RoadVitals

1999 Audi A4 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Mar 4, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 190 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Mar 4, 2010

MY BRAKE LIGHT STARTED BEEPING AND FLASHING ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING. THE BEEPING AND FLASHING CONTINUED THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE AUDI WON'T RELEASE THEIR SERVICE CODES. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE MECHANIC ASKED ME "WERE YOU DRIVING YOUR CAR IN THE RAIN?" I HAD QUITE A FEW SARCASTIC RESPONSES TO THE STUPID QUESTION BUT I JUST SAID, YEAH. I ASSUME A CAR IS ENGINEERED TO BE DRIVEN IN ALL CLIMATES INCLUDING, RAIN. A PRODUCT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO PERFORM ITS INTENDED USE. NOT THE A4. WHO NEEDS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE CAR IF THEY DON'T PLAN ON DRIVING IT THROUGH RAIN AND SNOW? THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ME $1500. HE TOLD ME THAT MY ABS AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY UNTIL I FIX IT. I LIVE IN COLORADO AND I FREQUENTLY DRIVE THROUGH THE SNOW. I DRIVE THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN ICY AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. LUCKILY, IT WAS SUMMER TIME WHEN MY MODULE WENT OUT. I TAKE MY LITTLE SISTERS, LITTLE BROTHERS, AND NEPHEWS SNOWBOARDING. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED OR I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT I THOUGHT HAD ABS, BUT DIDN'T. THERE IS A SLIM MARGIN FOR ERROR WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON SNOWY CURVES THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. I COULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF BY THE TIME I REALIZE MY ABS WASN'T WORKING. OR I COULD SLIDE OVER A GROUP OF PEDESTRIANS. EVEN IF AUDI DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST NOTIFY THEIR OWNERS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DRIVERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF. I WENT ONLINE AND I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AUDI DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING EXCEPT OFFER TO REPAIR THE BROKEN MODULE FOR FULL PRICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10316693
Incident
Jun 10, 2009
Mileage
75,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 7, 2007

JANUARY 17, 2007, 8 DEGREES - DRY ROAD CONDITIONS I ACCELERATED UP A STEEP HILL ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN AT THE TOP OF THE HILL I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE'S RPMS RACED TO 7,000. I POPPED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PUNCHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR REDUCED SPEED AND RPMS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT - IT HAPPENED LAST WINTER WITH WET ROAD CONDITIONS BUT VERY VERY COLD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER LAST YEAR AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I HAD THE ACCELERATOR CABLE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE AUDI A-6 AND THE DEALER CLAIMS MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L, V6 5-VALVE ENGINES, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WHILE DRIVING DURING EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES THE THROTTLE MAY FREEZE IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATING IN THE THROTTLE BODY. IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS HIS/HER FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO MAKE AUDI REALIZE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND APPLIES TO THE A-4 NOT JUST THE A-6. *NM *NM

NHTSA ID
10178918
Incident
Jan 17, 2007
Mileage
73,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 25, 2007

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO MY WIFE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS UNDER 4 DEGREES AND EXTREMELY WINDY AND SNOWING. SHE WARMED THE CAR UP FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING IT. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS A LITTLE BIT OFF COLD. THE HEAT WAS ON AND WORKING FINE. THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO GO, AND HESITATED DURING ACCELERATION. SHE DROVE A MILE TO THE INTERSTATE WITH NO ISSUES AND THE CAR WARMED UP. ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE, SHE DROVE ABOUT A HALF MILE ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 65. WHEN SHE TRIED TO PASS, AND BEGAN ACCELERATING THE THROTTLE FROZE. THE RPMS INCREASED QUICKLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY. SHE TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. SHE DOWNSHIFTED USING THE TIPTRONIC, THE CAR WENT FASTER. SHE PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE RPMS REVVED OUT. THE CAR APPROXIMATELY WAS GOING 90 MILES AN HOUR OR GREATER AT THE APEX OF MY SPEED. SHE GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE BY USING MY E-BRAKE, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AT THE STOP LIGHT BECAUSE SHE FEARED IT WOULD NOT STAY STOPPED. SHE DROVE ABOUT A HALF MILE TO WORK USING THE E-BRAKE AND BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, AND NEARLY HIT A TREE TRYING TO STOP. SHE TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN AFTER SHE PARKED TO SEE IF THE THROTTLE WAS STILL STUCK, IT WAS. THREE HOURS LATER I ARRIVED, STARTED THE CAR, AND THE THROTTLE WAS NO LONGER STUCK. I CALLED THE DEALER THAT DAY, EXPLAINED THE ISSUE, AND THEY WOULDN'T TAKE THE CAR UNTIL 6 DAYS LATER. THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE CAR MAT STUCK UNDER THE PEDALS, AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE APPOINTMENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET LOOKED AT ANYWAY, THEY INSPECTED TO FIND EGR VALVE CLOGGED CAUSING MOISTURE BUILDUP AND THROTTLE TO ICE OVER. THEY REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, AIR PUMP AND VACUUM HOSE AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS TOTALED $546.30. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE A6 THROTTLE BODY FOR THE SAME YEAR, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND THE EXACT SAME PART NUMBER! BUT AUDI CORPORATE TOLD US IT DID NOT APPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE A4 NOT THE A6 AND WAS NOT CONCERNED OR WILLING TO HELP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10180743
Incident
Jan 18, 2007
Mileage
61,900 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 22, 2007

