1997 Audi A4 Problems

I RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL JS FOR THE AUDI A4 IGNITION SWITCH IN NOVEMBER 2006 AND COMPLIED WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS BY BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT SWITCH IN JANUARY 2007. THE DEALER DID NOT DO THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SAID MY CAR ALREADY HAD THE CORRECT SWITCH. IN JUNE 2008, THIS IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED IN THE EXACT MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, I HEARD A CRACK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THEN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HORN, TURN SIGNAL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND AIR CONDITIONING, IMMEDIATELY BECAME INOPERATIVE. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE OFF POSITION AND HAD TO BE PULLED OUT BY FORCE AND SUBSEQUENTLY FORCED BACK IN TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL FOR THE TOW TRUCK. I CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND AUDI CUSTOMER RELATIONS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THE RECALL HAD BEEN CLOSED BY THIS TIME, NO ONE WAS WILLING TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN DONE PROPERLY OR THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY CAR, WHICH THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY CLAIMED WAS THE CORRECT ONE, WAS JUST AS DEFECTIVE AS THE RECALLED SWITCH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM AUDI, BUT THEY REFUSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 AUDI A4. IN JANUARY OF 2004, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR FOR FREE; HOWEVER, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED IN 2007. THE DEALER CONDUCTED A VISUAL INSPECTION. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT HAD BEEN DONE IN 2004, A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY. ON JUNE 9, 2008, THE IGNITION SWITCHED FAILED AGAIN. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY DRAINED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED ONCE MORE THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,487 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,500.

THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS IN MY '97 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO WERE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER AS PART OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2004 BY AUDI TO REPLACE A NOTED DEFECTIVE PART. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST AUDI BY SEVERAL OWNERS SPURRED THE VOLUNTARY RECALL. MY LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED REPLACING AGAIN, BASED ON AN INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHEN I CONTACTED AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE 2004 CONTROL ARM RECALL HAD A ONE-YEAR WARRANTY AND AFTER THAT TIME I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST, WHICH EXCEEDS $2,000 FOR THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS DEFECTIVE PART NEEDS REPLACING AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NUMEROUS AUDI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED REPEATED LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE AND NHTSA IS URGED TO CALL A MANDATORY RECALL FOR AUDI TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE PART SO IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED BY OWNERS EVERY FEW YEARS. *TR

FAILING LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC STOP BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

1) FAILURE OF FRONT LEFT (DRIVER SIDE) HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE AT CALIPER END AT INBOARD SIDE OF HOSE STRAIN RELIEF. THE DAMAGE LOCATION APPEARS TO BE WHERE HOSE IS SUBJECT TO MAXIMUM STRESS AND FLEXING WHEN FRONT WHEELS TURN. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED CONCEALED DAMAGE TO RIGHT (PASSENGER) FRONT BRAKE HOSE AT THE SAME LOCATION. 2) CONSEQUENCE WAS LOSS OF ALL HYDRAULIC BRAKING WHEN HOSE BURST, RESULTING IN MINOR ACCIDENT. DAMAGE TO VEHICLES WAS MINOR BECAUSE OF GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE FAILURE AT LOW SPEED--NO INJURIES RESULTED. 3) FRONT HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES WERE REPLACED WITH NEW OEM HOSES SUPPLIED BY AUDI DEALER. BECAUSE BOTH HOSES EXHIBITED SIMILAR WEAR, OTHER AUDI A4 VEHICLES 10 YEARS OLD AND/OR WITH 100,000+ MILES MAY BE SUBJECT TO SIMILAR FRONT BRAKE HOSE FAILURES. *TR

1997 AUDI A4 QUATTRO LEASE WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT AUDI CORPORATION IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH SLOG AND DID NOT SEND HIM A LETTER**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED OIL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE, WHICH NOW SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER MECHANICS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS FULLY AWARE OF AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM FROM THE USE OF INFERIOR ENGINE OIL OR FROM INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES, CAN CLOG THE OIL PUMP. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. *JB

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OIL SLUDGE RELATED FAILURE ON OUR 1997 AUDI A4. INGRID EVERT, FROM THE OFFICE OF AUDI OF AMERICA'S MARK TRAHAN, HAS TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR IS WITHIN THE VIN RANGE AFFECTED BY WHAT IS, IN HER WORDS, A "MANUFACTURING DEFECT". HER REASON FOR REFUSAL IS THE FACT THAT I CHANGE MY OWN OIL AND THUS LACK RECEIPTS. SO, ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS WITHIN THE AFFECTED VIN RANGE, AND I HAVE PERFORMED ALL OIL CHANGES IN EXCESS OF THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS, AND MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS FAILURE REGARDLESS OF THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE CAR, MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. *NM

DT: PERIODICALLY CLUTCH WILL NOT REALEASE AND THIS DISABLES CONSUMER FROM DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND OTHER TIMES WHEN I SHIFT ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

