2000 Audi S4 complaints

THE RADIO HAD REALLY BAD RECEPTION, CD AND TAPE WERE FINE. THE RECEPTION ONLY WORK FOR SOME REASON ( BUT NOT THAT GREAT) IN THE AREA WHERE THE AUDI DEALER WAS. THE FIRST OWNER HAD AUDI PUT A NEW RADIO, BUT IT TOOK THEM 16 MONTHS TO RECEIVED THE NEW RADIO. THAT IS 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR FORM THE FIRST OWNER. THE RADIO WAS CHANGED BUT WITH THE SAME RESULT. THE DEALER SAID SOMETHING IT HAPPEN THAT THE RADIO DOES NOT WORK IN SOME AREA, AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. ( AS IF I DIDN'T KNOW HOW A RADIO WORKED) I EVEN TALKED TO THE MANAGER OF THE AUDI DEALER, AND HE SAID THE SAMETHING, SO UNTIL NOW I'M DRIVING A 40.000 DOLLARS CAR WITH NO RADIO, HOW FUNNY IS THAT! DT

THE CUP HOLDER IN THE DASH BOARD IS VERY BADLY LOCATED, JUST ON THE TOP OF THE RADIO AND OTHER EQUIPEMENT. IF ANY LIQUID SPILLS FROM THE CUP HOLDER, AS IT DID ON MY CAR, THE LIQUID WOULD DIRECTLY FALL ON THE RADIO AND THE OTHER EQUIPEMENT, AND COULD CAUSE A SHORTCIRCUIT ( AS I DID). THE RADIO BLEW UP AND THE HEAT AND A/C WORKS WHEN THEY WANTS TO. SO FOR ME THE CUP HOLDER HAS NO USE SINCE THE LOCATION IS TOO DANGEROUS. AND I THINK VW HAS THE SAME CUP HOLDER LOCATION PROBLEM. DT

THE DOOR LOCKS AND ALARM SYSTEM FAILED WHEN MY CAR WAS STOLEN FROM THE IKEA PARKING LOT IN ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY. THIEVES PUNCHED OR DRILLED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER DOOR BETWEEN THE DOOR HANDLE AND DOOR LOCK AND WERE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND DISABLE THE ALARM SYSTEM AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER BREAKING THE STEERING COLUMN, STARTING THE CAR, AND OUTRUNNING POLICE, THE CAR WAS RECOVERED VIA LOJACK WITH ALL MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS GONE. AUDI SHOULD ADRESS THIS ISSUE BY MAKING NEW CARS WITH AN IMPROVED SECURITY SYSTEM AND BY DOING SOMETHING FOR EXISTING OWNERS TO FIX THIS COSTLY AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM. OTHER AUDI OWNERS NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A TREMBLE OF VIBRATION. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. NOTICED THAT REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIM. FIRESTONE, BRIDGESTONE RE040, POTENCA, P225 R15/ DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

THIS IS THE THIRD TIRE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SINCE GETTING THE CAR, ONE HAD A BUBBLE AND THE OTHER TWO HAD A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT WILL DRIVING THE CAR. AUDI HAS SENT THEIR CUSTOMERS A LETTER STATING THAT IF CERTAIN CONDITION ARE MET THEY WILL PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/45YR17)

THIS IS MY 2ND TIME REPLACING BUBBLED TIRES. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/45 17)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND LEFT AFTER REMOVING ITEMS FROM TRUNK, AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY RAN AWAY. *AK

ON OR ABOUT 11/20/00 I APPLIED BRAKES WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL. CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP CAR, WHICH EVENTUALLY CRASHED INTO TELEPHONE POLE. I INJURED MY LEFT LEG. AUDI ADVISED ME THEY KNEW OF NO "DEFECT" THAT COULD CAUSE THIS ACCIDENT. ON 13/21/01 AS I APPLIED BRAKES TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE CONTIGUOUS TO A BUILDING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. WHEN I BOTH HEARD TO ENGINE RACING AND THE CAR ACCELERATING I FORTUNATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED THE VEHICE. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR! I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. AUDI'S RESPONSE IS THAT IF THE DEALER FINDS A PROBLEM AUDI WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. THERE IS A PROBLEM WHETHER AUDI FINDS IT OR NOT. I AM NOT RISKING A FATAL ACCIDENT TO ESTABLISH THIS FACT!*AK

MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION IS FROM WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TURBO FAILURES ON THE EARLIER 2000 AUDI S4. FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD TURBO FAILURES, SOME HAVE INDICATED AN ABNORMAL 'SIREN' SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TURBOS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED (WITHOUT FAILURE) BECAUSE OF COMPLAINS OF THIS SOUND. MY CAR STARTED EXHIBITING THIS SOUND FROM 2K MILES ONWARD. INITIALLY, THIS SOUND OCCURED ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. IT IS HOWEVER NOW MORE APPARENT MOST OF THE TIME. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT BUT HAVE INSISTED THAT SOUND IS NORMAL AND IS APPARENT EVEN ON NEW CARS. SINCE THEN I HAVE TEST DRIVEN A NEW S4 AND THE SOUND IS NOT PRESENT. THE THEORY TO THE CURRENT FAILURE IS THAT THERE IS AN INSUFFICIENT OIL SUPPLY TO THE TURBOS AND BECAUSE OF THIS THE INTERNAL BEARINGS ARE DAMAGED AND HENCE START WHINING ('SIREN SOUND')AND EVENTUALLY FAILING. A FEW CHANGES BY AUDI ALSO SUPPORTS THIS THEORY. 1) THEY HAVE REVISED THE TURBOS ON THE NEWER S4S. THE OIL INLET TO THE NEW TURBOS ARE NOW LARGER. ALSO,2) THEY HAVE REVISED THE RECOMMENDED OIL WEIGHT FROM A 5-40W TO 0-30W WHICH ENSURES BETTER OIL FLOW AND LUBRICATION AT LOWER TEMPERATURES. THE REASON OF MY CONCERN IS THAT THE TURBOS COST MORE THAN $5000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND I INTEND TO KEEP MY CAR FOR 5 YEARS OR 90K MILES (WHICHEVER COMES FIRST). FYI THE 'SIREN' SOUND IS SOMETIMES LOUD ENOUGH THAT PASSENGERS IN MY CAR THINK THAT THERE IS A EMERGENCY VEHICLE IN

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/45VR17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45VR17 )

AUDI USA HAS ENGINEERING CONTROL AND WERE CONTACTED AND PRESENT DURING REPAIR. UNDER VERY ICY CONDITIONS ON STRAIGHT ROAD, DURING ACCELERATION FROM VERY SLOW SPEED, VEHICLE PITCHED INTO OVERSTEER CONDITION. NOT ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED, BUT AFTER A DIFFICULT RECOVERY, WHEN ALL SEEMED OK, IT OVERSTEERED AGAIN QUITE VIOLENTLY. THIS WAS AGAIN RECOVERED, BUT IT APPEARED THAT THERE WAS AN ABS BRAKE INPUT , CERTAINLY NOT OF MY DOING. THE THIRD CYCLE WAS MORE SEVERE, AND I LEFT THE ROAD. NEITHER THE BRAKE NOR THROTTLE WERE TOUCHED DURING THE WHOLE CYCLE, BUT STEERING INPUTS WERE POWERFUL AS I ATTEMPTED TO SAVE THE DAY. THE SEPARATENESS OF THE CYCLES ALERTED ME TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS HAD DETECTED A DIFFERENTIAL SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. AUDI REFUSES TO RELEASE ANY DATA ON THE OPERATION OF THEIR ABS SYSTEM, AND THE VOLATILE COMPUTER DATA HAS GONE..IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT SOME OF THE CONTROL FUNCTIONS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, ETC, ARE NOW EMBEDDED IN THE ABS . THE S4 DID NOT HAVE A STABILITY CONTROL MECHANISM, IT NOW DOES. THIS IS A VERY POWERFUL VEHICLE SYSTEM, AND IF IT SHOULD FAIL, THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW THE CRITERIA UNDER WHICH IT SHOULD, COULD OPERATE AND/OR FAIL. A YEARS WORTH OF COMMUNICATION HAS PRODUCED ZERO DATA FROM AUDI. *AK

