1999 Audi A4 complaints

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ON A SUB ZERO (-6 DEGREE F) NIGHT, MY CAR WHICH WAS SET AT 55 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL, ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 62 MPH, AND THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. BRAKING, AND PUSHING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTONS WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH THE FOOT BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO FORCE THE CAR TO A STOP, AND THEN THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE. AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF 3 TIMES, I FINALLY DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. ON THE WAY HOME, WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY CRUISE CONTROL FEATURES, THE THROTTLE ONCE AGAIN BECAME STUCK AND WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. TODAY I HAD THE CAR SERVICED, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED 3 CALLS DURING THE TIME PERIOD I WAS THERE REGARDING A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN THE SAME OR A SIMILAR ENGINE.*AK

ABS PUMP FAILURE. AT APPROX. 71000 MILES, THE ABS CONTROLLER/PUMP FAILED ON MY 1999 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO AND READ ABOUT WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THE EXACT SAME FAILURE WITH THE SAME ABS PUMP/CONTROLLER. HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=3409&TSTART=0 AND HTTP://FORUMS.AUDIWORLD.COM/A4/MSGS/1743701.PHTML . APPARENTLY, AUDI KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL.*AK

OUR ABS LIGHT CAME ON THE DAY I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AFTER GETTING ALL NEW BRAKES DONE. BERNARDI AUDI OF NATICK MA. THEY REFUSE TO BELIEVE THEY ARE TO BLAME.(WHATEVER) MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IS SAYING THE CONTROLLER IS DEAD.*AK THIS CAR IS A 1999 AUDI A4 QUATTRO THAT HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT DIED. THE CAR RUNS WITHOUT ABS TO THIS DAY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY CHARGE 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS!!

THE TIMING BELT FAILED AT 48,000 MILES CAUSING MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. ALL SOURCES STATE THIS BELT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 90,000-105,000 MILES. *NLM

MY TIMING BELT FAILED AT 69000 MILES AND CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE (REPLACEMENT OF HEADS). TOTAL REPAIR COST CAME TO $4000. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE PRIOR TO THE RECOMMENDED 90K CHANGE INTERVAL. I TRIED SCHEDULING THE CHANGING OF THE TIMING BELT AT 6800 MILES BUT WAS TOLD TO WAIT BY AN AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT. CURRENTLY WORKING WITH AUDI FOR REPAYMENT.*AK

THE VW/AUDI 1.8T ENGINE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ALARMING NUMBER OF PREMATURE TIMING BELT FAILURES, CAUSING INSTANTANEOUS POWER FAILURE AND CATASTROPHIC VALVE TRAIN DAMAGE. (SEARCH AUDIWORLD.COM FOR TIMING BELT FAILURE.) FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AS LOW AS 45K MILES. MINE WENT AT 90K MILES ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE MANUAL MAKES NO MENTION OF SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE PASSING OR ON THE INTERSTATE, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THESE VEHILCLES SHOULD BE RECALLED OR AT LEAST AUDI SHOULD NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM. THE TIMING BELTS SHOULD BE REPLACED TO AVOID A POTENTIAL FATAL ACCIDENT. THERE IS ALSO A KNOWN TIMING BELT TENSIONER PROBLEM IN PRE-2000 MODEL YEAR CARS THAT CAUSES FAILURE. *AK

TURBO-CHARGER BROKE DOWN. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT 68000 AS IT IS NOT A WEARABLE PART. THE CAR STARTED STALLING, PRESSED GAS PEDAL BUT THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT. SCALE OF THE RPM'S ON THE DASH BOARD WENT ALL THE WAY TO 5500 RPM'S, WHEN I PRESSED A GAS PEDAL, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. SUDDENLY, I WAS ENGULFED IN HUMUNGOUS AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE. BROUGHT CAR TO DON ROSEN AUDI SERVICE CENTER AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT REPAIR WILL COST ME SOME $1,600 AT LEAST. BUT, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN, MONTH AGO TO DON ROSEN AUDI AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER WITH COMPLAINT THAT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST AND THAT VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AT 60% OF ITS POWER. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY THAT THE TURBO-CHARGER WAS JUST FINE. I SAID, MAYBE THERE IS NO SMOKE COMING OUT RIGHT THIS MOMENT, BUT IT IS HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE DAY, FEW TIMES A DAY, AND PLEASE TO LOOK AT IT BETTER. THEY'VE JUST SENT ME HOME TELLING ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS THEIR MISTAKE BY NOT LISTENING ME WHEN I COMPLAINED ON TIME TO FIX IT. BUT THEY DID NOT WANT TO HEAR MY ARGUMENT. NOW, I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR I'VE TOLD THEM MONTH AND A HALF AGO TO FIX. PLUS, THIS BRAKE-DOWN SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT FIRST PLACE AT THIS MILEAGE. ALSO, WHEN I VISITED THEM MONTH AGO THEY'VE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO CHANGE A TIMING BELT ONLY. I SEE THAT TIMING BELT, AS A PART COSTS ONLY $40, BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE $1,000 TO FIX IT. I DO NOT THINK THAT THE LABOR COSTS $960 TO

