2002 Audi A4 Complaint Log

WATER PUMP BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED, THAT CAUSED TO REBUILT THE WHOLE ENGINE

OIL SLUDGE ON 2002 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 1.8T. *NM

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD IGNITION COIL IN HIS 2002 AUDI A4 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY RESULTING IN HIS NOT BEING ABLE TO GO OVER 20 MPH WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES SINCE 2003 AND HAS EITHER TOWED THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER OR HAS DRIVEN IT TO THE DEALER NO FASTER THEN 20 MPH. AT THE DEALER THEY HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION COILS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE COPY OF INVOICE REPAIR IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 70000 MILES.

WE HAVE A 2002 AUDI A4 1.8L WITH 16,700 MILES ON IT (VERY VERY LOW MILEAGE). AT 16,700 MILES, THE WATER PUMP (ACCORDING TO THE DEALER) WENT BAD ... FOR THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VERY VERY LOW USAGE, I SIMPLY FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

I HAVE AN 2002 AUDI A4. IN DECEMBER 2006 THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING ON AN EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSTATE. THIS OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED ($200 PLUS) WE FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD FAILED WHICH IN TURN COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND WE FOLLOWED ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE. THIS BELT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND BY DOING SO PUT MY FAMILY AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THAT HIGHWAY IN A HORRENDOUSLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

MY AUDI A4 1.8 TURBO ENGINE MAY HAVE SLUDGING PROBLEM - 80K MILES. CAR ENGINE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATING AFTER DRIVING LONG DISTANCES - ABOUT 1.5 HOURS ON THE ROAD GOING APPROX 60-70 MPH. BUT OIL LEVELS ARE ACTUALLY FINE. OIL LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN DRIVING IN LOCAL COMMUTING AREA. AUDI WILL ONLY COVER THE FIX IF CONSUMERS HAVE RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES PERFORMED WITHIN THE 10K RECOMMENDED MILEAGE. I HAVE TO PAY $2750 ESTIMATED TO FIX THE PROBLEM - SOME ENGINE SLUDGING AND OIL PRESSURE LOW. AUDI WILL NOT COVER. NOTE THAT OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGES EVERY 10K AND DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THESE 10K OIL CHANGES MUST BE DONE AT THOSE INTERVALS. MANY OF THESE ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY VW ARE FAILING. IF THE OIL ABSOLUTELY MUST BE CHANGED WITHIN 10K OR 12K MILES OR ENGINE SLUDGING/FAILURE WILL OCCUR - PROPER NOTICE SHOULD BE GIVEN IN OWNER'S MANUAL TO INDICATE THAT THEY OIL CHANGES ABSOLUTELY MUST BE PERFORMED AT 10K MILES OR ENGINE FAILURE WILL OCCUR AND A HIGH RED ALERT MESSAGE SHOULD BE DISPLAYED IN THE DASH WHEN SYSTEM'S CHECK IS PERFORMED BY DRIVER. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE ROAD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED !!! I ACTUALLY TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AT 16,674 MILES BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH, DEALERSHIP INDICATED IGNITION COILS WERE BAD AND REPLACED. *JB

FAILURE OF ENGINE IGNITION COILS ,CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER, AND CREATES SURGING AND SHAKING OF VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HAPPENED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF 2 OF 4 ENGINE COILS. THESE WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER RECALL. CONTACTED AUDI, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE SATISFACTORY ANSWER. THEY WILL NOT COVER REPAIR, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS NOT A PART THAT REQUIRED REGULAR REPLACEMENT AND WILL NOT STATE WHAT THE LIFE OF THE COILS SHOULD BE. *AK