SIDE WALL BUBBLES ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. AUDI DISAVOWED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM IN JUNE 2000 (TIRESIZE: 225/45/17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45/17 )

BUBBLE IN TIRE SIDEWALL AFTER HITTING POTHOLE. (TIRESIZE: 225/45-17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45-17 )

THE TIRE BUBBLED UP ON THE SIDEWALL. A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AT ANY SPEED ESPECIALLY AT 55+MPH. COULD HAVE CAUSED A HIGH SPEED BLOWOUT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225 45 17 )

BUBBLE IN OUTER SIDEWALL, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL (DOT NUMBER: EJH8 TIRESIZE: 225/45R17)

LARGE BUBBLE APPEARED ON SIDEWALL OF TIRE. NO POTHOLES OR CURBS ETC.. WERE HIT. IT APPEARED THROUGH COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING. I HAVE DIFGITAL PICTURES AND THE TIRE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE EITHER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45YR17 )

CAR WAS DELIVERED ON JUNE 4TH 2000. FROM THE TIME I DROVE OFF THE LOT THE VEHICLE SLIGHTLY STEERED TOWARDS THE RIGHT. I WAS TOLD BY DIFFERENT DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IT WAS EITHER THE TIRE PRESSURE OR THE CROWNING IN THE ROADS. I ASKED OGNER MOTORS IN WOODLAND HILLS TO ROTATE THE TIRES AND PERFORM FURTHER EVALUATION. THEY FOUND ONE OF MY TIRES TO BE DEFECTIVE. APPARENTLY THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE IN QUESTION FAILED. THEY ARE AWAITING A REPLACEMENT TIRE FORM THE MANUFACTURER...I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER THREE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE CONSIDERING I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS REPORT VIA AUDIWORLD.COM THAT THESE TIRES ARE EXTREMELY SUCSEPTIBLE TO SIDEWALL (BUBBLES) FAILURE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 225/45/17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45/17 )

THE TIRE DID NOT 'FAIL' BUT RATHER CAUSES A PULL TO THE RIGHT THAT THE DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT. THEY CLAIM BRIDGESTONE NEEDS TO DO THIS. FOR A $45K CAR I EXPECT TIRES THAT LAST A WHILE AND IF NOT THEN AUDI SHOULD REPLACE THEM. THE LISTED COST IS ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT COST FOR DECENT TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: EJN8 TIRESIZE: 225/45R17)

SIDEWALL OF FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAS BUBBLED IN TWO LOCATIONS WITHOUT A CATALYST OF ANY KIND. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/45R17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45R17 )

WHILE DETAILING MY CAR, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE. IT BEGINS WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL AND EXTENDS 1.5" TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL. THE CRACK IS ABOUT 1/4" DEEP. I CAN SUPPLY A PHOTO IF YOU WISH, PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU'D LIKE ONE. THIS TIRE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND NONE OF THE OTHER TIRES HAD SIMILAR CRACKS. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN ABUSED IN ANY WAY. THANK YOU! *AK( DOT NUMBER: EJH8CFE429 TIRE SIZE: 225/45R17 )

SIDEWALL IS BUBBLED, DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRE. NO DAMAGE OR UNUSUAL WEAR ON TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

