear suspension fracture accident. Once when going over a speed bump, the car body tilted sharply, scaring him into a cold sweat. Later, the repair shop told him this was a common issue in the 2011-2014 production batches, especially since Volkswagen switched to a torsion beam suspension design to save costs, which was poorly executed. As a car owner sharing experience, remember to check the production date in the vehicle manual: cars produced from the second half of 2011 to mid-2014 need extra attention. The recall process was relatively quick, adding a reinforcement plate, but the problem wasn’t completely resolved—my friend ended up changing cars. Safety first: if you drive a car from that era, pay attention to any unusual suspension noises or wobbling and get it checked promptly. Not fixing it doubles the danger on bumpy roads, with multiple real cases of high-speed loss of control accidents as a reminder—never skimp on cost or effort for safety. Newer models don’t have this issue as Volkswagen learned its lesson and improved the design.