NHTSA#00-V-414-000; PASSENGER VEHICLES. TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAS SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK

LEAKING WATER PUMP CAUSED TIMING BELT TO FAIL CAUSING $8500 ENGINE DAMAGE ON A 1999 AUDI A4 WITH ONLY 28K MILES.

WHEN THE CAR WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE REPAIR FACILITY NOTED TO ME THAT I WAS LUCKY TO BRING IT IN WHEN I DID, AS IT WAS AT RISK FOR SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDED AN OIL PUMP FAILURE ($750) AT ABOUT THE THREE YEAR MARK; AND OCCASIONAL SUDDEN LURCHING/RPM REVVING OR SUDDEN ONSET OF A 'LAG' IN POWER, WHICH THE DEALER NOTED WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN BUT COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INDICATOR GAUGE BEING GROSSLY INACCURATE - INDICATING I HAVE USED ONLY A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL TO DRIVE 350 MILES. HOWEVER, THE MOST BOTHERSOME ONGOING PROBLEM IS FOUR OR FIVE TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR A NON-FUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. EACH TIME THEY HAVE 'REPLACED THE VACUUM HOSES' BUT THIS 'REPAIR' WILL BEGIN TO FAIL AGAIN LATER THAT SAME DAY. THE SYSTEM WILL EITHER FAIL TO ENGAGE ALTOGETHER, OR IT WILL BE ENGAGED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, THEN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE SPEED WILL CONTINUALLY DECREASE UNTIL I HAVE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM AND TURN IT OFF. I REPORTED THIS TO AUDI OF AMERICA'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE (VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL) WHO HELPED ME ARRANGE ANOTHER SERVICE VISIT, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. CRUISE CONTROL HAS NEVER WORKED AND I'M GIVING UP ON IT EVER WORKING. I JUST HAVE TO PRETEND THAT I DON'T HAVE IT, WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL. *NLM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 010 V 414 000 , HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR 60,000 MILES - WORN TIE ROD AND BALL JOINTS REPORTED. CALLED MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. NHTSA SAYS THERE ARE RECALLS. *NLM

THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL. *JB....*AK

THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME STUCK, WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

1999 AUDI A4 2.8 WITH 39000 MILES AND 6 MONTHS OFF WARANTY LEAKING OIL FROM ENGINE CAM SEALS AND FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEALS

WE OWN AN AUDI A4 THAT WE HAVE HAD TOO MANY REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS NEEDED A TURBO AT 55,000 MILES, OIL PUMP AT 63,000 MILES, IGNITION COMPUTER AT 68,000 MILES AND RACK AND PINION STEERING AT 73,000 MILES. WE ARE AWARE THAT THE CAR IS AT HIGH MILEAGE, BUT THIS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO GET 200,000 MILES OUT OF IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT DEALERS THE ENTIRE TIME. WE THINK THAT PERHAPS THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE CAR THAT OTHER DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING.

FUEL GAUGE ERRATIC. FUEL GAUGE AND DISTANCE TO EMPTY COMPUTER WILL FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 1/4 AND 3/4 WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL OF FUEL IN THE TANK. FUEL HAS ALSO LEAKED FROM VEHICLE DURING THE PRESSURIZATION OF THE TANK. FUEL SENDER UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. INACCURATE GAUGE CAUSED DRIVER TO RUN OUT OF FUEL AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SINCE STEERING AND BRAKING ARE POWER ASSISTED.