2 BUBBLED TIRES AT 3000/6000 MILES( DOT NUMBER: EJH8CFE 24 TIRE SIZE: 225/45/17 )

WHILE TRAVELLING AT 35-40 MPH, I HIT A SMALL BUMP AND TIRE BLEW, ALSO THESE TIRES WERE SOLD AS AN ALL WEATHER TIRE, I WAS ASSURED BY SEVERAL AUDI SALES PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE AND AT APROXIMATELY 200 MILES I HAD TO PURCHASE SNOW TIRES AS THESE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS IN EVEN A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW. I PURCHASED MICHELIN ALPINES FOR SNOW, BUT, HAVE NOT REPLACED THE BRIDGESTONES FOR NORMAL DRIVING AS COMPETITIVE TIRES WOULD BE AT LEAST $800 DUE TO THE SIZE AND SPEED RATING. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING DUE TO SOFT SIDEWALL AFTER JUST LESS THAN 800 MILES. REPLACED ALL TIRES AT THAT TIME, MARCH 24, 2000, KEPT THE 3 REMAING TIRES, SCRAPED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE. I STILL HAVE THE THREE TIRES WITH THE 800 MILES ON THEM IN STORAGE. YOU CAN HAVE THEM FOR YOUR INVESTAGATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45ZR17 )

SIDEWALL BLISTER, 2IN.X1IN., DISCOVERED WHILE ROUTINE MAINTAINANCE PERFORMED. NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENT OR IMPACT INJURY TO TIRE OR WHEEL ASSEMBLY. AUTOMOBILE SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTS TIRE DEFECTIVE, CONFIRMS NO IMPACT INJURY TO VEHICLE SUSTAINED.( DOT NUMBER: EJH8CFE429 TIRE SIZE: 225/45/R17 )

I DISCOVERED A SIDEWALL BULDGE WHILE WASHING THE CAR. I CHANGED THE ONE AFFECTED TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND I AM MONITORING THE OTHER TIRES. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN OR NOT. HOWEVER ON A HIGH PERFORMANCE CAR I DON'T WISH TO TAKE ANY RISKS WITH MY TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/45/17 )

SIDEWALL BELT FAILURE @ 200 MILES. SECOND OEM TIRE FAILURE (SAME, SIDEWALL) @ 5000 MILES. TIRES REPLACED WITH 5 (4 CORNERS + SPARE) YOKOHAMAS @ 6000 MLES( DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRE SIZE: 225/45R-17 )

DEVELOPED TIRE BUBBLE SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING SUCH AS CURB OR POTHOLE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225 45R17 )

TIRE HAD A BIG BUBBLE. DID NOT KNOW IT HAD ONE UNTIL I HAD READ ABOUT IT ON THE AUDI USER WEB-SITE AND THEN CHECKED MY CAR. PROBABLY HAPPENED ON THE BUMPY CROSS BRONX EXPRESSWAY ON A COLD DAY. I HAVE NOT HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45 R17 )

RAN OVER A RELATIVELY MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD AT AN ACCEPTABLE SPEED AND THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45YR17 )

SIDEWALL BUBBLE WITH NO CORRELATING IMPACT THAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A BUBBLE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45-17 )

LARGE BUBBLES ON SIDEWALL OF L FRONT TIRE (2 BUBBLES, ONE LARGER THAN 5 INCHES IN DIAMETER) AND L REAR TIRE (1 BUBBLE); NO OBVIOUS INJURY TO OUTSIDE OF TIRE (EG NAIL OR CUT); NO KNOWN TRAUMA TO TIRE (EG HITTING CURB); I TOOK PICTURE WITH DIGITAL CAMERA AND CAN EMAIL THEM TO YOU!!!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45R17 )

I DON'T KNOW THE DOT #'S ON THE TIRES. FIRST TIRE I PAID FOR MYSELF. DUE TO MANY COMPLAINTS ON AUDIWORLD.COM FORUMS, I PURCHASED ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY FOR ALL TIRES. SECOND TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY, BUT THERE WAS A NATIONAL SHARTAGE OF RE040'S AT THIS TIME. I THEN OBTAINED A USED REPLACEMENT FROM ANOTHER S4 OWNER THAT ALREADY SWITCHED TO ANOTHER TIRE. I'M MOVING SOON, SO PHONE# AND ADDRESS WILL CHANGE. THE PHONE# AND ADDRESS ARE MY PARENTS. MY PARENTS SHOULD GIVE YOU MY NEW PHONE# IF NEEDED. MAIL SENT TO MY PARENTS SHOULD ALSO GET TO ME WITHOUT PROBLEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245/45 R17 )