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 1999 AUDI A4. ON 01/19/07 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE I-15 FREEWAY AT 75 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. I BRAKED, AND THE CAR SLOWED A LITTLE, BUT I STILL FELT TENSION, LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO PUSH FORWARD. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FEET WERE NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THE PEDALS. I TRIED PUTTING MY FOOT UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND PULLING IT UP IN CASE IT HAD FROZEN IN A DEPRESSED POSITION, BUT IT WAS NOT FROZEN. THE PEDAL FREELY MOVED UP AND DOWN. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACED TO 7500 RPM WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL (MY FEET WERE COMPLETELY OFF ALL PEDALS). I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF DRIFTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE LOOKED AT A SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN AUDI/VW CARS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE A HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS WITH AUDI CARS FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THEY BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS IN THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH CAN FREEZE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. ACCORDING THE MECHANIC, MOST REPORTED CASES INVOLVE COLD TEMPERATURES AND DRIVING LONG DISTANCES. I WAS DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 5 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EARLIER RECALL ON THE A6 MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME THROTTLE BODY AS OURS, BUT WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD US THAT OURS HAD NO RECALL. THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT THIS WEEK. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR VEHICLE. I HAVE COME ACROSS AN ENTRY ON A DISCUSSION BOARD WHERE SOMEONE REPORTED THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING A 2007 A4. LUCKILY I WAS IN A RURAL AREA WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. I AM AFRAID THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND CAUSE A MORE SERIOUS, MAYBE FATAL ACCIDENT. NOTE: PURCHASE DATE WAS ESTIMATED. EXACT INFORMATION IS IN THE CAR AT THE SHOP. *NM

NHTSA ID
10179409
Incident
Jan 19, 2007
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 12, 2006

THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL (NHTSA: 04V495000 ) ATTACHED BELOW FOR THE 1999 AUDI A6 HAPPENED ON MY CAR THE AUDI A4. IT IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 1999 A4 AS WELL. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN VERMONT WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET/SNOWY AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS DROPPING RAPIDLY (5 DEGREES/HOUR). THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS FREAKY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH AUDI USA, THEY EXPLAINED I NEEDED TO GO TO A DEALER. TWO AUDI DEALERS IN THE BOSTON AREA WERE DISMISSIVE OF THE SITUATION. "THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN YOUR CAR". WELL IT DID AND AUDI SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. 1999 AUDI A6 BASE RECALL ID FROM NHTSA: 04V495000 RECALL DATE: 10/12/2004 COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 28300 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L, V6 5-VALVE ENGINES, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WHILE DRIVING DURING EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES THE THROTTLE MAY FREEZE IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATING IN THE THROTTLE BODY. DEFECT CONSEQUENCE: IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS HIS/HER FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. REMEDY: AUDI WILL INSTALL A REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY KIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WHICH ARE NOT REGISTERED IN THE COLD-WEATHER STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING, WILL BE NOTIFIED OF A SERVICE ACTION, UNDER WHICH THEY WILL BE PROVIDED THE FREE REMEDY UPON REQUEST. NOTES: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC, JB/JG. *JB

NHTSA ID
10150056
Incident
Jan 14, 2006
Mileage
59,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 17, 2005

