2001 Audi A4 Complaint Log

I just purchased this vehicle from a private owner. I am already aware of the driver side airbag recall. Went to turn key to auxiliary to close sun roof and the steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The vehicle had been parked and not driven for over 12 hours. Vehicle is available for inspection any time.

The contact owns a 2001 Audi A4. The contact stated that upon closing the driver's side door, her husband heard a loud gun-like sound and he noticed that the passenger-side curtain air bags had deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's husband cut the curtain air bags and drove the vehicle to his residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. The VIN was not available.

2001 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.8L. AS DRIVING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM HOOD.. PARK AND REALIZE THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. IT LOOK LIKE IT STARTED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AND SPREAD. I READ THAT AUDI HAD A RECALL ON HEAD LIGHT SWITCH BUT DID NOT REC, A RECALL LETTER. NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED MY AUDI CAUGHT ON FIRE. I DONT'T HAVE PICTURES TO UPLOAD BUT I WILL SOON. I AM VERY HURT TO KNOW THAT THE CAR I ENJOYED DRIVING CAUGHT ON FIRE/DISAPPOINTED WITH AUDI

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT AT ~65MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CITED A "CRASH" SIGNAL FROM SIDE IMPACT SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FALSE DEPLOYMENT. NO PHYSICAL CAUSE COULD BE FOUND, NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND ON VEHICLE AND ALL AIRBAG SYSTEM WIRING WAS FOUND TO BE INTACT AND ORIGINAL. MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OWN FAILURE AND CITED THE VEHICLE BEING LOWERED AS THE CAUSE. MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE FOR THIS CONCLUSION AND VEHICLE IS WELL WITHIN LOCAL LAWS/REGULATIONS FOR LOWERED VEHICLES.

BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE, COMING OFF FREEWAY, WAS COASTING THRU LIGHT, TRAFFIC STOPPED, BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED, BRAKE PEDAL WAS SUDDENLY FLUSH WITH FLOOR. REARENDED A CAR, CAR STARTED JUMPING FORWARD. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. CAR WAS TOWED AFTER ACCIDENT, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE, IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO BRAKE PROBLEM. REPAIR SHOP SAID BRAKES FAILED TO VACUUM HOSE BREAKING, NO WARNING PRIOR TO LOSING BRAKES. *TR

WHILE USING MY HEATER ON MY SEATS AND A PILLOW FOR ADDITIONAL BACK SUPPORT, I NOTICED SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN GETTING OUT OF MY CAR I NOTICED THAT MY PILLOW WAS LEAKING...AND UPON PULLING THE PILLOW OFF THE DRIVERS SEAT, IT WAS DAMAGED/BURNED THROUGH. I ALSO NOTICED THAT A BURNED HOLE THE SIZE OF A QUARTER IS NOW QUITE VISIBLE. WORRIED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE A CAR FIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ECU MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

ABS MODULE FAILURE. *TR

2001 AUDI A4 WITH TIMING BELT FAILURE AND REPAIR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIMING BELT REPAIR DID NOT LAST AND HIS VEHICLE COMPLETELY FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED OF AN OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. *KB UPDATED 10/19/11.