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A BLOCK AFTER COLD START, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE. PROBLEM GOT WORSE. AFTER DRIVING A TOTAL OF ABOUT 3 BLOCKS, THE ENGINE DIED. THERE WERE WISPS OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF GRILL. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, DISCOVERED A SMALL FIRE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. DEALER REPORTS THAT THE FIRE STARTED BECAUSE OF A COIL FAILURE. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO PLASTIC MANIFOLD COVER, BECAUSE FIRE WAS PUT OUT EARLY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHANGING A TIRE ON LEVEL GROUND, THE JACK BENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH ON A DRY AND FLAT INTERSTATE, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH A MEDIAN. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE SIDEWALL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD, AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD SMALL SPOTS WHERE THE TREAD JOINED THE SIDEWALL. A DONUT TIRE REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE. ON 09/18/06, THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO AGREED THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE BUT OFFERED NO RESOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE DEFECTIVE TIRES BE SENT IN FOR INSPECTION AND THAT 4 NEW TIRES SHOULD BE PURCHASED. THE TIRES WERE REGULARLY CHECKED FOR CORRECT PRESSURE, AND ROTATED ON TIME. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL BULGING IN THE TIRES. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALLS ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE CRACKED.

IN DECEMBER OF 2005 MY RED OIL LIGHT CAME ON, I WAS ADVISED THAT MY CAR NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE AND TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. INSTEAD OF AUDI REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE ENGINE AT THIS TIME, THEY SIMPLY CHANGED THE OIL. IN JUNE OF 2006 MY RED OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE IN MY CAR BEGAN MAKING HORRIBLE NOISES AND DRIVING VERY, VERY POORLY. . MY SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME AND ASKED ME HOW OFTEN DID I CHANGE AND THE OIL AND WHO CHANGED THE OIL IN MY CAR. I ADVISED THEM THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE EVERY WORKED ON THE CAR. HE CALLED ME BACK AND ADVISED ME THAT AUDI WAS REPLACING THE ENGINE IN MY CAR. I AGAIN WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE SLUDGE PROBLEMS. I WAS MADE TO FEEL THAT I WAS "LUCKY" BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING ME A FAVOR BY REPLACING THE ENGINE. AT THE TIME THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO PAY TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT, TEN ROLLERS RELAY AND THE WATER PUMP REPLACED. A COST TO ME OF OVER $500.00. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE DOING ME A FAVOR BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CHARGING ME FOR THE LABOR, JUST THE PARTS. IN JULY 2006, I NOTICED THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE NEW ENGINE AND WAS ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO LEAK AND THAT SOMETIMES WHEN AN ENGINE IS REPLACED THERE MIGHT BE AN AIR BUBBLE AND THAT MIGHT CAUSE THE COOLANT LEVEL TO DROP. I AGAIN ADVISED THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE COOLANT WAS ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE AND THAT WITHOUT A LEAK SOMEWHERE IT COULD NOT JUST COME OUT OF THE ENGINE. THEY AGAIN CHECKED IT OVER THE WEEKEND AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY FOUND A COUPLE OF DROPS OF COOLANT BUT DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. I SUGGESTED THAT THEY DRIVE THE CAR AND SEE IF THERE WAS A LEAK. THEY DID JUST THAT AND FOUND THE LEAK, THE MAJOR LEAK. MY SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THE PART THAT WAS LEAKING WAS AN OLD PART FROM THE OLD ENGINE AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO PAY $375.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. *NM

I HAVE AN AUDI A4 2002 WITH CVT. OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO THE TRANSMISSION HAS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN MOVING FROM A FULL STOP. THIS CAN HAPPEN IN A PARKING LOT OR MY HOME DRIVEWAY. AFTER ENGAGING THE DRIVE GEAR AND DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR FAILS TO MOVE FOR ANYWHERE FROM A FEW SECONDS TO A MINUTE OR SO. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DISCONCERTING ,AND I BELIEVE UNSAFE WHEN IT HAPPENS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ONCE CRUISING THE CAR EXPERIENCES NO PROBLEMS. ON TWO OCCASIONS I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON ONE OCCASION THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RECREATED. ON ANOTHER THEY DID RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND NOTIFIED ME THAT REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE BETWEEN $1700 AND $6000. IT IS A FIVE YEAR OLD CAR WITH 58000 MILES. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM THE TRADE IN VALUE OF THE VEHICLE REFLECTS THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS EXPERIENCE. I HAVE FOUND MANY ON THE INTERNET.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 20-25 MPH, THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT FOR NO REASON CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT A GUARD RAIL. THE TIRES ARE THE ORIGINAL TIRES SOLD ON THE VEHICLE. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE TIRES WERE LOSING AIR AND THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND PUT AIR IN THE TIRES. THE TIRE INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE WAS ONE PERSON INJURED AND THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. UPDATED 05/16/2006. *AK *NM

