1998 Audi A4 Problems

THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON EVER SINCE I HAD THE VEHICLE, THINKING THAT IT MAY BE A FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER AS SEEING VERY COMMON PROBLEMS IN MANY WEBSITES. ANOTHER MAIN CONCERNED IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINE DESIGN CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OIL SLUDGE. MY CONCERN IS FOR FUTURE PREVENTION MEASURES.

THE AMBER ABS WARNING LIGHT GLOWS WHILE THE RED BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS. I UNDERSTAND NEWER AUDI MODELS HAVE JUST BEEN RECALLED FOR ABS ISSUES, BUT MY 1998 A4 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. BRAKING APPEARS NORMAL, AND WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION IS SPORADIC.

THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON EVER SINCE I HAD THE VEHICLE, THINKING THAT IT MAY BE A FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER AS SEEING VERY COMMON PROBLEMS IN MANY WEBSITES. ANOTHER MAIN CONCERNED IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINE DESIGN CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OIL SLUDGE. MY CONCERN IS FOR FUTURE PREVENTION MEASURES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HAD THE TURBO REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE STALLING. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

CONTROL ARM ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 FRACTURED WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. AUDI TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA # 10016418, #11242004 COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: 22. SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM BULLETIN NUMBER: 11242004 BULLETIN DATE: NOV 2004 VEHICLE: 1,998 AUDI A4 SUMMARY: SERVICE ACTION JE CAMPAIGN-CHECK/REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AUDI HAS FOUND THAT IN RARE CASES, ONE OR BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT WEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER BO ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10016418 ). *TR

REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AT 114000 MILES- CRACKED IN HALF, FRONTS PROBABLY NEXT. VEHICLE'S LIFE HAS BEEN IN THE NORTHEAST SUBJECT TO HEAVY USE OF ROAD SALT; SEEMS SPRING COMPOSITION SIMILAR TO THE BRAKE ROTORS AND COIL SPRINGS ON FORD PRODUCTS THAT PROMPTED A SIMILAR RECALL. AN ISSUE LIKE THIS ISN'T EXPECTED FROM AUDI, AND IS DISAPPOINTING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED A BURNING WIRE ODOR UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND VARIOUS OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V317000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000.

ON A 1998 A4 QUATTRO AUDI, IT IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH FAILS, THE FIRST TIME WAS 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN SWITCH PACKAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, AND THIS TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AROUND 11:00 PM WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL, IN THIS CAR IF THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK, ALSO THE FOG LIGHTS DON'T WORK TOO, SO SUDDENLY YOU END AT THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A HIGHWAY WITH NO LIGHTS AT ALL. THIS DEFINITELY IS A HIGH RISK SITUATION BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT DRIVE WITH OUT HEADLIGHTS IT IS LIKE BLIND DRIVING. I BEEN SEARCHING ON THE WEB AND IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY COMMON FAILURE ON THIS CAR BUT THERE IS NO RECALL AT ALL FOR THIS YET. *KB

CONTROL ARM ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 FRACTURED WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. AUDI TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA # 10016418, #11242004 COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: 22. SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM BULLETIN NUMBER: 11242004 BULLETIN DATE: NOV 2004 VEHICLE: 1,998 AUDI A4 SUMMARY: SERVICE ACTION JE CAMPAIGN-CHECK/REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AUDI HAS FOUND THAT IN RARE CASES, ONE OR BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT WEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER BO ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10016418 ). *TR

TIE ROD FAILURE RESULTING IS A COMPROMISE OF STEERING CONTROL AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA 99V248000. *TR

Recall 69bt was not accomplished at McDaniels Audi of Charleston dealer. They indicated they had replaced airbag with 8D0898201A kit.

