Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Volkswagen

2026-05-28T10:18:02Z

Hansmeier: /* Volkswagen restricts connected vehicle API access for independent integrations (May 2026) */

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=German automobile mass-market manufacturer.
|Founded=1937
|Industry=Automotive
|Logo=Volkswagen.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://vw.com/,https://www.volkswagen.de/
}}

'''[[wikipedia:Volkswagen|Volkswagen]]''' is a Germany-based automobile manufacturing company. It was established as part of the [[Wikipedia:German_Labour_Front|German Labour Front]] in 1937. In recent years, the company's vehicles have been equipped with systems that collect customer data, leading to a notable incident.

==Consumer-impact summary==
'''User freedom:''' Volkswagen locks out independent mechanics from accessing the car's control units.

'''User privacy:''' Every vehicle collects driving data, which was also leaked in a one-time incident.

'''Business model:''' The company engages in false advertising and locks already existing vehicle functionalities behind paywalls.

==Incidents==
===Volkswagen found to be cheating in regulatory emissions tests (2015)===
Volkswagen was among several automotive manufacturers who deliberately programmed their emission control systems to only work with full effectivity when the car detected that a regulatory emissions test is being performed. The cars only fulfilled emissions standards in this lab environment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parloff |first=Roger |date=2018-02-06 |title=How VW Paid $25 Billion for ‘Dieselgate’ — and Got Off Easy |url=https://fortune.com/2018/02/06/volkswagen-vw-emissions-scandal-penalties/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611190226/https://fortune.com/2018/02/06/volkswagen-vw-emissions-scandal-penalties/ |archive-date=2025-06-11 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=Fortune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cormack |first=Lucy |last2=Hatch |first2=Patrick |date=2016-09-01 |title=ACCC takes Volkswagen to court over diesel emission claims |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/accc-takes-volkswagen-to-court-over-diesel-emission-claims-20160901-gr61ud.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611190834/https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/accc-takes-volkswagen-to-court-over-diesel-emission-claims-20160901-gr61ud.html |archive-date=2025-06-11 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

===Volkswagen introduces SFD (2020) and SFD 2 (2024), blocking independent repairs===
{{Main|Volkswagen AG - SFD(2) / UNCE - Protection of car diagnosis}}
Since 2024, Volkswagen AG implements SFD 2 in its vehicles, which blocks access to the car's control units unless users have a valid account in Volkswagen's backend system. Independent mechanics and car owners must purchase $50 unlock tokens for each control unit they need to access, with the units automatically re-locking after 90 minutes.

===Volkswagen car location data gets exposed (2024)===
{{Main|Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident}}
Customer vehicle data vehicle data stored on AWS with CARIAD was discovered to have public instances due to a possible misconfiguration.

===Volkswagen now locks performance of their ID.3 behind a subscription (2025)===
{{Main|Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription}}
Volkswagen is now forcing owners of the ID.3 to pay extra if they wish their car to deliver the full performance it’s capable of.

===Volkswagen starts displaying ads on ID.7 navigation display during travel (October 2025)===
As first documented by German users on Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Erstwolf |date=2025-10-16 |title=ID 7 Werbeanzeige während der Navigation 😐 |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Elektroautos/comments/1o8cya8/id_7_werbeanzeige_w%C3%A4hrend_der_navigation/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Reddit /r/Elektroautos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224102956/https://old.reddit.com/r/Elektroautos/comments/1o8cya8/id_7_werbeanzeige_w%C3%A4hrend_der_navigation/ |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>, the VW app prompts users to enable ads on the main navigation display by using a dark pattern, misleadingly calling them "recommendations". This leads to advertising popups while driving. At the time of writing, it is still possible to disable the ads. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Donath |first=Andreas |date=2025-10-23 |title=VW macht das ID.7-Cockpit zur Werbefläche [German] |url=https://www.golem.de/news/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id-7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche-2510-201446.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Golem |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113075449/https://www.golem.de/news/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id-7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche-2510-201446.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Initial reactions from users include safety concerns because the ad popups constitute unnecessary distractions for the driver.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-23 |title=Geht Gar Nicht!!! |url=https://forum.golem.de/kommentare/automobil/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id.7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche/geht-gar-nicht/184428,7155833,7155833,read.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Golem |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224103124/https://www.golem.de/sonstiges/zustimmung/auswahl.html?from=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.golem.de%2Fkommentare%2Fautomobil%2Felektroauto-vw-macht-das-id.7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche%2Fgeht-gar-nicht%2F184428%2C7155833%2C7155833%2Cread.html |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>
===Volkswagen removes access to repair guides to 'Non-business' consumers (December 2025)===
Volkswagen removes access to erWin webshop for non-business customers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discontinuation of the erWin webshop for private customers |url=https://volkswagen.erwin-store.com/erwin/downloadStaticFile/files/Privatkunde.pdf |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=VW erWin store |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251130222532/https://volkswagen.erwin-store.com/erwin/downloadStaticFile/files/Privatkunde.pdf |archive-date=30 Nov 2025}}</ref>

===Volkswagen restricts connected vehicle API access for independent integrations (May 2026)===
Users of the Home Assistant Volkswagen Carnet integration reported that login stopped working while the official Android app and browser login still worked. A GitHub commenter stated that they had not seen an official Volkswagen announcement, but that a related change had reportedly been communicated in a Skoda EV Facebook forum and might affect Volkswagen Group brands more broadly.<ref>https://github.com/robinostlund/homeassistant-volkswagencarnet/issues/967</ref>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Volkswagen]]

Volkswagen

2026-05-28T10:14:05Z

Hansmeier: Added closure of API

{{CompanyCargo
|Description=German automobile mass-market manufacturer.
|Founded=1937
|Industry=Automotive
|Logo=Volkswagen.svg
|ParentCompany=
|Type=Public
|Website=https://vw.com/,https://www.volkswagen.de/
}}

'''[[wikipedia:Volkswagen|Volkswagen]]''' is a Germany-based automobile manufacturing company. It was established as part of the [[Wikipedia:German_Labour_Front|German Labour Front]] in 1937. In recent years, the company's vehicles have been equipped with systems that collect customer data, leading to a notable incident.