THE FRONT SEAT (DRIVER SIDE) BACK PANEL PLASTIC CLIPS BROKE AND THE WHOLE BACK PANEL LOOSE OFF. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE ANOTHER PLASTIC CLIPS ONCE BUT IT BROKE AGAIN.

MY 2002 AUDI A4 JUST HIT 69,900 MILES & THE 3RD TURBO ON MY CAR HAS JUST GONE BAD & HAS NOW DEVELOPED A TICKING NOISE IN THE VALVE-TRAIN. FIORE AUDI IN ALTOONA, PA LOOKED AT THE CAR & SAID THEY NEVER HEARD A NOISE IN THE TOP OF THE MOTOR & THAT THE "DENTIST DRILL" TURBO NOISE WAS CAUSED BY AN EXHAUST LEAK. I VERBALIZED MY CONCERNS OVER OIL SLUDGE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR & THEY PULLED THE VALVE-COVER & OIL PAN & FOUND OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP IN THE OIL LINES FEEDING THE TURBO & IN SOME OF THE OIL GALLEYS IN THE ENGINE. AUDI OF AMERICA AGREED TO REPLACE THE TURBO AND THE OIL FEED LINES UNDER AUDI'S EXTENDED OIL SLUDGE WARRANTY. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS PUT BACK TOGETHER, FIORE FINALLY HEARD THE "TICKING" NOISE IN THE TOP OF THE MOTOR. AFTER PULLING THE HEAD THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WERE WARPED. FIORE TECHNICIANS INFORMED ME THAT THESE DAMAGES WERE CAUSED BY THE ENGINE BEING EXCESSIVELY OVERHEATED. THE CAR HAD NEVER INDICATED THAT IT HAD OVERHEATED, YET FOR THIS "EXCUSE/REASON", THEY REFUSED TO COVER ANY REPAIRS REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT I HAD PRODUCED RECEIPTS DOCUMENTING THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED RELIGIOUSLY AROUND 3,000 MILE INTERVALS (WELL BELOW AUDI'S INITIAL RECOMMENDATION THAT THE OIL BE CHANGED EVERY 10,000 MILES, AS REFERENCED IN THE MANUAL, OR THEIR SUBSEQUENT RECOMMENDATION OF CHANGING IT EVERY 5,000 MILES) WITH AN AUDI RECOMMENDED FULL SYNTHETIC OIL AS PER THE SLUDGE WARRANTY POLICY. THE OIL LINES THAT FEED THE TURBO CHARGER WERE NEVER CHECKED OR REPLACED DURING ANY OF THE TURBO CHARGER REPLACEMENTS, OR OTHER OIL SMOKE COMPLAINTS, UNTIL NOW. AFTER OUR 3RD TURBO REPLACEMENT, OBVIOUSLY DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP, I'M NOW TOLD MY MOTOR IS NO GOOD. HAD AUDI TAKEN CARE OF THIS ISSUE WHEN THESE PROBLEMS WERE FIRST DEVELOPED & IDENTIFIED, IT WOULDN'T NEED A NEW ENGINE AT LESS THAN 70K MILES DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT IS WELL-KNOWN WITH THIS VEHICLE & THAT WAS ALSO OBVIOUSLY PRESENT WHEN THIS VEHICLES WARRANTY WAS IN FULL EFFECT. *NM

