2000 Audi S4 Problems

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON ALL THE AUDI S4S AND ALSO ON VW LOOSE PIXELS ON THE DASH AND IT GOES OUT, IT IS A HAZARD BECAUSE THIS IS A GAUGE THAT DOES A SYSTEM CHECK EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, THE CAR TELLS THE DRIVER IF THERE ARE BRAKE PROBLEMS, ENGINE PROBLEMS, ALSO IF LIGHTS ARE OUT I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS TURN SIGNALS, AND ALSO FLUID STATUS OF THE CAR. WHEN THIS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES OUT OR AS AUDI CALLS IT LOSES PIXELS, THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE CAR WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY AND HARM TO THE OPERATOR. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPLACED ON MY CAR OVER 4 TIMES AND IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OTHER AUDI OWNERS. ALSO THE WINDOW REGULATOR CLIP THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW BREAKS AS WELL, AUDI AND VW DID A RECALL VIN SPECIFIC MODELS OF THE BEETLE JETTA AND A4 BUT NOT THE S4, THE CLIP IS THE SAME DESIGN THAT IS USED IN MY VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES OF FAILING AND CAUSES ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE, IF THE CLIP BREAKS THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, I.E. CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BREAK WHICH THROWS GLASS ALL OVER THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR AND ALSO EXPOSES LIMBS TO OBJECTS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES WITH AUDI MULTIPLE TIMES AND PHONE CALLS AND MULTIPLE EMAILS, REGARDLESS OF THE AGE AND MILES ON MY CAR, IT IS THE SAME THINGS THAT KEEP BREAKING, CAUSING THESE SAFETY ISSUES. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE WHEN THESE DESIGNS WERE PUT ON THE MARKET. AND REPLACING THESE ITEMS IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY OCCUPANTS AND MYSELF. THEY NEED TO BE REDESIGNED AND REVAMPED TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES. REPLACING THEM EVERY SINGLE YEAR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN SOMEONE'S LIFE IS AT RISK, DUE TO A BAD AND CARELESS DESIGN. *TR

ABS SENSOR FAILURE ON 2000 AUDI S4 QUATTRO. LIGHT CAME ON AT 114,213. LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FLASH ALONG SIDE OF IT AND BEEP EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT COST 1,700. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ON VW'S AS WELL AS THE AUDI IN YEARS FROM 1996-2001. *TR

COMMUNICATION FAILURE FROM THE ABS MODULE, IT CAUSES THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY LIT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ABS DOES NOT WORK ON THE CAR, IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE UNITS BUT AUDI HASN'T DONE A RECALL. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TO REPLACE THIS UNIT OUT OF POCKET SINCE I'VE OWNED MY 2000 AUDI S4. *TR

ABS SENSOR FAILURE ON 2000 AUDI S4 QUATTRO. LIGHT CAME ON AT 114,213. LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FLASH ALONG SIDE OF IT AND BEEP EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT COST 1,700. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ON VW'S AS WELL AS THE AUDI IN YEARS FROM 1996-2001. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4 WITH BRIDGE STONE BLIZZARD WS- 60 TIRES 235/45/R17. HE STATED WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH THE TIRES DO NOT GRIP AND LOSE TRACTION. BRIDGESTONE WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM .THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE HE PURCHASED THE TIRES. HE HAD REPLACED THEM 2 TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000.

BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK WS-60 TIRES ARE HIDEOUSLY DANGEROUS ON DRY ROADS, AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55MPH, WHEN THEY BEGIN TO LOSE TRACTION. ABOVE 65MPH, THEY ARE TERRIFYINGLY UNSTABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE. NOTE: THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE LM-25 TIRE MODEL. THESE TIRES PERFORM ADEQUATELY. THE PROBLEM IS SEVERE, AND ONLY INVOLVED THE NEWEST MODEL, THE WS-60. *TR

The contact owns a 2000 Audi S4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V056000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Audi Corporate and Also Both Local Audi dealers refuse to repair my safety recall that is open on my car.

LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN AN AUDI S4 WITH 50,000 MILES, I AM HAVING BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES. ONLY MINE ARE MUCH MORE SEVERE THAT WHAT I HAVE READ THUS FAR. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR IT'S 60000, AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHT. LEADING UP TO THE REPAIR, I HAD BEEN *LOSING BRAKE FLUID* ALMOST MONTHLY. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN, FOR ANY REASON. BUT, MY MECHANIC TOOK THREE HOURS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING SULFURIC ACID ONTO MY BRAKE LINE, MY POWER STEERING LINE, AND MY CLUTCH LINE. HE STATED, "ONLY A MECHANICAL MORON WOULD HOUSE THE METAL AND STEAL CABLES UNDERNEATH SULFURIC ACID." CONSEQUENTLY, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR ANY MORE AND THE REPAIRS INLCUDE THE TAKING OUT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO GET TO THE SOURCE, WHICH MAY/MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE FIXED. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE, AND THAT THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS TYPE OF DESIGN-FLAW IS OBVIOUS AND CERTAIN. I EXPECT AUDI WILL NOT COVER THIS DEFECT, CAUSING ME TO SHELL OUT, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS, 2-3,000 BUCKS TO GET IT REPLACED. [XXX] THE MAN. I'LL POST MORE WHEN I KNOW MORE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR THE ONE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. BOTH PARTIES WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS.*AK *AK

DRIVE BY WIRE (DBW) THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM FAILURE. ECU THROWS EPC CODE AND ENGINE POWER IS COMPROMISED. CAR MAY BE UNABLE TO EXCEED 40 MPH AND CAR MAY BUCK UNCONTROLLABLY. RESTARTING CAR MAY CLEAR CONDITION FOR A SHORT TIME. TRAFFIC NEGOTIATION WAS QUITE DANGEROUS, AS DBW SYSTEM MAY ERROR AT ANY TIME. DBW THROTTLE BODY SEEMS TO BE AN ANSWER TO A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT EXIST. *JB

I JUST DID AN OIL CHANGE MYSELF ON THE CAR AND I NOTICED. (BEFORE THE CHANGE) THAT THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE WAS COVERED BY OIL. SO THAT IS THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. I THINK IS IT FROM THE HEAD CYLINDER GASKET, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN THIS EARLY STAGE OF THE CAR SINCE MY LAST INSPECTION WAS ONLY 8000 MILES AGO. I JUST HOPE IT'S NOT WORSE SINCE THE CAR HAS LOST SOME POWER. THE TOTAL COST WAS AN INSANE $1500 BECAUSE THE HEAD CYLINDER AND BOTTOM WAS SEND TO BE RESURFACED, IF YOU NEED IT OR NOT. DT

LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN AN AUDI S4 WITH 50,000 MILES, I AM HAVING BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES. ONLY MINE ARE MUCH MORE SEVERE THAT WHAT I HAVE READ THUS FAR. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR IT'S 60000, AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHT. LEADING UP TO THE REPAIR, I HAD BEEN *LOSING BRAKE FLUID* ALMOST MONTHLY. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN, FOR ANY REASON. BUT, MY MECHANIC TOOK THREE HOURS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING SULFURIC ACID ONTO MY BRAKE LINE, MY POWER STEERING LINE, AND MY CLUTCH LINE. HE STATED, "ONLY A MECHANICAL MORON WOULD HOUSE THE METAL AND STEAL CABLES UNDERNEATH SULFURIC ACID." CONSEQUENTLY, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR ANY MORE AND THE REPAIRS INLCUDE THE TAKING OUT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO GET TO THE SOURCE, WHICH MAY/MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE FIXED. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE, AND THAT THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS TYPE OF DESIGN-FLAW IS OBVIOUS AND CERTAIN. I EXPECT AUDI WILL NOT COVER THIS DEFECT, CAUSING ME TO SHELL OUT, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS, 2-3,000 BUCKS TO GET IT REPLACED. [XXX] THE MAN. I'LL POST MORE WHEN I KNOW MORE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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