TIRES WERE OEM FITMENT. AFTER THE 2ND FAILURE I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45-17 )

EACH OF THE TIRES HAVE BUBBLES ALL OCCURING AT DIFFERENT MILAGES. 2 REPLACED AND BOTH BUBBLED AGAIN AFTER ONLY 3000 MILES. LIVE IN THE CHICAGO AREA ROADS ARE NOT THE BEST BUT OTHER CARS DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. OTHER 2000 AUDI S4'S AND AUDI TT'S ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM IS A GOOD PLACE TO GATHER INFORMATION ON OTHER DEFECTS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45/17 )

2 INCH BUBBLE IN EXTERIOR SIDEWALL OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE NOTICED WHILE CLEANING WHEELS. BRIDGESTONE DEALER SAID BUBBLE WAS DUE TO "ROAD HAZZARD DAMAGE" BUT NONE HAD OCCURRED. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON "AUDI WORLD" WEBSITE AND FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR LOW*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45R17 )

I HAVE HAD TWO TIRE BLOWOUTS, AND NOW HAVE A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL OF ANOTHER. THIS IS BRAND NEW ORGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2000 VEHICLE. MANY OTHER S4 AUDI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45 R17 )

THIS IS THE THIRD TIRE FAILURE SINCE I RECEIVED MY S4. A FELLOW MOTORIST NOTICED A LARGE BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THIS TIRE IS A REPLACEMENT TIRE THAT WAS INSTALLED AFTER THE ORIGINAL FAILED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOME PROBLEM OR DEFECT WITH THESE TIRES. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH OTHER S4 OWNERS AND MANY OF THEM COMPLAIN ABOUT THESE SIDEWALL BULGES. THE FACT THAT BRIDGESTONE DENIES ANY PROBLEM AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE TIRES FREE OF CHARGE IS RIDICULOUS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THESE TIRES. PRESSURE NEEDS TO BE PUT ON AUDI AND BRIDGESTONE TO EITHER REIMBURSE US FOR THE TIRES AND REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE, OR TO SUPPLY US WITH A NEW IMPROVED OR DIFFERENT TIRE. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THEY ARE UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE. A BLOWOUT IN THE SIDEWALL OF A TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AFTER WHICH A SERIOUS LAWSUIT WOULD FOLLOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: EJH8CFE279 TIRE SIZE: P225/45R17 )

THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE FAILURE IN LESS THAN 4000 MILES. ONCE AGAIN WHILE WASHING MY CAR, I DISCOVERED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1900 MILES. I CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE AND THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT SINCE THESE TIRES HAVE A LOW PROFILE SIDEWALL, THEY ARE PRONE TO DAMAGE FROM DRIVING ON "ROUGH" ROADS. I TOLD HIM THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT I LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE THE ROADS MAY BE "ROUGH" BUT THAT LOW PROFILE TIRES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ENGINEERED WITH A STRONGER SIDEWALL TO ABSORB ANY "ROUGHNESS" IN THE ROAD. THIS IS WHY THEY COST SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN TIRES WITH A LARGER SIDEWALL. AS AN ENGINEER, I KNOW THAT THE SIDEWALL SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED ON A LOW PROFILE TIRE TO PREVENT DAMAGE AND REDUCE THE RISK OF A FAILURE OR AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRES ARE UNSAFE UNLESS THEY ARE USED ONLY ON PERFECTLY SMOOTH ROADS. I STILL HAD TO PAY $125, HALF PRICE FOR A NEW TIRE, AND I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWERS I RECEIVED AT ALL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THESE TIRES AS WELL AS CONCERENED FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT NORMAL EVERYDAY DRIVING WOULD CAUSE TWO IDENTICAL TIRE FAILURES IN LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON A BRAND NEW CAR. THE MANUFACTURER INSISTS THAT THERE IS NO DEFECT AND THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. HOW CAN THIS BE? MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE SAME ROADS FOR YEARS WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT CARS EQUIPPED WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF TIRES AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNT

EXPERIENCED A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM A STOP, SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AT APPROX. 4500 RPM. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISISON GRINDED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR ALL THE TIME ABOVE 3500 RPM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HAD TO WAIT A WEEK FOR THEM TO SEE MY CAR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A DAY TO "DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM." THEY TOLD ME THAT 2ND GEAR WAS "SHOT" DUE TO "SHIFTING AT HIGH RPMS" OR FROM "HARD SHIFTING" AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I SAID THAT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS AND THAT I WANTED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THAT AUDI WOULD ONLY AUTHORIZE THEM TO REBUILD MY UNIT. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT IF THIS HAPPENED AGAIN, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF AND THAT I WOULD NO LONGER BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT DISTURBS ME HOW A CAR MANUFACTURER'S TRANSMISSION COULD NOT HOLD UP TO THE POWER OUTPUT OF THE ENGINE AND THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE SHIFTED "HIGH" OR "HARD". WHEN THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED, MUST I THEN BABY THIS PERFORMANCE AUTOMOBILE AND FEAR SHIFTING ABOVE 3500 RPM (HALF OF THE ENGINE'S REDLINE RPM)? ALSO, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER A COMPONENT IF IT BREAKS TWICE. TO ME, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT. I AM NOW WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO CONTACT ME WHEN THE NECESSARY PARTS ARRIVE. *AK

AFTER WASHING MY CAR AND DETAILING THE TIRES (THERE WERE NO ABNORMALITIES AT THIS TIME), I MADE A TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, I NOTICED A GOLF BALL-SIZED BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL OF MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE. UPON INSPECTION, IT APPEARED TO BE A DEFECT OF SOME SORT SINCE THERE WERE NO MARKS ON THE TIRE AND I HAD NOT HIT ANY SIGNIFICANT POT HOLES ON MY TRIP. I REPLACED THE RIM AND TIRE WITH THE SPARE. THE NEXT DAY, I WENT TO THE AUDI DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DO NOT COVER WARRANTIES OR SERVICE ON TIRES. THEY DIRECTED ME TO THE BRIDGESTONE DEALER (KING BEAR, 3907 4TH AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, (718)836-6501). THE TIRE DEALER SAID THAT I HAD "IMPACT DAMAGE. YOU MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING." I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW TIRE. I TOLD HIM THAT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS THAT A $250 TIRE ON A $42,000+ NEW CAR WOULD FAIL AT LESS THAN 2000 MILES. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. UPON FURTHER ARGUING, HE CALLED BRIDGESTONE AND THEY AGREED TO LET ME PAY HALF THE PRICE OF THE TIRE. I RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO PAY. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE TIRE AND I AM NOW WAITING FOR IT TO COME IN. I AM VERY DISTURBED THAT A BRAND NEW $250 TIRE WOULD FAIL FROM NORMAL DRIVING AT LESS THAN 2000 MILES. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE TIRES. DOES THIS MEAN THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES ON A REGULAR BASIS? I WISH TO LET YOU AND OTHER S4 OWNERS KNOW THAT THE

ALL WEATHER TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE IN THE SNOW, VEHICLE WILL STOP WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT 50-60 YARDS BEFORE A STOP, AND AT LOW SPEEDS. *AK

THE PROBLEM IS THE SAFETY OF THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WHICH IS RIGHT INSIDE THE GRILLE. WHEN THE HOOD IS UNLATCHED AND YOU REACH IN THE NORMAL PLACE FOR THE SAFETY RELEASE, IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE FAN SLICES OPEN THE END OF YOUR FINGER. I DO NOT OWN THE CAR, BUT HAVE THE SLICED FINGER!