AUDI OF AMERICA DENIED A WARRANTY ON THEIR RECALL FOR OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM (AUDI LETER IN FILE), TO ALL 1.8 T ENGINES, ARGUING NO SERVICE WAS PROVIDE ON THE 13000 MILES WARRANTY PERIOD. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS AN AUDI'S PROPERTY & CAR WAS IN THE AUDI'S DEALER FOR SERVICE ON THE 13,023 MILES. MAYBE NEGLIGENCE FOR SERVICING OR NOR RECORDED BUT PREVIOUSLY DRIVER WAS AN AUDI EXECUTIVE GETTING PAID FOR TEST & MILES. TITLE INDICATES AUDI'S FIRST OWNER SELLING WITH 26,103 MILES WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR. RECORDS IN OUR FILE AND CAR JUST BEEN FIXED ON OUR COST. THANKS FOR YOUR REPLAY. PEDRO. *NM

3 OF 4 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE-950 TIRES, SIZE 235/45/R17 93H TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED DELAMINATION OF THE TREAD ON THE INSIDE WEAR EDGE; ALIGNMENT ON MY AUDI A4 HAS BEEN VERIFIED TO MEET MANUFACTURER SPEC, YET THE INSIDE EDGES OF THE TIRES HAVE BROKEN OPEN TO EXPOSE LAYERS OF TIRE AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE TIRE HAS BEEN BREACHED. IN ONE CASE, A 8 INCH BY 1/2 INCH BY 1/2 INCH SECTION COMPLETELY GAVE WAY AND FLEW OFF THE TIRE. THESE TIRES WERE DISCONTINUED BY BRIDGESTONE AND I NOW KNOW WHY. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH BRIDGESTONE G09'S AND I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM REOCCUR. NOTE, SYSTEM WILL NOT ACCEPT AUDI A4 AS VEHICLE TYPE, SO I USED TOYOTA; I DO HAVE A 3.0L A4 QUATTRO. *JB

THIS VEHICLE IS AN AUDI A4, 3.0 AUTOMATIC, 2ND OWNER, COMING OFF A 3 YR. LEASE IN WHICH ALL OF THE WARRANTY WORK WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS 62,000 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN A COMPLETE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER SAYS IT MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $9,213.72. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. RECORDS SHOW THAT THERE WERE (3) OCCASIONS IN WHICH THE OWNER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE SHIFT-CONTROL SOFTWARE. ON THE 2ND OCCASION THE DEALER REMOVED AND CLEANED THE CONNECTION TERMINALS OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). ON THE THIRD OCCASION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE (TCM). THEN THE VEHICLE WENT OFF-LEASE AND THE DEALERSHIP SOLD IT AT AUCTION TO A USED CAR DEALER. SINCE THEN THE CAR WAS SOLD TO AN UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER AND NO HISTORY WAS EVER PRODUCED WHICH DESCRIBED THE PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SOME INTERNAL DEFECT OR PROBLEM WHICH WAS NEVER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS, AND THEREFORE IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. OF COURSE, THE DEALERSHIP AND AUDI USA IN MICHIGAN WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE THAT NOTHING WAS EVER WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, ONLY THE (TCM). IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN WHY WOULD COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCUR SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OFF LEASE WARRANTY, ESPECIALLY ON A SEALED UNIT, WHICH THESE UNITS ARE. *NM