The contact owned a 1998 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH with his 12-year-old son sitting in the passenger seat, he crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries, however, his son sustained a broken rib and was transported to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The contact recently received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V056000 (AIR BAGS). The dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

1998 AUDI A4 2.8 - DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY, IN 7 DEGREE TEMP, CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ( FEELS LIKE IT IS DRIVING ITSELF) EVEN AFTER FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND FULL FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR AT WHICH POINT IT WENT INTO HIGH REV AND ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THIS CAR ALSO HAD 2 SIMILAR INCIDENT (ONCE WHEN NEW) AND ONCE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. AFTER MUCH BACK AND FORTH WITH AUDI, THEY TOOK THE CAR IN, AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AS A PRECAUTION I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED AND THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE REPLACED SO FELT THE CAR WAS SAFE. (ALL AT MY EXPENSE) *TR

HI. I HAVE A 1998 AUDI A4 6 CYLINDER QUATRO5 SPEED. IT HAS 97K MILES. THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILURE. APPROX. $1700 REPAIR AT THE DEALER. I UNDERSTAND THAT VW HAS HAD A RECALL FOR EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PART. IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A RECALL SHOULD EXTEND THE AUDI USING THE SAME PART, WHICH HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY AUDI. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY A PART AND SAFETY ISSUE WOULD BE RECALLED FOR VW BUT NOT FOR AUDI? HERE IS A LINK TO FURTHER INFORMATION: THANKS! HTTP://AUDI-VW-ABS-RECALL.BLOGSPOT.COM/2005/07/AUDI-AND-VW-PLEASE-RECALL-CARS-BETWEEN.HTML. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED THREE TIMES WITHIN THREE YEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. THE WIPERS WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE MOTOR FAILED AGAIN IN 2007 AND 2008. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED EACH TIME AT THE COST OF $496. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 98,000.

I OWN AN AUDI A4, AND HAVE OBSERVED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR TARNISHES SEVERALY. I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND HAVE OBSERVED MANY OTHER AUDI VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR DEFECTIVE MIRRORS. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THIS GET LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL NOTICE BE ISSUED FOR REPLACEMENT MIRRORS.

1. HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER BURNING THE BACK OF MY LEG WHEN ON THE LOWEST SETTING(1/6). 2. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS ABOUT 1% OF THE TIME AND WILL ENGAGE UNEXPECTEDLY IF NOT TURNED OFF. *JB

I TURNED MY HEATED SEAT ON IN MY AUDI A4. I FELT IT GETTING REALLY HOT IN ONE SPOT AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT MY SEAT TO FIND A HOLE BURNT IN THE SEAT. I CONTACTED AUDI THEY TOLD ME TO BRING TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER. THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *NM

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD OFFER ANY ADVICE. I HAVE A 1998 AUDI A4 THAT WAS PURCHASED IN JULY, 1997 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 ROAD MILES. IT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THROUGH THE YEARS, THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH WAS A BROKEN (NOT WORN) CLUTCH THAT WAS REPAIRED LAST MONTH. I CONTACTED AUDI USA AND REQUESTED THAT THEY HELP PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THEY REFUSED, STATING THAT THE CAR IS WELL OUTSIDE THEIR 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARANTY PERIOD. I GRANT THEM THAT, BUT A NUMBER OF OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE 7 OR EVEN 10 YEAR POWERTRAIN WARRANTIES. MY OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH THIS VEHICLE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. ADDITIONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT A BROKEN CLUTCH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL HARM IF IT WERE TO RESULT IN TOTAL CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL (MY CLUTCH APPARENTLY FAILED "PARTIALLY" ALLOWING ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUDI REPAIR FACILITY). ARE THERE ANY OPTIONS FOR FURTHER PURSUIT OF THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ROBERT A. WEATHERLY, MD

MALFUNCTIONING OF HOUSING FOR BRAKES AND CLUTCH CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DRIVER RECEIVED SEVERE INJURIES. *JB

THE ABS CONTROL UNIT ON MY AUDI A4 FAILED AFTER 95,000 MILES. I HAVE NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKING AND AUDI HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PART SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SEARCHING THROUGH AUDI FORUMS I FOUND THIS FAILURE TO BE VERY COMMON AND EVERYONE HAD NO ABS UNTIL THE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED WHICH COST AN AVERAGE OF $1500+. THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, I STARTED THE CAR ONE DAY AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON MY DASH. I TESTED THE ABS AND FOUND THAT IT INDEED DOES NOT PREVENT MY BRAKES FROM LOCKING UP. NEARLY THREE YEARS LATER, THE PART HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO THE HIGH COST TO REPAIR IT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO MOVE IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION. ALSO, WHEN TURNING, SHE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V248000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING). THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AMBER REFLECTOR HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED POORLY AND DECREASED VISION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E049000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