NAR 1/15/2003. THE VEHICLE OFTEN FAILED TO STOP DURING WET CONDITIONS. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGED, WHICH HAS HAPPENED TWICE. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT REAR BRAKE. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLES LEFT REAR BRAKES FAILED. ALSO STATES THAT THE VEHICLE OFTEN FAILED TO STOP DURING WET CONDITIONS, THE CONSUMER WILL PRESS THE BRAKES AND THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE THEY WOULD ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, AND ALMOST RAN INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE LEFT REAR BRAKES SQUEAK CONSTANTLY UPON APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE TO FIX AND IT STILL SQUEAKS. SCC PH

AFTER ABOUT 25,000 MILES OF DRIVING THE TREAD ON TWO OF MY BF GOODRICH G-FORCE TA KDWS TIRES IS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE. ONE TIRE (WHICH WAS MY FRONT LEFT) HAS TWO AREAS OF SEPARATION AND ONE AREA JUST SHOWING SIGNS OF STARTING TO SEPARATE. THE AREAS OF SEPARATION ARE ABOUT 4"-6" LONG AND 12"-15" LONG. PICTURES CAN BE EMAILED ON REQUEST OR SEEN AT:HTTP://FORUMS.AUDIWORLD.COM/WHEEL/MSGS/56770.PHTML I CALLED BFGOODRICH ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. ALTHOUGH, THE COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AND ON WWW.TIRERACK.COM SEEM TO INDICATE THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED BEFORE. BFG IS ONLY WILLING TO PRO-RATE REPLACE THE TIRES IF I BUY THE SAME TIRES. AFTER ALMOST HAVING A SERIOUS CRASH IN THE HEAVY RAIN DUE TO THE DEFECT IN THESE TIRES, I WOULD NEVER PAY TO HAVE THEM AGAIN.

AUGUST OF 2001 THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER. THAT DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE SIEZED AND HE WOULD NEED APPROVAL FROM AUDI OF AMERICA TO PERFORM THE REPAIR UNDER WARRENTY. AUDI OF AMERICA'S REPRESENTATIVE TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO RETURN A DECISION NOT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE WE HAD OUR OIL CHANGES AT INDEPENDANT SERVICE STATIONS INSTEAD OF AUDI DEALERSHIPS. WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THAT REPRESENTATIVE BUT WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK WITH HIM NOR WOULD THEY RELEASE HIS NAME. WE ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK WITH HIS SUPERVISOR, BUT AUDI OF AMERICA TOLD US THERE WAS NO SUPERVISOR, THAT REPRESENTATIVE WAS THE FINAL DECISION, AND THERE WAS NO APPEALS PROCESS. WE WERE GIVEN THE NAME OF THE VICE PRESIDENT AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO APPEAL THE DECISION, BUT WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO HIM. WE WROTE HIM A LETTER WHICH WAS NEVER RETURNED. WE HAVE FILED A LAW SUIT AGAINST AUDI OF AMERICA AND TWO OF THE DEALERSHIPS. DT

WET BRAKING 2/3 SECOND DELAY OF BRAKING POWER WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLES BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CONSUMER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER STATED ABS PUMP FAILED AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF PEDAL PRESSURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

TREADS SEPARATED ON BOTH FRONT LEFT AND FRONT RIGHT TIRES ALONG ON INSIDE EDGE OF EACH WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 93 IN NH. ONE THREW CORD, THE OTHER SHOWED SEPARATION UPON EXAMINATION. DEALER [LAKES REGION AUDI, GILFORD NH] CHECKED INFLATION, AT 31.2 AND 31.4LB (RECOMMENDED PRESSURE IS 32LB). MODERATE TREAD WEAR (4/32IN LEFT?) AFTER 30K MI. DEALER ALSO PERFORMED RE-ALIGNMENT AFTER NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED, BUT FOUND NO SERIOUS PROBLEM (MINOR TOE-IN ADJ). THIS CAR IS DRIVEN MOSTLY IN WASHINGTON DC WHERE IT HAS BEEN VERY HOT RECENTLY, BUT THESE ARE TEMPERATURE CATEGORY A TIRES. SAME FAILURE ON BOTH FRONT TIRES AT SAME TIME SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT.*AK

TREADS SEPARATED ON BOTH FRONT LEFT AND FRONT RIGHT TIRES ALONG ON INSIDE EDGE OF EACH WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 93 IN NH. ONE THREW CORD, THE OTHER SHOWED SEPARATION UPON EXAMINATION. DEALER [LAKES REGION AUDI, GILFORD NH] CHECKED INFLATION, AT 31.2 AND 31.4LB (RECOMMENDED PRESSURE IS 32LB). MODERATE TREAD WEAR (4/32IN LEFT?) AFTER 30K MI. DEALER ALSO PERFORMED RE-ALIGNMENT AFTER NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED, BUT FOUND NO SERIOUS PROBLEM (MINOR TOE-IN ADJ). THIS CAR IS DRIVEN MOSTLY IN WASHINGTON DC WHERE IT HAS BEEN VERY HOT RECENTLY, BUT THESE ARE TEMPERATURE CATEGORY A TIRES. SAME FAILURE ON BOTH FRONT TIRES AT SAME TIME SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEWOUT WITHOUT WARNING. MECHANIC STATED TREAD WAS SEPARATING BECAUSE OF A BAD ALIGNMENT. BODY SHOP THAT DID THE ALIGNMENT GAVE A PRINT OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT WITH STATISTICS. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THE BACK REAR TIRE WAS WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TREAD OF THE TIRE, ALL TIRES HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED.*JB

MY 1999 AUDI A4 EXPERIENCES DELAYED BRAKING DURING PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN.*AK

AFTER TRAVELING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES ON FREEWAYS IN RAIN STORMS THE FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES DOES NOT SLOW THE CAR. THERE IS A 1-2 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THERE IS ANY BARKING FORCE REGARDLESS OF PEDAL PRESSURE. THIS ISN'T MERELY THE TYPICAL LACK OF INITIAL BITE ON WET BRAKES AS WITH WET BRAKES THE BRAKE FORCE WILL INCREASE WITH INCREASED PEDAL PRESSURE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, INSTINCTS ARE TO PRESS THE BRAKE HARDER AND WHEN THE WATER IS FINALLY SHED THE CAR WILL PULL SHARPLY IN REACTION TO WHICH EVER OF THE BRAKES 'DRIES' FIRST. AUDI HAS DESIGNED AND SELLS A PLASTIC WING THAT FITS AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL AT THE UNDERBODY/WHEEL WELL INTERFACE TO COMBAT THIS BUT IT ONLY MAKES A MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT. IN ADDITION, THE 2002 AUDI A4 COMES EQUIPED WITH THIS SAME SHIELDING IN AN APPARENT AWKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ISSUE.*AK

WHILE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL. STOPPED AT BOTTOM OF DRIVEWAY, TOOK TO DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS UNAWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE DURING WET CONDITIONS. THIS IS ONLY DURING HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY DRIVING WHERE THE BRAKES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY APPLIED. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS APPLIED DURING THESE CONDITIONS, THERE IS APPROXIMATELY A 1 TO 2 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES START TO RETARD SPEED. IT FEELS OR SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A FILM OF WATER BETWEEN THE DISCS AND PADS AND THIS HESITATION IS OCCURRING WHILE SQUEEZING OR DRYING OUT THIS FILM OF WATER. *AK

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE OR MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAG SYSTEM, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, NOW THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR IT AGAIN SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS 68000 MILES CITING THAT ALL REPAIRS HAVE A 12000 MILE WARRANTY. NLM

WHEN ACCELERATOR ROD BREAKS,, RATHER THAN SLOWING DOWN--IT THROWS THE CAR INTO FULL THROTTLE.*AK

RIGHT REAR AXLE BEARING IS FAILING. LOUD GROAN HEARD AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 30 MPH. DEALER CLAIMS TIRE NOISE IS THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. TWO NON-AUDI SOURCES SUPPORT AXLE BEARING FAILURE (AUTO MECHANIC AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER).

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V414, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT SAT FOR THREE DAYS WITH NO REPAIRS MADE, RECALL REPAIRS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED. *YD

THREE FAILURES OF HEADLIGHTS. AFTER 6 MONTHS, DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT. 6 MONTHS LATER PASSENGER SIDE BURNT OUT. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BURNT OUT AGAIN, JUST 18 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. HAVE ALSO HAD A FUSE BLOW IN A CELL PHONE CHARGER PLUGGED IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY, BUT CONSUMER FELT THAT RECALL ON TIE ROD COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT.*AK

WHENEVER ROADS ARE WET AND BRAKE ROTORS FAIL VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. BRAKES FAIL TO RESPOND, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK DEALER REPLACED BRAKES, CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM HAS SOMEWHAT IMPROVED. *SLC

IT'S THE AUDI WET BRAKING PROBLEM. *AK

UNDER WET ROAD CONDITIONS AND HARD RAIN, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP BRAKES A FEW TIMES BEFORE THERE IS ANY BRAKING ACTION. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