MY 2002 AUDI A4 1.8T WAS MALFUNCTIONING THE DAY I TOOK DELIVERY AND HAS HAD A SURPRISINGLY HIGH NUMBER OF DEFECTS SINCE THEN. TODAY, THE CAR IS INOPERABLE AND AUDI IS REFUSING TO ASSIST ME. ON 5/15/05 MY ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN VIBRATING HARSHLY AND LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND MY DASH DISPLAY WAS FLASHING A RED WARNING. AFTER TOWING MY CAR TO MY DEALER, REEVES IMPORT MOTORCARS OF TAMPA, FL, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN AUDI / VW 1.8 TURBO ENGINES. APPARENTLY A DEFECT IN THE 1.8T REGARDING SLUDGE THAT CLOGS THE OIL SYSTEM AND CAUSES A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM, THE ENGINE MUST BE FLUSHED AND THE OIL PUMP, OIL PICKUP, ALL OIL LINES AND TURBO TUBES MUST BE REPLACED. I HAD NEVER BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS FIX, WHICH COSTS ROUGHLY $2,000. AUDI DENIED WARRANTY ON MY CLAIM, MY ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I AM NOW FACED WITH A SERVICE BILL OF $10,500!!!! MY DEALER INFORMED ME THAT AUDI HAD DECLARED MY SERVICE HISTORY AND THEREFORE DENIED ME WARRANTY. (THEY STATED THAT WHILE ALL SERVICE INTERVALS HAD BEEN OBSERVED, SOMETIMES I WAS SLIGHTLY OVER). ADDITIONALLY, MY RENTAL CAR SINCE MAY 16TH (USUALLY PROVIDED BY THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY WORK) IS NOW MY OWN RESPONSIBILITY. IN SUMMARY: 1. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, FULLY DOCUMENTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. 2. THE FACTORY IS NOW REFUSING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN EXPENSIVE YET TOTALLY AVOIDABLE ENGINE FAILURE. 3. THIS FAILURE WAS SUDDEN. IT WAS NOT AN ISSUE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR, OR A CONDITION THAT GRADUALLY WORSENED DUE TO NEGLECT. THEREFORE, THE PERIODS BETWEEN SERVICE INTERVALS SHOULD BE IRRELEVANT. 4. I HAVE SENT LETTERS TO AUDI NORTH AMERICA'S VP IN CHARGE OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS, MR. JOHANN DE NYSSCHEN, WITHOUT RESPONSE. BUYING AN AUDI WAS THE WORST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONSUMER LET THE VEHICLE COAST. THE CONSUMER WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 A4 1.8T. IN JANUARY OF 2004, I HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED WITH 22678 MILES ON IT. ON MONDAY, OCTOBER, 25TH, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM AND MENTIONED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS HESITATING. AFTER EVALUATION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH WAS GOING AGAIN AND THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THE CAR NOW OLNY HAS 32,317 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DUE TO "WEAR" BY DRIVING. SINCE MARCH OF 2002, WHEN I PICKED UP MY NEW CAR, I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS (MOST OF WHICH INCLUDED ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, SHORTS, AND OTHER MALFUNCTIONS). *AK

DRIVERS DOOR SPEAKERS WORKING RANDOMLY AND CUTTING OUT ALL TOGETHER AT TIMES, SOMETIMES WITH STATIC PRIOR TO CUTTING OUT. SO FAR THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON OCT 2 2004,NOV 2 2004, NOV 15, 2004,DEC 7 2004. THE CAR STILL HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND IN 2 SECONDS I FOUND THE ISSUE. IT IS A BROKEN WIRE IN THE DOOR PASS THROUGH. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT'S NOT A BROKEN WIRE BECAUSE THEY TESTED ALL THE WIRES AND THEY CHECKED OUT OK. IF THE SPEAKER IS NOT WORKING OR CUTTING OUT WITH THE DOOR OPEN AND YOU MOVED THE RUBBER PASS THROUGH, THE SPEAKER COMES BACK ON AND WORKS FOR A SHORT TIME AGAIN. DEALER HAS PERFORMED THE RECALL FOR THIS ON NOV 2 2004 BUT THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE. I STOPPED HAVING THEM TRY TO FIX THIS WHEN THE FACTORY WARRANTY RAN OUT BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED. *TR

CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER WENT OUTSIDE AND SAW VEHICLE ROLLING OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY, AND IT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF TOWN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RATTLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RATTLE AND THE OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE ENGINE DUE TO METAL IN THE OIL PAN WHICH CAUSED PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB ORIGINALLY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS FINE. DRIVING A LITTLE FURTHER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN . *TC

