The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Sulfur in fuel interacts with certain additives found in widely available gasoline causing sulfur to become deposited on the contact points of three fuel sending units mounted inside the fuel tank. This could cause the fuel gauge to read full while the fuel tank May not in fact be full or could be empty.
The risk
Running out of fuel without warning while the fuel gauge indicates that there is sufficient fuel in the tank lead to safety problems.
The fix
Dealers will remove the existing fuel level sending units and replace them with fuel level sending units using a new alloy composed of gold, silver, and a small amount of nickel, which will not chemically react with sulfur. Vw/Audi will also call back vehicles that were repaired under a previous recall last June in order to install the updated fuel sending units NHTSA 00V137/Audi lb). Owner notification began May 1, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Audi at 1-866-892-2834.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 01V-157 (01V157000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Component | Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly |
| Report date | May 3, 2001 |
| Owners notified | May 1, 2001 |
| Vehicles affected | 70,000 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the fuel & propulsion system
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 01V-157 repair free?
Yes. Audi dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will remove the existing fuel level sending units and replace them with fuel level sending units using a new alloy composed of gold, silver, and a small amount of nickel, which will not chemically react with sulfur.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 70,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.