I OWN A 2000 AUDI S4, AND I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE INADEQUACY OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://WWW.NICB.ORG/PUBLIC/NEWSROOM/WHEREISMYCAR/TOP25BYSTATE.CFM#NJ THE AUDI S4 IS #25 ON THE MOST-STOLEN-CAR LIST IN NJ, BASED ON QUANTITY ALONE. TO SHOW THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION, LET ME PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE: TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION QUANTITIES: AUDI S4: ~6000 TOYOTA CAMRY: ~300,000 HONDA ACCORD: ~250,000 FORD ESCORT: ~150,000 THERE ARE LESS THAN 4% THE NUMBER OF S4'S ON THE ROAD THAN CAMRYS, ACCORDS, AND ESCORTS! YET, BASED ON QUANTITY (NOT PERCENTAGE) OF STOLEN CARS, THE S4 IS #25. IF THE LIST PORTRAYED # OF STOLEN VEHICLES AS A PERCENTAGE OF # OF VEHICLES PRODUCED, THEN SURELY THE S4 WOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THIS LIST AND PROBABLY ATOP THE LIST OF SEVERAL OTHER STATES AS WELL! THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION THAT MUST BE DEALT WITH. KEEP IN MIND THAT AUDI/VW DECIDED TO NOT PLACE AN IMMOBILIZER IN THESE CARS DUE TO COST SAVINGS PURPOSES. THEY HAD THE TECHNOLOGY, AS IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE 99-UP VW JETTA. THIS CAR IS SIMPLY A HIGH RISK AUTOMOBILE TO OWN BECAUSE OF AUDI'S BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE INADEQUACY OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. IT LITERALLY ONLY REQUIRES TWO TOOLS AND 2 MINUTES TO BREAK INTO THE CAR, DISABLE THE ALARM, AND ENGAGE THE IGNITION SWITCH....DONE. SCARY! *JB

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

DRIVERS SEAT IS ROCKING. WHEN YOU SHIFT GEARS OR BRAKE YOU WILL FEEL THE ROCKING MOTION. ITS CONTINUOSLY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR. I'VE JUST TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY "COULD REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM & IT IS WITHIN SPECS." I FEEL THAT THIS IS GETTING WORSE AND IS EVEN UNSAFE. I HAVE SPOKE WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS ABOUT THIS AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERS.*AK

MY AUDI S4 WAS ALMOST STOLEN IN NJ RIGHT BY ROUTE 9 IN FORT LEE. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS DRILLED OUT TO TRY AND CIRCUMVENT THE ALARM. LUCKILY, SOMETHING SPPOKED THEM OR THE CLUB WAS A DETERRENT. STILL, IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS EASY TO STEAL THIS CAR LIKE THIS. I'VE HEARD OF MANY STOLEN THIS WAY. AUDI PUT IN A CRAPPY ALARM THAT DOES NOT WORK UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS...

I WAS ON HIGHWAY 93 NORTH GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I SUDDENLY I HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND AS SOON I HIT THE BRAKES MY REAR BRAKES LOCKED IN AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I HAD TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AND CHANGE THE LANE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I WENT HOME DID SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE AND I FOUND OUT FROM ON-LINE FORUMS AND OTHER WEBSITES THAT EVERYBODY WHO OWNS AUDI S4 2000 HAVE SAME PROBLEM THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE NOT JUST A RECALL BUT AUDI SHOULD BEE SUED FOR MAKING A CAR THAT WOULD AND WILL KILL PEOPLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE LATCH SYSTEM AND THEREFORE WAS UNABLE TO INSTALL A CAR SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LATCH SYSTEM KIT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE WITH THE REVISED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 690803. THE LATCH SYSTEM WAS NOT INSTALLED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,705.