DT: THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD TWO TIRE FAILURES WITHIN THE LAST ELEVEN MONTHS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY HE WAS HAVING TIRE FAILURE. MICHELIN, PRIMACY, SIZE IS 235/4517. ON JUNE 24,2004, THE CONSUMER NOTICED A LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE WHICH WAS ABOUT 1LB OR 2 EVERY MONTH. THE PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE FIGURED OUT. WHILE REPLACING THE VALVE STEM, ALONG WITH PLACING THE TIRE BACK ON THE RIM WHILE TRYING TO RE-INFLATE THE TIRE, THE INSIDE WALL OF THE TIRE BLISTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE TIRE WAS SENT TO MICHELIN FOR EVALUATION. THERE WAS A TINY LEAK IN THE TIRE, BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE BLISTER, REEVALUATION COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE TIRE BLISTERED. THE REPLACEMENT TIRE FAILED ON 5-25-2005 WHILE IN A PARKING LOT AND THE TIRE WALL BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. AMERICA TIRE COMPANY ANALYZED THE TIRE, AND NO CAUSE FOR THE TIRE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. ALSO, THIS TIRE WAS SENT FOR EVALUATION AND THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD ANYTHING YET. HE TRIED TO FIND OUT FROM TIRE MANUFACTURER AND AUDI ABOUT THE RECALLS, AND THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. *AK *SC *JB

NUMBEROUS OF FAILURES; WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM, DRIVER'S SEAT MOTOR BURNED OUT 3 TIMES, ALL REPLACED. *BF THE FIRST DAY THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE LOT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, HOWEVER 2 MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, AND 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A SMALLER BATTERY WAS INADVERTENTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY, RADIO AND SPEAKERS WERE REPLACED. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING 15-20 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A SMALL TREE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BY DEALER/MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT THIS VEHICLE MIGHT DO THE SAME THING AGAIN, AND DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT CLEAR OFF THE SNOW ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW, AND THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *AK *LA

AUDI 2002 WITH 12,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED. *JB

I HIT A DEER IN MY 2002 AUDI A4, BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS ABOUT $10,000 DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN WAS THAT THE AIRBAGS PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IS THIS NORMAL? *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY TIMING BELT BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE PISTONS TO WARP AND BREAK. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES SINCE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

OUT OF CONTROL EXPERIENCE DUE TO UNWANTED ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE ENGINE REVVED PAST THE REDLINE, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND WE ALMOST DID NOT MAKE THE TURN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. EVEN WHEN WE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL,THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP REVVING. WE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON AND TRIED THE ENGINE AGAIN, ONLY TO HAVE THE ENGINE REV THROUGH THE REDLINE WHEN ONLY THE BRAKE PEDAL (AND NOT THE GAS) WAS ENGAGED. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND PUSHED IT TO A SAFE LOCATION WHERE WE LEFT IT, AND CALLED THE POLICE (WHO WOULD NOT MAKE AN INCIDENT REPORT) AND LEFT A MESSAGE AT THE DEALERSHIP. *PH

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN CORNERS VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT POSITION IS CONTROLLED BY MOTORS, CONTROLLED BY 3 CONTROLS ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE MOTORS MOVE AT RANDOM, BOTH WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND WHILE IT'S PARKED (NO KEY, NO PERSON IN VEHICLE). THE FIRST OCCURRENCES INVOLVED THE SEAT BACK MOVING BACK AND FORTH. THIS WAS AN INCONVENIENCE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE IT. THE PROBLEM HAS INCREASED IN SEVERITY AND NOW THE SEAT ITSELF MOVES BACK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I AM 5' TALL - IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH MOVEMENT FOR MY FEET TO COME OFF THE PEDALS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING AND WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE DEALER WILL NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM IF THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE IT, LEAVING ME AT RISK. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND PERSISTENT - THERE IS NO SINGLE DATE ON WHICH IT OCCURS/OCCURRED. THE LUMBAR SUPPORT ALSO APPEARS TO BE MOVING, WHICH MEANS ALL THREE MOTORS/CONTROLS ARE MOVING ON THEIR OWN. *JB

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE CVT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT HESITATION WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR WE LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN THAT WAS VERY FLAT WITH NO HILLS. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON MOSTLY BACK ROADS AT APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. AFTER A FEW MONTHS WE MOVED AND THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FASTER, NOW THE PROBLEM WAS BECOMING VERY NOTICEABLE. AS YOU ACCELERATE THE CAR HESITATES AND YOU HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE ACCELERATOR THEN THE CAR JERKS FORWARD. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIFFERENT ADJUSTMENTS AND STILL THE PROBLEM WAS THERE. NEXT I MET WITH AN AUDI TECH REP, WHO DROVE THE CAR AND SAID THAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST. AFTER MORE COMPLAINING THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION MODULE, THIS STILL DID NOT FIX. NOW I HAVE MOVED TO AN AREA THAT IS HILLY, AND WHEN YOU STOP AT A RED LIGHT ON A HILL THE CAR DRIFTS BACK WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CAR HAS GONE TO A NEW DEALER FOR ANOTHER MODULE AND MORE ADJUSTMENTS AND IS STILL NOT FIXED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT OTHER AUDI A4 OWNERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE. AUDI SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BE FOR SOMEONE GETS HURT. I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A SAFE, WELL BUILT, LONG LASTING CAR, I GUESS I WAS WRONG. WITH ALL OF THE OTHER PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR, I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER AUDI. I ONLY HOPE THAT THE OTHER AUDI A4 OWNERS WILL TAKE THE TIME TO PASS ON THEIR PROBLEMS WITH THIS DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION.

IGNITION COIL FAILURE ON MY 2002 AUDI A4 (21K MILES). PER MY DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR, CAR MUST BE TOWED TO A DEALER. LOST SEVERAL HOURS AT WORK AND WAS GIVEN SUBSTANDARD RENTAL CAR, REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED ON THE DAY ESTIMATED. PER AUDI OF AMERICA POLICY, ONLY ONE COIL IS REPLACED, WE WILL WAIT FOR ANOTHER COIL TO PROVE FAULTY (WHICH ALMOST EVERYONE ASSUMES WILL HAPPEN, EVEN DEALER), I WILL HAVE TO WAIT AT ROAD SIDE AGAIN, AT WHICH POINT AUDI WILL REPLACE ALL REMAINING COILS. (HOPEFULLY--AUDI'S WEB SITE ALREADY HAS SAID ALL WOULD BE REPLACED WHEN ONE FAILS, BEGINNING IN MARCH, BUT APPARENTLY THIS IS NOT THE POLICY AT MY DEALER.) THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF AUDI CUSTOMERS. *JB

THE IGNITION COIL WENT BAD ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE IGNITION COIL FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

MULTIPLE CASES OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION IN 2002 AUDI A4. 2 CASES LAST YEAR I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. ALL THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN MOMENTARY LASTING LESS THAN A SECOND. ALL CASES WERE AFTER I ACCELERATED, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT COME BACK. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER WHO CAN NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM THOUGH. MY LAST TIME IN I DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THE LEMON LAW. I FINALLY HAD AN ACCIDENT LAST FRIDAY EVENING PULLING OFF FROM A LIGHT WHEN THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY BRAKED AND MY CAR KEPT GOING. *JB

IGNITION COIL FAILURE. RECEIVED LETTER FROM AUDI ON MARCH 3, 2003 REGARGING RECOGNIZED IGNITION COIL FAILURES. AUDI INDICATED SIGNIFICANT FAILURES WITH IGNITION COILS AND PROMISED THAT IN THE EVENT OF IGNITION COIL FAILURE ALL REPAIRS WOULD BE FREE. ON MARCH 11, 2002, I WENT TO DEALER FOR A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT 11,000 MILES. I ASKED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COILS EVEN THOUGH I HAD YET TO EXPERIENCE ANY TROUBLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT AUDI WOULD NOT REPLACE THE COILS UNTIL ACTUAL VEHICLE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE COILS FAILED AND MY CAR DIED ON THE ROAD IN ZERO DEGREE WEATHER. AFTER A 90 MINUTE WAIT, AUDI ROADSIDE SERVICE ARRIVED AND TOOK MY CAR BY FLAT-BED TO DEALER. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT ONLY THE DEFECTIVE COILS WILL BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE HAS SIX COILS. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT ALL COILS WILL BE REPLACED ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN FOR A SECOND COIL FAILURE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A SECOND COIL FAILURE IS GUARANTEED. THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE APPEAR TO BEAR THIS OUT. THE NHSTB SHOULD DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THESE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS. AUDI HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE FOR MONTHS AND APPEARS TO BE QUITE CONTENT TO LET ITS CUSTOMERS CONTINUE TO BEAR THE RISK OF A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE MUST BE WRITTEN BEFORE THE NHTSA TAKES ACTION? *JB