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE THROTTLE BODY FROZE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AT 85 MPH. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE ITSELF. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10111705
Incident
Jan 18, 2005
Mileage
77,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 23, 2005

AUDI A4 1999 2.8 LITER - THROTTLE STICK DURING COLD WEATHER WHEN CRUISING AT STEADY SPEED OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM REST. DRIVERS ONLY RECOURSE IS TO PULL OVER AND SWITCH ENGINE OFF, WAIT A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE RESTART. IDENTIFIED AS MOISTURE FREEZING IN THROTTLE BODY. NOTE CURRENTLY AUDI A6 RECALL IN PLACE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10107767
Incident
Jan 18, 2005
Mileage
97,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 1, 2004

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH HIS 1999 AUDI A4 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GAS PEDAL PULLED AWAY FROM HIS FOOT TO FULL ACCELERATION WHILE GOING UPHILL. THE VEHICLE REACHED A SPEED OF 80 MPH. THE RECALL DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM DEALT WITH THE AUDI A6 MODEL. NO. 04V495000. *TC *JB

NHTSA ID
10109787
Incident
Dec 1, 1901
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 20, 2004

THROTTLE STICKS AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. THIS HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 10 F. IT OCCURS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS OFF. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HARD TO STOP VEHICLE WITH A THROTTLE STUCK OPEN. LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES WARMS UP THE THROTTLE BODY ENOUGH THE THE THROTTLE UNSTICKS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10054473
Incident
Jan 14, 2004
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 9, 2004

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ON A SUB ZERO (-6 DEGREE F) NIGHT, MY CAR WHICH WAS SET AT 55 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL, ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 62 MPH, AND THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. BRAKING, AND PUSHING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTONS WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH THE FOOT BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO FORCE THE CAR TO A STOP, AND THEN THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE. AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF 3 TIMES, I FINALLY DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. ON THE WAY HOME, WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY CRUISE CONTROL FEATURES, THE THROTTLE ONCE AGAIN BECAME STUCK AND WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. TODAY I HAD THE CAR SERVICED, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED 3 CALLS DURING THE TIME PERIOD I WAS THERE REGARDING A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN THE SAME OR A SIMILAR ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10052734
Incident
Dec 8, 2003
Mileage
55,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed May 16, 2003

WHEN THE CAR WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE REPAIR FACILITY NOTED TO ME THAT I WAS LUCKY TO BRING IT IN WHEN I DID, AS IT WAS AT RISK FOR SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDED AN OIL PUMP FAILURE ($750) AT ABOUT THE THREE YEAR MARK; AND OCCASIONAL SUDDEN LURCHING/RPM REVVING OR SUDDEN ONSET OF A 'LAG' IN POWER, WHICH THE DEALER NOTED WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN BUT COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INDICATOR GAUGE BEING GROSSLY INACCURATE - INDICATING I HAVE USED ONLY A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL TO DRIVE 350 MILES. HOWEVER, THE MOST BOTHERSOME ONGOING PROBLEM IS FOUR OR FIVE TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR A NON-FUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. EACH TIME THEY HAVE 'REPLACED THE VACUUM HOSES' BUT THIS 'REPAIR' WILL BEGIN TO FAIL AGAIN LATER THAT SAME DAY. THE SYSTEM WILL EITHER FAIL TO ENGAGE ALTOGETHER, OR IT WILL BE ENGAGED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, THEN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE SPEED WILL CONTINUALLY DECREASE UNTIL I HAVE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM AND TURN IT OFF. I REPORTED THIS TO AUDI OF AMERICA'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE (VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL) WHO HELPED ME ARRANGE ANOTHER SERVICE VISIT, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. CRUISE CONTROL HAS NEVER WORKED AND I'M GIVING UP ON IT EVER WORKING. I JUST HAVE TO PRETEND THAT I DON'T HAVE IT, WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018789
Incident
May 16, 2003
Mileage
15,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 8, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019515
Incident
May 8, 2003
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 18, 2003

THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME STUCK, WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10010016
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 24, 2001

WHEN ACCELERATOR ROD BREAKS,, RATHER THAN SLOWING DOWN--IT THROWS THE CAR INTO FULL THROTTLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
752494
Incident
Sep 11, 2001
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Feb 21, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
719049
Incident
Apr 20, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 9, 1999
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
832510
Incident
Dec 18, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 27, 1999
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
702658
Incident
Dec 18, 1998

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