APPARENTLY RELATED TO CASE: EA04017 I WAS DRIVING A 1997 AUDI A4 2.8L V6 QUATTRO AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT: I WAS DRIVING 55-MPH ON THE TACONIC STATE PARKWAY IN NEW YORK, AROUND NOON (AMBIENT TEMPERATURE ~30F ABOVE ZERO). I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER AN HOUR WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING TO NEARLY 70-MPH DOWN HILLS BUT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AT THE TIME AND SET TO 55-MPH, SO I TURNED IT OFF BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT OCCURRING. I TRIED BRAKING AS I WENT DOWN HILLS AND THAT SLOWED ME DOWN ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER 55-MPH. I FOUND A REST AREA, SLOWED THE CAR DOWN WITH MY BRAKES AND CAME TO A SAFE STOP (FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE REST AREA). WHEN I CAME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS WERE AT ABOUT 3500 BUT IT USUALLY IDLES AT 1000. I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE RPMS SHOT UP TO 7000 BEFORE I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I TRIED PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TURNING THE CAR BACK ON, BUT THE RPMS SHOT UP AGAIN QUICKLY SO, AGAIN, I TURNED OF THE IGNITION (I TRIED THIS 3 TIMES BEFORE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR). THEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES, GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN. IT STARTED UP FINE AND IDLED AT THE NORMAL 1000 LEVEL. I DROVE ANOTHER 30 MINUTES TO MY DESTINATION WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN, AND HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE (I HAVE NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE, EITHER). I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK FOR FAILURE CODES WITH AN OBDII SCAN TOOL, BUT NO ERROR CODES CAME UP. HE ALSO COULD NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE, SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT CAUTIOUSLY EVER SINCE. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP! LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB

BOTH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HEADLIGHT WASHER VACCUM PUMPS SHORTED OUT AT THE SAME TIME AFTER 40000 MILES. NOTHING WAS DONE BY THE OWNERS OTHER THEN NORMAL DRIVING THE MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER OF INGINTION SWITCHES PROBLEMS NOTED ON AUDI 4'S.*AK

TIE ROD END FAILURE. *AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE TIE RODS AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 99 V 248 000, BUT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED, CAUSE RECALL IS ON THE LATER YEAR VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V317000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

IGNITION SWITCH APPEARED TO BREAK WHEN STARTING CAR. THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN ALL THE WAY TO STARTING POSITION AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO START IN THE RAIN. PULLED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUT OFF IGNITION. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND IGNITION KEY REMAINS IN FORWARD POSITION. CALLED AUDI. AUDI STATES THAT THE RECALLED IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF IT NOT BEING REPLACED. SERVICE FOR THE CAR HAS BEEN AT AUDI SERVICE SINCE PURCHASE IN 1997. I DO NOT RECALL EVER RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER OR HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. IF IT WAS REPLACED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, IT APPARENTLY REMAINED DEFECTIVE. *NM

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MILES A HOUR. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY DRIVER SEAT CAME LOSE FROM THE FLOOR AND BECAUSE OF THIS I RECEIVED INJURIES TO MY NECK AND FACE. *JS

IN A SNOW STORM, DRIVER BRAKED AT AN INTERSECTION, AUTOMATIC BRAKES KICKED IN BUT DID NOT STOP THE 10 MILE PER HOUR SLIDE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. CAR STOPPED PARALLEL TO THE CURB AND WAS IMMEDIATELY T-BONED BY AN SUV. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS WEARING ASEAT BELT AND SUFFERED A BROKEV ARM . . .LUCKY. BASED UPON THE CONDYTION OF THE CAR, DRIVER SHOULD BE DEAD. *TR

THE SEAT HEATER WAS TOO HOT AND BURNED HOLES THROUGH HE SEAT. PH *TS *NLM

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO DIE WHILE DRIVING. LOW MILEAGE OF CAR INDICATES THAT PART IS DEFECTIVE. DEFECT LIKE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY BUT THE NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE. DT

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON PAVED HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AT 11:30 PM. FAILURE CAUSED ALL HEADLIGHTS TO STOP FUNCTIONING, THEREBY LEAVING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN TOTAL DARKNESS AT CRUISING SPEED. EXTREME POTENTIAL FOR FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS SWITCH HAS FAILED.*AK

BOTH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HEADLIGHT WASHER VACCUM PUMPS SHORTED OUT AT THE SAME TIME AFTER 40000 MILES. NOTHING WAS DONE BY THE OWNERS OTHER THEN NORMAL DRIVING THE MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER OF INGINTION SWITCHES PROBLEMS NOTED ON AUDI 4'S.*AK

I WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MILES A HOUR. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY DRIVER SEAT CAME LOSE FROM THE FLOOR AND BECAUSE OF THIS I RECEIVED INJURIES TO MY NECK AND FACE. *JS

THERE IS A RATTLE IN THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, BUT RATTLE STILL EXISTS, ALSO THE UPHOLSTERY IN THE VEHICLE HAS WORN OUT PREMATURELY, IT WAS REPLACED ON FEB 20, 2000, BUT IMMEDITELY STARTING SHOWINGS SIGNS OF WEAR WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND ALSO A CUT IN THE LEATHER ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*JB

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN A CAR CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF MY 1997 AUDI A4. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO CRASH INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT CAR TO CRASH IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. MY DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP. THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DID DEPLOY. BECAUSE THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK, I HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. *TR

AT 31700 MILES I NOTICED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. I REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES WITH THE IDENTICAL BRAND. AT 41239 MILES, I AGAIN NOTICED A LARGE BULGE IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE IN THE SIDEWALL. I AGAIN WILL HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED BEFORE I HAVE A BLOW-OUT. I HAVE READ OTHER REVIEWS ON THIS TIRE AND IT SEEMS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COULD BE QUITE HAZARDOUS IF I DIDN'T CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205 55 16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205 55 16 )

AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE DIED OCCASIONALLY. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP/RELAY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK