1998 Audi A4 Suspension Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10299063

Incident

Dec 30, 2009

Mileage

152,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10242986

Incident

Aug 10, 2008

Mileage

115,110 mi

VEHICLE HAS 114K MILES IN NORTHEAST CONDITIONS, BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN; POSSIBLE DEFECT LIKE IN THE FORD TAURUS RECALLS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10223308

Incident

Mar 14, 2008

Mileage

114,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE IS UNABLE TO HAVE A RECALL 99V248000 REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE. HE PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE LAST WEEK WITH AN OUTSTANDING RECALL, WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO OFFER A FREE REMEDY. THE RECALL STATED THAT THE TIE RODS WOULD BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER BOOTS THE TIE RODS WOULD NOT BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE DEALER PROVIDED A REPAIR ORDER INDICATING THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DAMAGED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10141322

Incident

Oct 18, 2005

Mileage

34,528 mi

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED FOR RECALL REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT FOR WORK PERFORMED ON THE 1998 AUDI A4 LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *MR ALL 4 UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND ONE BOLT ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA ID

10133469

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE UPPER, LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS AND THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A SEVERE OIL LEAKAGE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE DURING ACCELERATION. OIL WAS FOUND IN THE SPARK PLUG CAVITIES AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRES PROTECTIVE SLEEVE WAS BRITTLE DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10113846

Incident

Mar 9, 2005

Mileage

109,000 mi

AFTER LESS THAT 70K MILES, THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS (SPECIFICALLY THE BUSHINGS THAT PROTECT THE CONTROL ARMS' JOINTS) ON MY AUDI A4 HAVE PROVED DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO MY TECHNICIAN, THE CONTROL ARMS ARE THE PART OF THE CAR THAT MAKE STEERING POSSIBLE; THEREFORE, FAULTY CONTROL ARMS CREATE AN ENORMOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND A LIABILITY. AUDI HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS -- DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE MORE DEFECTIVE. EVERY AUDI TECHNICIAN THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS DEFECT HAS ADMITTED THAT AUDI IS DUCKING THE PROBLEM, AND AS A CONSUMER I FEEL CHEATED. AUDI IS NOT OPERATING ON GOOD FAITH. THIS IS BAD BUSINESS THAT LEAVES UNASSUMING CONSUMERS BEARING THE BURDEN NOT ONLY OF COSTLY REPAIRS BUT ALSO OF HAZARDOUS MECHANICAL FAILURES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105601

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL ON MY 1998 AUDI A-4 FOR A PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE DEALER SAID THESE WERE OKAY, BUT THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS WERE BAD, AND ALSO THE STEERING TIE-RODS.*AK WHEN I CALLED AUDI THAT IT WAS THE UPPER NOT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS THAT WERE BAD THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS FOR THE LOWER. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR TECHNITIAN TO CONFIRM, WHICH HE DID. HE ALSO SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE TIE RODS IN SUCH BAD CONDITION. REPAIR COSTS ARE ABOUT $500. BECAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE BOTH PART OF THE SAME UNIT AND THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE HIGH MILEAGE (59,000 MILES) I DO NOT FEEL IT IS RIGHT FOR ME TO HAVE BEAR THIS COST.

NHTSA ID

10103966

Incident

Dec 16, 2004

Mileage

59,000 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON MY 1998 AUDI A4. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE SERVICE. THEY ARE GOING TO INSPECT MY CONTROL ARMS. IF THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED I MUST PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE I CAN PROVE THAT I HAD AN AUDI TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THE CONTROL ARMS AT THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED INTERVALS. THIS SEEMS VERY UNSAFE SEEING HOW IT AFFECTS THE STEERING OF THE CAR. IT ALSO SEEMS UNUSUAL AN INSPECTION OF THE CONTROL ARMS WOULD PREVENT A FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARMS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102579

Incident

Dec 10, 2004

Mileage

150,000 mi

CONTROL ARMS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE GONE BAD IN THE LAST YEAR. I DONT THINK THAT IS RIGHT FOR THE PARTS TO FAIL LIKE THAT.. I BOUGHT THE AUDI CAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A SAFE AND RELIABLE CAR, WHEN ALL IT HAS BEEN FOR ME IS A MONEY TRAP. *AK

NHTSA ID

10102412

Incident

May 1, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998.5 AUDI A4 QUATTRO V6 WITH THE SPORTS PACKAGE. MANY HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT CONTROL ARMS FAILING AND THERE HAS EVEN BEEN NEWS OF AUDI/VW HAVING A RECALL FOR THEM IN EUROPE, BUT NOT THE U.S. MANY HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT WHEELS FALLING OFF DUE TO BAD CONTROL ARMS AND MINE HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO NOISE AND TORN WORN OUT CONTROL ARMS. THEY FAILED AT 77,000 MILES AND HAD TO HAVE ALL OF THEM REPLACED (ABOUT $900 W/LABOR). MY VIN# IS WAUED28D8WA35854. MY CURRENT CONTROL ARMS ARE STARTING TO MAKE NOISE AGAIN AND I REALLY FEEL UNSAFE AFTER HEARING ABOUT WHEELS FALLING OFF DUE TO BAD CONTROL ARMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091160

Incident

Aug 22, 2002

Mileage

75,000 mi

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE CONSUMER WILL GET IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092524

Incident

Sep 15, 2004

MY 1998 AUDI A4 TQM HAS 85K MILES ONIT. I JUST HAD ALL THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED FOR A SECOND TIME (FIRST TIEM DONE UNDER RECALL) BECAUS EIT WAS CREAKING AND GROWNING. BOTH TIE RODSENDS AND ONE UPPER CONTROL ARM WERE FOUND TO HAVE FAILED AS WELL. AUDI ADVISES THESE ARE "WEAR ITEMS" EVEN THOUGH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WER EORIGINALLY REPLACED UNDER RECALL, AND HAVE ONLY 45000 MILES ON THEM! *AK

NHTSA ID

10086184

Incident

Jul 20, 2004

WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT WHEN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED AT THE BALL JOINT. WAS PROBABLY TRAVELING 10-15 MPH IN TRAFFIC ON A 50MPH ROAD. THE FRONT LEFT HIT THE GROUND AND THE CAR STOPPED QUICKLY. THE WHEEL WAS PUSHED BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FENDER. THE CONTROL ARM HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10074860

Incident

May 26, 2004

1998 AUDI A4 FWD / 101,000 MILES / BROKEN DRIVERS SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM / FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENT (LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM) SNAPPED AT BUSHING AS I WAS PARKING. CAR WAS RENDERED LIMP AND COULD NOT BE TOWED DUE TO PROBABLE FENDER DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE CAUSED BY DRAGGING LIMP WHEEL. HAD THIS COMPONENT BROKEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE.

NHTSA ID

10060852

Incident

Mar 5, 2004

Mileage

101,000 mi

MULTITUDE OF PROBS. W/ ALMOST EVERY ASPECT (BRAKES, ENGINE VALVES, OIL LIGHT STAYS ON, RAIN LEAKS, BAD WHEEL BEARINGS, ETC.) OF THIS CAR. MOST FRUSTRATING HAS BEEN RUDE AND INCOMPETENT SERVICE BY AUDI DEALER. AFTER AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THE DEALER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH NOT ALL THE NOISE WAS GONE, THE CAR WAS SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE TO CALIF.,(WE LIVE IN NJ). WE DID NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER BECAUSE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE REMAINED AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHERE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE FOUND TO BE DAMAGED. WE WERE ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DO SO . *AK

NHTSA ID

10037337

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

THE CONTROL ARMS (CAR HAS: 4 UPPER AND 4 LOWER IN TOTAL) HAVE FAILED 3X IN 2 YEARS. THESE ARE DEFECTIVE AND AUDI KNOWS IT. THE ARMS CONTAIN A BUSHING THAT WEARS OUT CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO MAKE CREAKING AND RATTLING NOISES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030356

Incident

Jul 29, 2003

Mileage

59,000 mi

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION, AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *MJ

NHTSA ID

8011153

LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS WORN OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF PREMATURE FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

885828

THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS BEEN REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURANCE AMONG A4 OWNERS. AUDI HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM AFTER IT HAD BEGUN SHOWING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. AUDIWORLD.COM LISTS WELL OVER 50 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. I FELT YOU SHOULD BE NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

729568

Incident

Oct 30, 1999

MY CAR SUFFERS FROM THE SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V248000, BUT IS NOT COVERED AS IT WAS MFD 11/98. THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPAIR BUT I WANTED TO NOTIFY NHTSA THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER ALL DEFECTIVE VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

725260

Incident

Jun 15, 2000

THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED IN SEPT., 1999. STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE AT MY DEALER. I HOPE YOU ARE IN CONTACT WITH AUDI AND PLAN TO CITE THEM FOR SLOW COMPLIANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

715438

THIS PART ISN'T DANGEROUS AT FAILURE BUT IS VERY NOISY AND SEEM TO FAIL AT ANYTIME AFTER 15,000 MILES. ONCE REPAIRED THEY MAY OR MAY NOT FAIL AGAIN. ITS ABOUT $1000 TO FIX THEM IF NOT UNDER WARANTEE. I BELIEVE OWNERS SHOULD HAVE AN EXTENDED WARANTEE ON THIS ITEM.

NHTSA ID

712020

Incident

Aug 13, 1999

RIGHT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM BROKE. IT MAY CAUSE WHEEL TO FALL AND RESULT IN A CRASH. THERE IS A NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON PARTS, AND DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND SAID THA T A NEW DESIGN OF THE CONTROL ARM IS ON THE WAY. BUT MAMUFACTURER DOES NOT ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID

838141

Incident

May 8, 1999