1999 Audi A4 complaints

POOR WET WEATHER BRAKING - ALL TIMES - ABOUT A 2 SECOND DELAY BEFORE BRAKES GRAB

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 50-55 MPH AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRADUAL STOP SLOWLY PUMPING THE BRAKES, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER NOTED THAT PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING SERVICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON WET ROADS AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKES, THEY FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WIRES BREAKING CAUSED AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE. BREAKS PULL TO RIGHT WHEN WET/MOIST. DOOR ASSEMBLED WRONG (CAUSED WIND NOISE) HAD TO TAKE IN 4 TIMES TO REPAIR.HOOD/ OIL PUMP BROKE EMPTYING OIL ON DRIVEWAY. FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKS AND ABS COMES ON WHEN BACKING UP WHILE BREAKING WITH WHEELS TURNED. *AK

IN WET CONDITIONS, MY BRAKES HAVE DELAYED BRAKING POWER. THE WETTER THE CONDITIONS THE MORE FREQUENT AND SEVERE. AFTER THE DELAYED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER (APPROX. .5 TO 1 SECOND), THE BRAKING POWER APPEARS TO GO BACK TO NORMAL. SIMILAR TO RIDING A BIKE WITH WET RIMS EXCEPT THAT THE CAR'S BRAKING POWER RECOVERS FASTER. VERY SCARY WHEN YOU'RE CRUISING ALONG ON THE HIGHWAY IN WET CONDITIONS WITH TRAFFIC AND YOU COME UP ON AN UNEXPECTED BOTTLENECK. I MENTIONED IT TO A DEALER IN SANTA CLARA, BUT HE SEEMED CLUELESS. HE THOUGHT IT WAS A FUNCTION OF THE ABS, BUT I KNOW WHAT ABS FEELS LIKE. I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH WET DISC BRAKES. *AK

ABOUT A 1 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES GRAB WHEN BRAKING IN WET WEATHER. *AK

BRAKES TAKE 2-3 SECONDS TO GRAB DURING WET CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. 2000 MODELS HAVE BRAKE SHIELDS THAT 1999'S DO NOT HAVE. DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL AUDI TELLS THEM OFFICIALLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *AK

CAR BRAKES UNABLE TO STOP CAR DURING WET BRAKING. *AK

WHEN IT IS RAINING THERE IS A HESITATION OF A SECOND OR SO WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK

WHEN IT RAINS, THE BRAKES SEEM TO TAKE A SECOND OR TWO TO "GRAB." THEY WORK WELL UNDER ALL DRY CONDITIONS, BUT WHEN WET, THEY SURE MAKE YOU PANIC! *AK

MOMENTARY ABSENCE OF BRAKING DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS-. *AK

TURN SIGNALS AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS HAVE BECOME INOPERABLE. DEALER IS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER BETWEEN THE 3RD AND 4TH GEARS AND RPM'S DROP. YH

THE BRAKES ON MY 1999 A4 SUFFER EXTREMELY REDUCED PERFORMANCE (WAY BEYOND WHAT IS NORMAL) IN WET CONSITIONS. I REALIZE THAT SOME REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS IS APPARENT IN ALL CARS IN WET CONDITIONS, BUT TWICE NOW I HAVE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES IN VERY RAINY CONDITIONS AND NOTHING AT ALL HAS HAPPENED FOR OVER A SECOND!!!!!! OTHER A4 OWNERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, AND AUDI RESPONDED BYU ENLARGING THE FRONT BRAKE SHIELDS FOR MY2000 CARS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS DEFECT; IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *AK

IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES EXHIBIT A DANGEROUS 2-3 SECOND DELAY CAUSING GREATLY IMPAIRED BRAKING ABILITY OF THE CAR. ALMOST HIT A CAR IN FRONT IN TWO INSTANCES DESPITE MORE THAN ADEQUATE DISTANCE. BRAKES WORK NORMALLY IN DRY WEATHER HOWEVER. *AK

WET DISC BRAKES HAVE NO STOPPING ABILITY FOR 1-2 SECONDS. DRY BRAKES FUNCTION NORMALLY

DELAYED BRAKING RESPONSE IN WET CONDITIONS. IF THE BRAKES ARE NOT USED FOR SOME TIME IN WET CONDITIONS, WATER WILL BUILD UP ON THE FRONT ROTORS AND CAUSE A 1-2 SECOND DELAY IN INITIAL BRAKING RESPONSE. *AK