==Consumer-impact summary==
'''User freedom:''' Volkswagen locks out independent mechanics from accessing the car's control units.

'''User privacy:''' Every vehicle collects driving data, which was also leaked in a one-time incident.

'''Business model:''' The company engages in false advertising and locks already existing vehicle functionalities behind paywalls.

==Incidents==
===Volkswagen found to be cheating in regulatory emissions tests (2015)===
Volkswagen was among several automotive manufacturers who deliberately programmed their emission control systems to only work with full effectivity when the car detected that a regulatory emissions test is being performed. The cars only fulfilled emissions standards in this lab environment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parloff |first=Roger |date=2018-02-06 |title=How VW Paid $25 Billion for ‘Dieselgate’ — and Got Off Easy |url=https://fortune.com/2018/02/06/volkswagen-vw-emissions-scandal-penalties/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611190226/https://fortune.com/2018/02/06/volkswagen-vw-emissions-scandal-penalties/ |archive-date=2025-06-11 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=Fortune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cormack |first=Lucy |last2=Hatch |first2=Patrick |date=2016-09-01 |title=ACCC takes Volkswagen to court over diesel emission claims |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/accc-takes-volkswagen-to-court-over-diesel-emission-claims-20160901-gr61ud.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611190834/https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/accc-takes-volkswagen-to-court-over-diesel-emission-claims-20160901-gr61ud.html |archive-date=2025-06-11 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

===Volkswagen introduces SFD (2020) and SFD 2 (2024), blocking independent repairs===
{{Main|Volkswagen AG - SFD(2) / UNCE - Protection of car diagnosis}}
Since 2024, Volkswagen AG implements SFD 2 in its vehicles, which blocks access to the car's control units unless users have a valid account in Volkswagen's backend system. Independent mechanics and car owners must purchase $50 unlock tokens for each control unit they need to access, with the units automatically re-locking after 90 minutes.

===Volkswagen car location data gets exposed (2024)===
{{Main|Volkswagen car-location data-exposure incident}}
Customer vehicle data vehicle data stored on AWS with CARIAD was discovered to have public instances due to a possible misconfiguration.

===Volkswagen now locks performance of their ID.3 behind a subscription (2025)===
{{Main|Volkswagen locks horsepower behind paid subscription}}
Volkswagen is now forcing owners of the ID.3 to pay extra if they wish their car to deliver the full performance it’s capable of.

===Volkswagen starts displaying ads on ID.7 navigation display during travel (October 2025)===
As first documented by German users on Reddit<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Erstwolf |date=2025-10-16 |title=ID 7 Werbeanzeige während der Navigation 😐 |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Elektroautos/comments/1o8cya8/id_7_werbeanzeige_w%C3%A4hrend_der_navigation/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Reddit /r/Elektroautos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224102956/https://old.reddit.com/r/Elektroautos/comments/1o8cya8/id_7_werbeanzeige_w%C3%A4hrend_der_navigation/ |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>, the VW app prompts users to enable ads on the main navigation display by using a dark pattern, misleadingly calling them "recommendations". This leads to advertising popups while driving. At the time of writing, it is still possible to disable the ads. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Donath |first=Andreas |date=2025-10-23 |title=VW macht das ID.7-Cockpit zur Werbefläche [German] |url=https://www.golem.de/news/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id-7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche-2510-201446.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Golem |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113075449/https://www.golem.de/news/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id-7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche-2510-201446.html |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref>

Initial reactions from users include safety concerns because the ad popups constitute unnecessary distractions for the driver.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-23 |title=Geht Gar Nicht!!! |url=https://forum.golem.de/kommentare/automobil/elektroauto-vw-macht-das-id.7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche/geht-gar-nicht/184428,7155833,7155833,read.html |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Golem |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260224103124/https://www.golem.de/sonstiges/zustimmung/auswahl.html?from=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.golem.de%2Fkommentare%2Fautomobil%2Felektroauto-vw-macht-das-id.7-cockpit-zur-werbeflaeche%2Fgeht-gar-nicht%2F184428%2C7155833%2C7155833%2Cread.html |archive-date=24 Feb 2026}}</ref>
===Volkswagen removes access to repair guides to 'Non-business' consumers (December 2025)===
Volkswagen removes access to erWin webshop for non-business customers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discontinuation of the erWin webshop for private customers |url=https://volkswagen.erwin-store.com/erwin/downloadStaticFile/files/Privatkunde.pdf |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=VW erWin store |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251130222532/https://volkswagen.erwin-store.com/erwin/downloadStaticFile/files/Privatkunde.pdf |archive-date=30 Nov 2025}}</ref>

=== Volkswagen restricts connected vehicle API access for independent integrations (May 2026) ===
Users of the Home Assistant Volkswagen Carnet integration reported that login stopped working while the official Android app and browser login still worked. Community discussion suggests that Volkswagen Group may have restricted API access for non approved third party integrations, limiting consumers' ability to use their own vehicle data with independent tools such as home automation systems.<ref>https://github.com/robinostlund/homeassistant-volkswagencarnet/issues/967</ref><ref>https://github.com/robinostlund/homeassistant-volkswagencarnet/issues/967#issuecomment-4554004983</ref>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Volkswagen]]