PROBLEM: WHEN TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 38 F, RECIRCULATION BUTTON NEVER WORKS. BEING IN BOSTON THAT COVERS MOST OF THE WINTER. THE ONLY WAY NOT TO BREATHE THE FUMES IS TO TURN THE VENTILATION OFF COMPLETELY. THIS THEN SHUTS THE HEAT AS WELL. MY NEW COMMUTE TAKES ME DAILY THROUGH THE CALAHAN TUNNEL. IF OUTSIDE IS 13 F, AND I AM STUCK IN TRAFFIC IN THE TUNNEL FOR AN HOUR, THESE ARE MY OPTIONS: KEEP THE HEAT RUNNING UNTIL POISONED BY GAS FUMES (GARAGE ANALOGY), OR SHUT OFF HEAT UNTIL FROSTBITTEN AT 13 F. CAN THIS BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY VIOLATION? ATTEMPTED RESOLUTION: AUDI OF AMERICA'S RESPONSE WAS THAT A/C HAS TO BE TURNED ON FOR RECIRCULATION BUTTON TO BE OPERATIONAL. SINCE A/C DOES NOT WORK BELOW 38 F (THEY CITED SOME FEDERAL REGULATION) SO THE RECIRCULATION BUTTON DOES NOT AS WELL. THE DEVICE WORKS AS DESIGNED, ACCORDING TO AUDI. MY DEALER, TOM WALTON OF PARK PORSCHE AUDI, TOLD ME CONFIDENTIALLY THAT THEY HAVE CUSTOMERS WHO DID NOT WANT TO PURCHASE AUDI A4 UNTIL THESE PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED. I FILED A REPORT WITH AUDIO OF AMERICA TWICE. THERE WAS NO FOLLOW UP EITHER TIME. MEANWHILE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THEY INQUIRED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND WERE TOLD THAT DEVICE OPERATES AS DESIGNED. THE SAME YEAR I RENTED EXACTLY THE SAME VEHICLE IN GERMANY AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT A/C ASSEMBLY INSTALLED, AND THAT RECIRCULATION BUTTON WORKED WELL IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 F. IN U.S., THE SAME A/C ASSEMBLY BECAME AVAILABLE WITH THE 2000 MODEL YEAR, WHERE THIS P

WET BRAKING PROBLEM--I HAVE NO BRAKES (DELAYED) FOR THE FIRST 2-4 SECONDS DURING, OR AFTER A RAIN.*AK

ALL I WANT TO DO IS REPORT THAT THE REAR DOORS CAN BE AJAR AND DRIVER HAS NO WARNING SYSTEM TO TELL HIM OF THE PROBLEM (SUCH AS A LIGHT OR WARNING BUZZER) I AM CONCERNED AS MY SIX YEAR OLD RIDES IN THE BACK SEET. I CONTACTED AUDI AND WAS TOLD THAT THER IS NO WARNING SYSTEM CONCERNING THE DOORS BECOMING AJAR. I FIND THIS DANGEROUS. *AK

IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO SWITCHING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, THE VEHICLE LOSES R.P.M.'S AND POWER THEN CATCHES AND CHANGES GEARS. IT IS ONLY IN THIS GEAR SHIFT --3RD TO 4TH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAY IT IS WITHIN DESIGN PARAMETERS. I TEST DROVE OTHER IDENTICAL CARS AND THIS PROBLEM IS NOT DETECTED. IT IS DANGEROUS TO LOSE SUCH POWER, ESPECIALLY AT OR AROUND HIGHWAY MERGE SPEEDS.

IF YOU OPEN ANY WINDOW OR SUNROOF, A LOUD WIND TURBLANCE CREATS A BOOM AND DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL YOU CLOSE ALL WINDOWS/SUN. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY AUDI , BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX IT. THEY SAY THAT I CAN GO BUY A WIND DEFLECTOR. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED MAJOR HEADACES, AND HAS DISTRACTED ME FROM THE ROAD ON MANY OCCASSIONS, ALMOST LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS NOISE IS VERY LOUD, AND IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO AUDI THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO MANY ACCIDENTS, BUT THEY DON'T CARE. I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO AUDI, AND THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE NHTSA TO A RECALL TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED BEFORE ANYONE DIES.

BRAKES HAVE A HUGE DELAY WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. UNLIKE ANY CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT CAN BE AS MUCH AS A ONE SECOND DELAY UNTIL THE BRAKES KICK IN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN'T BE FIXED. MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT AUDI OF AMERICA WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL AND EMERGENCY LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

UNDER WET CONDITIONS, BRAKES ARE DANGEROUSLY SLOW TO GRAB. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE AND VERY DISCONCERTING DELAY OF APPX 1-2 SECONDS. THE CONDITION IS WORSENED BY DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKING FOR DISTANCES >10 MILES. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CONTACT AUDI CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND DANGEROUS TO ME AND OTHERS.*AK