DURING WET WEATHER BRAKING, THE FRONT DISC BRAKES SEEM TO FAIL. THE CARS FRONT END SEEMS TO SLIDE TO THE LEFT APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET UPON BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS ONLY IN THE RAIN, WITH NO ADVERSE EFFECTS DURING DRY WEATHER. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI, WHO THEN REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT AUDI WILL NOT WARRANTY THE CORRECTION, SINCE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW WIDESPREAD THE PROBLEM IS. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE, AND ON THE AUDIWORLD WEBSITE. I SUBMIT THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE A4 DURING WET WEATHER DRIVING, AND THAT THIS DEFECT COULD AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. EVEN THOUGHT THE CAR DID STOP, IT REQUIRED STEERING CORRECTION TO PUT IT BACK INTO THE LANE. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT, AUDI WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND CAN BE SURE THE REPUTATION OF THEIR CARS WILL SUFFER AGAIN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *AK

WET BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS MISERABLE! AND DANGEROUS- MANY SECOND DELAYS. *AK

THIS CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM DURING WET BRAKING. AFTER NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES, I WAS FORCED TO SPEND $400 TO REPLACE THE STOCK PADS THAT MAY CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. WITH THE NEW BRAKE PADS, NO RE-OCCURRENCE YET. MANUFACTURER SEEMS INATTENTIVE TO THIS. PERHAPS NHTSA CAN CONTACT MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS ISSUE AS I'M NOT THE ONLY OWNER TO EXPERIENCE THIS. *AK

PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, STEPPED ON THE GAS, AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD, SMOOTHLY. THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED ON THE 2ND TRY. ORIGINAL CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE TIME I PICKED UP THE NEW CAR. DEFECTIVE SLAVE CYLINDER AND LEAKY SHAFT SEAL CAUSED MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKS. *AK

BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AT 15MPH WHILE APPROACHING STOP SIGN. CAR CONTINUED RIGHT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. ABS DID NOT KICK IN. IT HAD RAINED THAT MORNING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE WOULD BE JERKING & BUCKING LIKE A STICK. TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE WHEN SHIFTING INTO ANOTHER GEAR AFTER SLOWING DOWN & THEN SPEEDING UP. VEHICLE BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. NOTHING FOUND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TEST DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS LEASED. ARBITRATION NOT WORKING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. REQUEST FOR REPLACEMENT DENIED, DESPITE PHYSICAL TEST THAT SHOWS THE ERROR. *AK *ML

POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN THE RAIN OR SNOWY OR SLUSHY CONDITIONS, AUDI AG HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LINING CONTAMINATION, THE FOLLOWING IS OFF OF THEIR WEB PAGE AND IN AUTOMOTIVE NEWS *** HTTP://WWW.AUDI.COM/JAVA/NEWS/INDEX.HTML REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AS A RESULT OF ROAD SALT AUDI AG HAS RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED BY DRIVERS OF ITS MEDIUM-SIZE MODEL, THE A4, OF SPORADICALLY REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED, OR IF THE BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR SOME TIME. UPON EXAMINATION IN THE WORKSHOP, IN EVERY REPORTED INSTANCE NO DEFECTS WERE DETECTED. THE A4'S BRAKES, WHICH HAVE ALWAYS ACHIEVED A PARTICULARLY GOOD RATING IN TESTS BY TRADE PUBLICATIONS, EXHIBITED EFFICIENT DECELERATION. FOLLOWING INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS BY AUDI'S TECHNICAL EXPERTS, WHOSE FINDINGS WERE CONFIRMED BY ADAC EXPERTS, IT IS SUSPECTED THAT NEW TYPES OF ROAD SALT, IN PARTICULAR MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE USED IN A TECHNIQUE KNOWN AS "WET SALTING" AFFECTS THE FRICTION BETWEEN THE BRAKE DISC AND THE BRAKE PAD AUDI'S TECHNICIANS ARE WORKING INTENSIVELY ON FINDING A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENTLY OF THE OUTCOME, AUDI AG AND MOTORING ASSOCIATIONS RECOMMEND DRIVERS TO FOLLOW A WELL-ESTABLISHED PIECE OF ADVICE FOR WINTER DRIVING: TRAFFIC PERMITTING, IT IS ADVISABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE START OF A JOURNEY AND BEFORE PARKING THE CAR. WITH THIS SIMPLE TECHNIQUE, THE D

IN WET WEATHER BRAKES DO NOT STOP VEHICLE UNTIL DEPRESSED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-5 SECONDS. *AK

WHILE IN ROUTE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER BY PASS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE CONSUMER SLID INTO A DITCH, DAMAGING VEHICLE. *NLM

THE BRAKES DONT WORK IS WET DRIVING CONDITIONS. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN MANY TIME AT SPEEDS FROM 15 TO 70 MPH. WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR ON WET ROADS, I WILL APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR DOES NOT STARTING STOPPING FOR A SECOND OR TWO. WHEN THE BRAKES FINALLY DO START WORKING THEY ALMOST ALWAY GO INTO ANTI-LOCK MODE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO PUSH SO HARD JUST TO GET THEM TO WORK. THIS IS A SCARY AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING IT ALSO.

THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ACTIVATE UPON LIGHT BRAKING. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS ADJUSTED TO ITS MAXIMUM RANGE. A CONSCIOUS EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO INSURE SUFFICIENT BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. MY CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL FOR REAR-END COLLISIONS RESULTING FROM THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAS HAD TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT SAYS NO FURTHER ADJUSTMENT IS POSSIBLE.

SEVERE DELAYED BRAKING WHEN ROAD CONDITIONS ARE WET, RAINING, ETC.

WET WEATHER BRAKING VERY POOR UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD CAME ON & THEN OFF BEFORE STALLING. TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THE AIR INTAKE HOSE WAS DETACHED & PROCEEDED TO REATTACH THE HOSE. THE STALLING HAPPENED BEFORE ON 12 SEP 1999. *AK

THIS MODEL AUDI HAS DANGEROUS WET BRAKING. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IT PRESSED IN THE RAIN, THE BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND FOR AT LEAST 2-3 SECONDS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. MY DEALER (OTHER FROM WHERE I PURCHASE THE AUDI) SAYS THIS IS NORMAL, AND NOTHING CA

THE CAR IS A 5 SPEED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS BELOW THE CENTER ARM REST WHICH CAN BE ADJUSTED TO DIFFERENT HEIGHTS. WHEN THE ARM REST IS IN A LOWER SETTING, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CANNOT BE PULLED UP HIGH ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING. AFTER PARKING THE CAR, WHEN THE BRAKES COOLED, THE CAR ROLLED INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR.

DEFECTIVE SUN ROOF WOULD OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY AND NOT CLOSE. DLR REPLACED SUN ROOF. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS NOT READNG THE SPEED ACCURATELY. DEALER REPLACE SPEEDOMETER SENSOR AND GEAR. FINALLY, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG. DEALER REPLACE DTHE AIRBAG SENSOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BY MANUALLY PULLING UP THE CLUTCH, IT WILL ENGAGE. SINCE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM (SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 1500 MILES, AUDI IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I REFUSE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WHOSE ABILITY TO SHIFT CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME.

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION ON LOW OR HIGH BEAM. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO AVOID HITTING A HERD OF ELK BECAUSE OF THE LIGHTING. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

THE DEFECTIVE WAS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER WINDSHIELD THAT WAS OF THE SAME INFERIER QUALITY WHICH I WAS INFORMED WAS THE ONLY POSSIBLE SOLUTION. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

DRIVER'S SEAT CONTROLS DO NOT CONFORM TO CAR'S MANUAL. CAR MANUAL SPECIFIES A SEPARATE "LUMBAR" SUPPORT KNOB. WHILE DRIVING I TURNED WHAT I ASSUMED WAS THE LUMBAR SUPPORT AND FOUND IT TO BE THE KNOB CONTROLLING THE ANGLE OF THE BACK SEAT, CAUSING A MOMENTARY JOLT, DISRUPTING MY CONCENTRATION AND THEREBY CONSTITUTING A SAFETY HAZARD. IT TURNS OUT, THERE IS NO SEPARATE KNOB TO CONTROL THE LUMBAR PRESSURE, CONTRARY TO THE DESCRIPTION IN THE MANUAL. *AK

WHILE BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BRAKES WERE CONTINUOUSLY BEING APPLIED BUT DID NOT RESPOND, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A TRUCK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

I WAS BACKING UP IN DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF A HOUSE. MY CAR GAVE A SLIGHT LURCH AND THE MOTOR REVVED UP. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED BECAUSE I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD INTO THE TRUCK, DRIVING IT 15 FEET INTO THE PORCH STEPS. THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS TOTALLED AND THE STEPS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED TISCHER, OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT SOMEONE AT AUDI. IT WAS A FULL 2 WEEKS BEFORE SOMEONE FROM AUDI CALLED US BACK. FINALLY, AN AUDI REP MET US TO INSPECT THE CAR. AUDI DETERMINED THAT IT WAS "OPERATOR ERROR" AND ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. WE'RE HAVING OUR INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIR THE AUDI, AND WE WILL THEN TRADE IT IN ON OUR SECOND CHOICE CAR--A BMW. I SIMPLY COULD NOT DRIVE THE AUDI AGAIN, AND THANK GOD THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED. I BELIEVE THAT AUDI'S ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD UNTIL THIS "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED. IF IT WERE "OPERATOR ERROR" AS THEY CLAIM--WHY DOES ONLY HAPPEN IN AUDI'S??? PLEASE DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE MAIMED, INJURED AND KILLED. *AK