ALL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A DRIVER'S SIDE "T-BONE" COLLISION. A-4 IS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIRBAGS. A-4 WAS STATIONARY AND OCCUPIED, MINIVAN CRASHED INTO DRIVER'S DOOR AND PART OF FRONT QUARTER PANEL. VAN'S RATE OF TRAVEL WAS 20 TO 30 MPH IN REVERSE! MY WIFE SUFFERED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. LOCAL AUDI DEALER REPLACED THE SIDE AIRBAG # 8D0 880 241 AA AND THE AIRBAG CONTROLLER MODULE # 8D0 959 655 G. ONLY AT MY INSISTENCE, WAS THIS WORK PERFORMED WHEN I CONTINUED TO QUESTION WHY NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY DIRECT QUESTIONS WERE MET WITH, "YOU KNOW, MORE INJURIES OCCUR WHEN AN AIRBAG GOES OFF, SO, YOUR WIFE IS PROBABLY LUCKIER THAT THEY DIDN'T WORK". WTF?! HEY BUDDY, LET'S PUT YOU IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND RAM MINIVAN INTO IT WITH THE SAME SPEED AND MASS! ALSO, REST YOUR ARM ON THE OPEN WINDOW AND SEE IF YOU DON'T LOSE AN ARM LIKE MY WIFE ALMOST DID. WHAT ARE THESE GUY'S TRYING TO COVER UP FOR AUDI?! HAS THERE BEEN A CORPORATE DECREE OF TOTAL LIABILITY AVOIDANCE WITH DECEIT BEING PUSHED DOWN TO THE DEALER LEVEL, OR ARE THEY JUST IDIOTS? I'M ALSO IN THE CLASS ACTION REGARDING THE OIL SLUDGE LAWSUIT. NOW THEY ARE DENYING 1/2 OF MY CLAIM BECAUSE THEY SAY I'M MISSING PROOF OF A SINGLE OIL CHANGE THAT SHOULD BE IN THE RECORDS OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE WORK, WHICH FOR SOME REASON ALL THE RECORDS PERTAINING TO THAT CRITICAL TIMELINE HAVE BEEN WIPED OFF AUDI'S CORPORATE COMUPTER SYSTEM. WHEN WILL IT ALL END? I'M ABOUT TO DRIVE THIS [XXX] CAROVER A CLIFF! ANY AUDI EXECS WANT TO GO FOR A RIDE? I FEEL I HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR A LONG ENOUGH RIDE AFTER SOME $15,000 TO $20,000 IN REPAIRS OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS. LET'S HOPE OUR AIRBAGS WILL BE FREE FROM FAILURE IN THE EVENT OF A FUTURE ACCIDENT. SOMEONE ELSE'S EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT SWITCHING OUT THE MODULE WITH THE SAME MODEL MODULE HAS NOT ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY AND IT HAS RE-OCCURRED, I.E., RED LIGHT IN DASH COMING ON AGAIN AND FAILURE TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS IN CRASH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *KB

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERING AND SHUTTING OFF DURING OPERATION AT NIGHT. THE LEFT LOW BEAM BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE HEAD LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY, LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND WERE WORKING NORMALLY NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR AND IN MY OPINION A VERY DANGEROUS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI IN A RECALL FOR THE OBVIOUS BALLAST, BULB, WIRING, PROBLEM THAT EXISTS ON THIS CAR. *TR

THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY ON MY 2001 AUDI A4 1.8T. YOU CAN ONLY SEE HALF THE SCREEN ON THE CENTER DISPLAY THAT NOTIFIES YOU WHEN THE CAR NEEDS TO BE SERVICED AND IF ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AUDI SHOULD RECALL AND REPAIR ANY CARS WITH THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE I HAVE READ SEVERAL REVIEWS OF THE SAME PROBLEM SO OBVIOUSLY IT IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD LOOK INTO. *TR

2001 AUDI A4 2.8 ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROLLER FAILURE. *TR

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED. MODULES ARE DEFECTIVE AND AUDI SHOULD RECALL THEM. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THOUSANDS OF AUDI/VW CAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. COST TO REPLACE MODULE IS $1500-2000 DOLLARS. VW HAS ISSUED RECALL OF THIS ABS MODULE, BUT AUDI HAS NOT (EVEN THOUGH SAME EXACT PART). NHTSA NEEDS TO PUT PRESSURE ON AUDI TO RECALL THIS COMPONENT, THEY ARE DEFECTIVE, UNSAFE, AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. *TR

2001 AUDI A4 AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH. DEALER CHECKED AND STATED AIR BAG MODULE BAD. ORDER ONE AND WAS INSTALLED APRIL 27, 2010. PART # 8D0-959-655-G MODULE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM. CAN CAUSE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY. SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN IT DID. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. HE STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BREAKS SENSOR ILLUMINATES CONSTANTLY. HE HAD THE GARAGE REPLACED THE BREAK SENSOR TWICE. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS DONE ON JANUARY 10, 2010 AND THE SECOND BREAK SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS FEBRUARY 16, 2010 AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,034. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.

FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE CONTROL UNIT IN AN AUDI 2001 A4 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH SNOW. IT OCCURRED IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ABS BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING DRIVING ON SNOW AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. $710.00 WAS THE COST OF THE REPAIR FOR A FAULTY UNIT AND A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT AUDI KNOWS ABOUT IT. GOOD THING THAT I WAS GOING REALLY SLOW AND I WAS EXITING THE SLIPPERY FREEWAY AT THE TIME AND I DIDN'T SLIDE. THANK YOU! *TR

1. ONE DAY SUDDENLY MY AUDI 2001 A4 STARTS TO SHOW ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT TO BE FAILING. 2. THE FAILURE WHEN DIAGNOSED SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH AUDI'S ABS CONTROL UNIT, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. 3. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET, BECAUSE DEALERS QUOTED A HUGE PRICE OF MORE THAN 1500$ TO FIX THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. *TR

ABS ELECTRICAL MODULE THAT HAS FAILED AND IS APPARENTLY A HUGE PROBLEM, IT AFFECTS THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 99% CANNOT BE READ DUE TO THE LCD DISPLAY FADING. HAVE DONE MULTIPLE SEARCHES AND 9 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. AUDI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PAIN FOR ME BECAUSE SOMETIMES MY CAR WILL BEEP AND DISPLAY SOMETHING ON THE LCD SCREEN BUT BECAUSE IT'S FADING I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IT'S TELLING ME. I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING AND SOMETHING LIFE THREATENING HAPPEN BECAUSE OF A MISSED MESSAGE BECAUSE THE LCD SCREEN IS BROKEN. FIX THIS BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT AND START FILING LAWSUITS. *TR

EXCESSIVE GAS FUMES FROM CAR. DEALER AND OTHER SERVICE CENTER LOOKED FOR PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER CAR WAS UNFIT TO DRIVE - SMELLED SO BAD FROM GASOLINE FUMES - A SERVICE GARAGE REMOVED THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL WAS SEEPING THROUGH MOLDED IN PLASTIC CONNECTION FITTINGS ON TOP OF THE TANK AT THEIR MOLDED INTERFACE TO THE TANK - THE TANK IS A POLY TYPE TANK. THE TANK WAS REPLACED. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT. HAD THE FUMES BEEN NEAR AN IGNITION SOURCE A POSSIBLE FIRE OR WORSE COULD HAVE RESULTED. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE DISSIMILAR MATERIALS USED FOR THE TANK AND FITTINGS LOST THEIR SEAL OVER TIME. AUDI OF AMERICA HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN DEALING WITH THIS. SINCE THERE WERE 4 FUEL TANKS AVAILABLE ON A FRIDAY AND ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, THERE WERE NONE, SO I HAD TO WAIT UP TO 2 ADDITIONAL WEEKS TO GET A TANK - I SUSPECT THEY ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, I AM ORIGINAL OWNER, AND IT HAS NO ACCIDENTS. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL FAILED FUEL TANK AT THIS TIME. DATE OF REPAIR 6/29/09 TO 7/21/09. *TR

2001 AUDI A4 WITH ABOUT 105K MILES ON. ABS SENSOR IS FAULTY AND THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDESPREAD AMONGST AUDI A4S BUILT AROUND THIS TIME. IT IS A $1500 - $2000 REPAIR FOR A PART THAT REALLY DOESN'T SEEM TO GO BAD WITH THIS FREQUENCY IN OTHER CARS. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE SCORE, SEE THIS SITE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY SITES WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AROUND THIS ISSUE: HTTP://AUDI-VW-ABS-RECALL.BLOGSPOT.COM/2005/07/AUDI-AND-VW-PLEASE-RECALL-CARS-BETWEEN.HTML. *TR

THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS SO FAR HOWEVER MY WARNING DISPLAY ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2001 AUDI A4 1.8T HAS BE CONTINUALLY FADING IN WARM WEATHER LEAVING ME UNABLE TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THIS CAN BECOME VERY SERIOUS IF I CAN'T SEE IF SOMETHING MAJOR COMES UP THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACED ALL FOUR COILS TWO (2) TIMES ON MY AUDI A.4 1.8T AND AUDI USA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

MY 2001 AUDI A4 HAS CENTRAL LCD DISPLAY TO DISPLAY ALL SORT OF INFORMATION, BUT THIS DISPLAY FAILS IN MOST OF A4S JUST AFTER A FEW YEARS. THIS IS CRITICAL FOR VEHICLE SAFETY, BECAUSE THIS CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER INDICATORS TO SIGNAL ABNORMAL CONDITIONS OF THE CAR SUCH AS LOW COOLANT, CHECK ENGINE, ETC. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE LOOK AT HTTP://AUDIFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=46512 FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

1. WE WERE STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON AN INCLINE FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MINUTES SLOWLY APPROACHING THE CALDECOTT TUNNEL (CAL. HIGHWAY 24-EAST BOUND) WHICH WAS BACKED UP. I WAS REQUIRED TO PUSH OUR MANUAL CLUTCH IN AN OUT REPEATEDLY DURING THE BACKUP, BUT WAS VERY CAREFUL NOT TO "RIDE" THE CLUTCH. 2. TWICE IN A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS, THE SPECIAL "DUAL CLUTCH" FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY BEGAN TO CATCH FIRE. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE CAR BECAME INOPERATIVE AND HAD TO BE TOWED. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE AND DANGER, BUT THE CAR WAS AGAIN INOPERATIVE. IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE DEFECTIVE FLYWHEEL DESIGN WHICH IS CATCHING FIRE SINCE THE CLUTCH IN THE FIRST INSTANCE HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. 3. IN BOTH INSTANCES WITHIN THE 12-MONTH PERIOD, THE ENTIRE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE CLUTCH WAS STILL OPERATIVE. THE EXPENSE WAS APPROXIMATELY $3000 FOR EACH REPAIR SINCE AUDI CLAIMED THIS WAS "DRIVER ERROR." (THE REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.) THIS IS A PREPOSTEROUS CLAIM SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES SUCCESSFULLY FOR 40+ YEARS WITHOUT HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS EXPERIENCED WITH THE FIRE-PRONE AUDI FLYWHEEL. SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND EXPERIENCES ARE REPORTED ON THE INTERNET ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON VARIOUS FORUMS. ALL SUCH REPORTS DETAIL A SIMILAR DENIAL OF RESPONSIBILITY BY AUDI. *TR

AIRBAG CONTROLLER FAILS WITH NO APPARENT REASON. UNIT GENERATES AN UNCLEAR FAULT CODE (65535) WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 32 DEGREES. THIS WILL NOT ALLOW THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN LESS THAN A YEAR LATER. *TR

WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND HIT INTO A CAR THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS SMASHED IN AND STILL NOT ONE SINGLE AIR BAG GOT DEPLOYED. IT IS AN 2001 AUDI A4 1.8T. THERE IS OVER 6 AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE AND NOT ONE GOT DEPLOYED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT NEEDED REPLACING AND THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,429.

1. BOTH TIMES, CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN NORMALLY AT AROUND 30-40 MPH WHEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING AT ALL, THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED FROM IT'S SPEED TO ZERO MPH IMMEDIATELY, ENGINE DIES AND ALL POWER WAS GONE FROM THE CAR. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE CAR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. IT IS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE. THIS CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED TO ALL MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS WITH OEM PARTS USED FOR ALL SERVICES WHICH ARE ALL DONE BY CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALER OR REPUTABLE INDEPENDENT SHOP. 2. OCCURRED FIRST ON SUNDAY 4/27/08 AND AGAIN ON 5/1/08. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE ON QUIET SUBARBAN STREETS AND NOT THE HIGHWAY OTHERWISE WITH THE CAR COMING TO A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STOP THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY MESSY ACCIDENT. IMAGINE GOING FROM 65MPH TO 0MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON A RUSH HOUR FREEWAY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS VERY THOROUGHLY. 3. AFTER FIRST INCIDENT, CAR WAS TAKEN TO REPUTABLE AUDI AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT REPLACED AN ELECTRIC WIRE, ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND IGNITION SWITCH. MECHANICS' CLAIM TO HAVE FOUND POWER SUPPLY CABLE TO THE ECU WITH EXCESSIVE RESISTANCE, TRACED THE WIRE AND FOUND A BAD CONNECTION IN THE HARNESS CONNECTOR. BY-PASSED CONNECTOR AND NOW THE COMPUTER IS COMMUNICATING OK (COPIED FROM MECHANICS' OPERATIONS AND PARTS REPORT). THIS TOOK THE MECHANICS' 3 DAYS AS THEY SAID IT WAS A VERY FREAKY, UNUSUAL AND HARD TO FIND AND SOLVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CLEARLY THIS DID NOT WORK SINCE THE CAR AGAIN SUDDENLY STOPPED 5 HOURS AFTER THE ALLEGED FIX. NOW HAVE TOWED THE CAR TO AUDI DEALERSHIP. 4. AFTER FIRST INCIDENT, CALLED AUDI CLIENT RELATIONS U.S.A. TO INFORM THEM OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK TO HELP MAKE SURE IT DID NOT HAPPEN TO OTHERS IN THE FUTURE SINCE IT COULD LEAD TO A VERY MESSY/FATAL ACCIDENT(S) BUT THEY WERE NOT AT ALL INTERESTED SINCE IT IS OUTSIDE WARRANTY. *TR

PURCHASED AN 2001 AUDIO (USED) AT D & S AUTO AND WITHIN A WEEK THERE WAS SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT BACK TO D & S AUTO. D & S AUTO HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID THE LIST OF PROBLEMS WERE NONE FOUND, ONLY THAT THEY FIXED THE ENGINE LIGHT. COUPLE DAYS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND ALSO THE REAR BACK TIRE WAS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. D & S AUTO MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE 2001 AUTO TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT. ALSO, PURCHASED THE BEST FULL WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PRINTED OUT A LIST OF PROBLEMS WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE HE SAID THAT ARE PROBLEMS AND THE COST WAS GOING TO BE AROUND $3,000.00 AND THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS. *TR

OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE DASHBOARD. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A RUBBER BODY PLUG IN THE RIGHT FRONT TOWBOARD IGNITED DUE TO AN OVERHEATED EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAUSING A FIRE THAT BURNED ON THE RIGHT FRONT FLOOR AND UPWARD INTO THE DASH. SPARK PLUGS SHOWED AN ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROBLEM EXISTED THAT CAUSED THE OVERHEATED EXHAUST. *TR

CENTER LCD DISPLAY WHICH CARRIES INFORMATION RELEVANT TO SAFETY IS FAILING. LOT OF THE INFORMATION DISPLAYED IS NOT READABLE AND HENCE PROPER ACTION CAN'T BE TAKEN TO KEEP THE CAR SAFE. AUDI REFUSES TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS. *TR

FACTORY HEATED SEAT SET ON LOWEST SETTING AND BURNING HOLE THROUGH LEATHER AND CLOTHING! LEFT HOLE SIZE OF DIME IN FRONT DRIVERSIDE SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,800. UPDATED 11/26/07.

LCD PANEL IN INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BLANKING OUT/CAUSING INFORMATION TO BE GARBLED ON THE SCREEN. *TR

IN 2007 XENON HEADLIGHTS DROPPED/DIPPED HEADLIGHT LEVEL SENSOR REPLACED AND LIGHTS APPEARED TO WORK CORRECTLY. IN 2011 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. APPEARS TO BE WORKING OK. DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AIMED INCORRECTLY IS A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A COMMON DESIGN FLAW WITH THE XENON HEADLIGHTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. HE HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER CIRCUIT FAILED DUE TO A LEAK ON THE ROOF. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,140.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HALF OF THE DISPLAY PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. AS OF NOVEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

2001 AUDI A4 1.8 TURBO AT 99.1K MILES. THE TIMING BELT PREMATURELY NAPPED WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING IN A BUSY MORNING COMMUTE CAUSING CAR TO DISABLED ON THE FREEWAY. THE TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED EXTENSIVE, ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE THAT ESTIMATED TO COAST ABOUT $6000 TO REPAIR. I HAVE ALL MY MAINTENANCES DONE AT THE AUDI DEALERS AND FOLLOW ALL THE RECOMMEND SERVICE BY AUDI. I WAS NEVER BEEN RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT ON MY ALL PREVIOUS VISITS FOR MAINTENANCE SERVICE. THE RECOMMENDED TIMING BELTS REPLACEMENT BY AUDI FOR MY MODEL IS 105K MILES. BOTH AUDI DEALER AND AUDI DENIED BEEN IN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIMING BELT DEFECT AND/OR INCORRECT TIMING BELT MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATION WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY RESULT THE ENGINE DAMAGE AND PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANT. ACCORDING TO AUDI, THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THE TIMING BELT WILL LAST TO 105K MILES, ONLY THAT IT IS THEIR RECOMMENDATION. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT SNAPPED. AS OF JULY 30, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,000.

1) THERE IS NO TRIGGERING EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. IT JUST APPEARS OVER TIME. 2) THE LCD SCREEN IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LINES OF PIXELS THAT DO NOT LIGHT UP. THIS IS CONSTANT, WITH MORE LINES OF PIXELS GOING OUT AND PERMANENTLY STAYING OUT OVER TIME. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IMPORTANT WARNING MESSAGES ARE NOT DISPLAYED OR READABLE; SUCH AS WORN OUT BRAKE PADS, FUEL LOW WARNING, WASHER FLUID LOW WARNING, ETC. IF THESE WARNINGS ARE NOT DISPLAYED, THE VEHICLE MAY RUN OUT OF GAS WITHOUT WARNING AND STALL WHILE OPERATING, OR BRAKES MAY WEAR DOWN TO THE POINT OF LOSING EFFECTIVENESS WITHOUT WARNING, OR BE LEFT WITHOUT WASHER FLUID WITHOUT WARNING. 3) ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED WITH NEW BY AUDI DEALERSHIP UNDER CPO WARRANTY. FAILED PART WAS KEPT BY AUDI. *TR

2001 AUDI A4 1.8 TURBO: THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING IN HEAVY, RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC CAUSING THE CAR TO BE IMMEDIATELY DISABLED AND STOPPED WITH NO OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THE 3-LANE HIGHWAY WAS BACKED UP FOR 6 MILES WHILE POLICE AND EMERGENCY WORKERS WORKED TO TOW THE CAR. THE DISABLED CAR LED TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH TRAFFIC BACKED UP FOR OVER 1-HOUR ON A 3-LANE HIGHWAY WITH A 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT AND COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED ADDITIONAL ACCIDENTS. THE TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED EXTENSIVE, ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE THAT IS ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT $5,000-$6,000 TO REPAIR. MY AUDI A4 HAS THE SAME 1.8 T ENGINE AND ITEM (TIMING BELT) AS IN THE 2001 VW 1.8 T AND THAT ITEM HAS BEEN RECALLED. THE TIMING BELT DEFECT IN THE 2001 A4 APPEARS TO BE QUITE WELL KNOWN TO THE TWO AUDI DEALERS THAT I FREQUENT. SINCE I BRING MY AUDI IN FOR SERVICE AT THE REGULAR INTERVALS - AND SINCE THE TIMING BELT ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN TO AUDI - I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE AUDI DEALERS TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO MY ATTENTION SO THAT WE COULD HAVE REPLACED THE BELT AS PART OF REGULAR PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. THE FACT THAT THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WAS NOT HANDLED IN PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE LED TO A VERY DANGEROUS TRAFFIC INCIDENT AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. *JB

THE LCD INSTRUMENT DISPLAY IS "PIXILATED" -- UNABLE TO CLEARLY DISPLAY INFORMATION REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING SAFETY-RELATED INFORMATION SUCH AS FAILURE OF SAFETY-RELATED COMPONENTS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ETC.). THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH OR PREVENT THE TIMELY RESPONSE TO A SAFETY-RELATED PROBLEM. ON-LINE FORUMS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH AUDI A4S. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2001 AUDI A4 AND STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, HE STARTED SMELLING AN ODOR COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, SECONDS AFTER THE CONTACT GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. CONTACT CAN PROVIDE COPY OF INVOICE REPAIR IF NEEDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 200,000 MILES.

2001 AUDI A4 CUSTOMER STATES THAT AUDI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS LOSS BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING**CC *JB UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

DURING 90,000 MILE SERVICE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT BOTH SIDE SPINDLES (STEERING KNUCKLES) WERE CRACKED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THE CAR WAS IN A POSITION TO LOOSE STEERING CAPABILITY WITH THOSE ITEMS CRACKED. THEY SAID IT'S RARE TO SEE BOTH SIDES CRACKED. TIE ROD ENDS WERE ALSO REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. I STILL HAVE BOTH SPINDLES IF NEEDED. MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH SPINDLES AND TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE IS CERTIFIED AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY FROM AUDI UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER. THE VEHICLE HAD AN 80,000 MILE SERVICE DONE IN APRIL 2006. *NM

I WAS CHASING A BRAKE SQUEAL. WHEN I REMOVED THE FRONT PADS ON OUR AUDI A4, (2001), THREE OF THE FOUR PADS WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THEIR BACKING PLATES. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL ATE PADS; THE CAR HAS TRAVELED ABOUT 38000 MILES. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY A LOST OF ALL POWER. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE ENGINE AND WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE HOLE, HOWEVER A NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - *NM

I HAVE AN AUDI A4 1.8 T AND THE HYDRAULIC TIMING BELT TENSIONER LOST ITS PRESSURE WITCH MADE THE TIMING BELT SLIP, FORCING THE PISTONS INTO THE VALVES AND BENDING THEM, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BASICALLY SELF DESTRUCT AFTER ONLY 89000 MILES WHEN THE OWNER'S MANUAL ONLY RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE TIMING BELT AFTER 120000 MILES. I CALLED AUDI, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR $5,000 AND DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE THE ONE PAYING FOR THIS WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. *AK