Audi recalls A8 models in South Korea because of stalling problem

Audi is recalling 1,534 cars of A8 model in South Korea due to a stalling malfunction, the transportation ministry stated on Wednesday, adding it was the first nation where the German carmaker was recalling the model for such a problem.

The Volkswagen department will expand the recall to the United States and other countries, South Korea stated, in exactly what would be an additional blow to the German company stumbling from its emissions-test cheating scandal.

An Audi Volkswagen Korea spokeswoman verified it was the very first recall for such a flaw but said she was not aware of any plans to broaden the recall to other nations.

South Korea, a significant market for the A8, has sought to penalize Volkswagen strongly following the scandal, suspending sales of some Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley automobiles for supposedly forging files on emissions or noise-level tests.

The ministry stated it had discovered a design issue in a coolant control valve, which was triggering the impacted models to stall. This is a “major problem which obstructs safe driving,” the ministry stated in a declaration.

An Audi representative in Germany said a magnetic valve near the automobile’s gearbox had to be changed and that there had been no other recalls in other nations so far.

The concerning model is the A8 4.2 FSI Quattro produced in between July 2010 and April 2012.