I HAVE HAD A RECENT DISCUSSION WITH AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER IN WAYZATA, MN AT 11:55AM. THIS IS REGARDING A DEFECT IN MY MODEL YEAR 1998 AUDI A4 2.8., OR AUDI A4 2.8 MANUFACTURED JUNE OF 1997. I RESEARCHED THE WEB AND SAW HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE LIGHT SWITCH. I TURNED MY LIGHT SWITCH ON AND THE LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM DO NOT WORK. THE TEMPORARY HIGH BEAM WORKS. I SAW MANY OTHER 1998 AUDI OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM; EVEN MORE SIMILAR WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAD A 1998 MODEL YEAR CAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1997. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN IS A LITTLE AMBIGUOUS STATING MODEL YEARS AND MANUFACTURE DATES. MY CAR FALLS WITHIN THE MANUFACTURE DATE BUT NOT THE RECALL DATE. THE RECALL IS OPEN HOWEVER 1998 MODELS, WHICH ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE, ARE NOT INCLUDED. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT CARS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO AUGUST OF 1997 EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MODEL YEAR 1998 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

BOTH REAR SEATBELTS TIGHTEN ON PASSENGERS RESTRICTING FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. NLM

DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT FAILED. MJS

WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED OF 50 MPH OR GREATER IN VERY HEAVY RAIN, THERE IS AN INITIAL DELAY WHILE BRAKING (0.5 SEC-1 SEC) WHEN BRAKES DON'T HAVE AN EFFECT. PUSHED THE PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED FOR THE INITIAL DELAY. THEN, ABRUPTLY THE CAR BRAKES. ALSO, THERE IS A LACK OF SPLASH SHIELDS ON THE FRONT ROTORS ON THE MODEL YEAR 98 (MODEL YEAR 2000 HAS IT). THE ROTORS HAVE WATER ON THEM AND IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THAT TO BE EVACUATED. *AK

FRONT SHEILD UNDER THE MOTOR BECAME LOOSE. YH

THE CONSUMER HAS A ELECTRICAL SEAT WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HE TURN THE ELECTRICAL SEAT ON NUMBER 1 FOR WARMTH. AND THE SEAT BURN HIM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT FAILED. MJS

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE CONSUMER PARKED IT. BUT, WHEN CONSUMER TRY TO START AND MOVE, VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE DRIVESHAFT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS CHECKING OUT THE VEHICLE AND THE HEADREST, WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED, WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE, WOULD SLIDE DOWN. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE ONE OF ITS TIRES (LEFT REAR) SERVICED BECAUSE IT HAD BEGUN TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE. A SCREW WAS VISIBLE IN THE TIRE. WHILE IN FOR REPAIR THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED SEVERE DRY ROT ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER SIDE TIRES. THE OPENINGS WERE 2-4 INCHES LONG WITH EXPOSURE THROUGH TO THE LINER. THE SERVICE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DRY ROT WAS "NOT UNHEARD OF BUT WAS UNUSUAL" AND THAT THE TWO TIRES WERE FAULTY AND UNSAFE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. BECAUSE MY CAR IS AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODEL ALL FOUR TIRES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO AVOID ANY POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE/QUATTRO SYSTEM. THE SERVICE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE TREAD WEAR WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES INCLUDING THE TWO FAULTY WERE BOUGHT IN JANUARY OF 2003 AND HAD 41K MILES ON THEM. THE FOURTH TIRE WAS NEWER, BOUGHT IN JULY OF 2004 AND HAD 17K MILES ON IT. *JB

EXTREME DIFFICULTYFUELING CAR - PUMP SHUTS OFF CONTINUOUSLY AND FORUMSSEEM TO INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM ABD HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER CARS. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER AND ONLY ADVICE IS TO REPLACE FUELD TANK AT A COST OF SOME $2,000 - CAR HAS 45,000 MILES