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON ALL THE AUDI S4S AND ALSO ON VW LOOSE PIXELS ON THE DASH AND IT GOES OUT, IT IS A HAZARD BECAUSE THIS IS A GAUGE THAT DOES A SYSTEM CHECK EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, THE CAR TELLS THE DRIVER IF THERE ARE BRAKE PROBLEMS, ENGINE PROBLEMS, ALSO IF LIGHTS ARE OUT I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS TURN SIGNALS, AND ALSO FLUID STATUS OF THE CAR. WHEN THIS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES OUT OR AS AUDI CALLS IT LOSES PIXELS, THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE CAR WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY AND HARM TO THE OPERATOR. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPLACED ON MY CAR OVER 4 TIMES AND IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OTHER AUDI OWNERS. ALSO THE WINDOW REGULATOR CLIP THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW BREAKS AS WELL, AUDI AND VW DID A RECALL VIN SPECIFIC MODELS OF THE BEETLE JETTA AND A4 BUT NOT THE S4, THE CLIP IS THE SAME DESIGN THAT IS USED IN MY VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES OF FAILING AND CAUSES ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE, IF THE CLIP BREAKS THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, I.E. CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BREAK WHICH THROWS GLASS ALL OVER THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR AND ALSO EXPOSES LIMBS TO OBJECTS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES WITH AUDI MULTIPLE TIMES AND PHONE CALLS AND MULTIPLE EMAILS, REGARDLESS OF THE AGE AND MILES ON MY CAR, IT IS THE SAME THINGS THAT KEEP BREAKING, CAUSING THESE SAFETY ISSUES. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE WHEN THESE DESIGNS WERE PUT ON THE MARKET. AND REPLACING THESE ITEMS IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY OCCUPANTS AND MYSELF. THEY NEED TO BE REDESIGNED AND REVAMPED TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES. REPLACING THEM EVERY SINGLE YEAR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN SOMEONE'S LIFE IS AT RISK, DUE TO A BAD AND CARELESS DESIGN. *TR

THUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION FOR LAST TWO YEARS WHEN I GET ON THE GAS OR ON THE BRAKES. TWO SEPARATE DEALERS TOOK THE CAR FOR A ROAD TEST AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND MORE NOTICEABLE. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS COULD BE LEADING UP TO A FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION OR STEERING.*AK

THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING IS ANALOGOUS TO A RECALL ALREADY ANNOUNCED FOR THE AUDI A6: NHTSA RECALL NO. 00V-147, VW RECALL NO. UR **LA I HAVE A 2000 AUDI S4 WITH 64,000 MILES. I RECENTLY RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM A 64,000 MILE SERVICE. MY GAS GAUGE HAD INDICATED I HAD AT LEAST A QUARTER TANK OF GAS LEFT, AND MY TRIP COMPUTER INDICATED I HAD MORE THAN 60 MILES UNTIL EMPTY. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING. AT FIRST, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THROUGH 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER AND GET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. I CHECKED MY CAR, AND THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF THE PROBLEM. I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT MY TRIP COMPUTER MILES COUNTER (WHICH I RESET ON EVERY FILL-UP), WAS READING HIGHER THAN WOULD BE TYPICAL. IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT I SUSPECTED I HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. I CALLED AAA, REQUESTING A GALLON OF GAS. INDEED, THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE IN MY SITUATION. I DOUBT OTHERS WHO ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE AS LUCKY. I'VE ALREADY HEARD MANY STORIES ON CAR FORUMS, ETC. OF OWNERS HAVING 'CLOSE CALLS' BECAUSE THEY'VE RUN OUT OF GAS WHEN THEY DON'T EXPECT TO. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN LINKED TO THE SENDING UNIT AUDI USES IN THESE MODELS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FAILURES, AND IT IS ALL TOO COMMON A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL TO THE SENDING UNIT FAILURES ON THE 2000 A6, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULDN'T BE ADDRESSED ON THE 2000 A4/S4 (B5 PLATFORM) OR ANY OTHER MODEL THAT USES THE SAME UNIT. *LA

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