THE IGNITION COILS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL.*JB

MY AUDI A4 SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS LIGHT CAME ON AND FLASHED. AUDI ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED MY CAR TO BROOKLINE AUDI, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION COILS WERE TO BLAME. AFTER READING ARTICLES INDICATING THAT AUDI WILL REPLACE ALL COILS, WHETHER THEY ARE BROKEN OR NOT, I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE ALL COILS. THEY INSISTED THAT THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THOSE THAT ARE DEFECTIVE, NOT ALL AS REPORTED IN SEVERAL ARTICLES (E.G., MOTORTREND). I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WILL BE DRIVING FROM MA TO CA THIS WEEKEND. I TOLD THEM THAT I DO NOT WANT TO BE HALF WAY ACCROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAVE ANOTHER COIL BREAK. I WANT ALL COILS REPLACED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES.

1/10/2003--TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED BECAUSE OF A ROUGH IDLE AND TROUBLE STARTING. THE DEALER FOUND NO INITIAL PROBLEMS. 2/5/2003--RECEIVED NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM AUDI CONCERNING THE POSSIBILITY OF BAD COIL PACKS ON 2002 A4'S. 2/7/2003--THE CAR STALLED ON US AT NIGHT, IN THE RAIN, IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. IT TOOK ME AT LEAST A MINUTE TO GET IT RESTARTED--THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT YOU SHOULD TRY TURNING OFF YOUR CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND WAIT 60 SECONDS BEFORE RESTARTING & TAKING OFF. SEE HOW MAY PEOPLE START HONKING AND/OR ALMOST HIT YOU BEFORE YOU MOVE.... 2/8-2/11/03--THE DEALER CHECKS THE CAR OVER. THEY SAY THE COIL PACKS ARE FINE, BUT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS BAD, SO THEY REPLACED IT. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, SINCE THE CAR STILL IDLES ROUGH, AND STILL HAS TROUBLE STARTING. LUCKILY, IT HASN'T DIED ON US AGAIN (YET). *NLM

THROUGH ARTICLES IN THE BOSTON (MA) GLOBE NEWSPAPER 1/26 AND 2/1 2003, I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH MY 2002 AUDI A4 1.8T AUTOMOBILE. IT SEEMS THAT THE IGNITION COILS ARE DEFECTIVE AND AUDI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO REPLACE THEM.

ENGINE COIL?? MY A4 HAS NOW BEEN TOWED FOUR TIMES DO TO MISFIRING. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE COIL NOW FOUR TIMES BUT LAST SAURDAY WAS THE ONE THAT BROKE THE CAMELS BACK. WHEN YOUR ON THE TOLL IN RUSH HOUR AT 65 MILES AN HOUR WITH NO SHOULDER ITS USUALLY A BAD THING WHEN YOUR CAR STALLS OUT AND BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY.OUT AT 10,000-18,000-20,000-AND NOW IT IS IN A SHOP WHY I DRIVE A RENTED ACCORD(IT GETS BETTER THEY TELL ME THAT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER-MAYBE IN A COUPLE DAYS? DID SOMEBODY SAY LEMON-LAW.

FAILED COIL PACK ON AUDI A4. SAFETY ISSUE SINCE AUOT STALLS ON HIGHWAY. DEALER INDICATES AUDI WILL NOT REPLACE MORE THAN 1 COIL (4 IN THE CAR) AND I CAN EXPECT FURTEHR FAILURES. THIS IS MAJOR SYSTEM-WIDE FAILURE PROBLEM, THAT AUDI SIMPLY WILL NOT DEAL WITH. I URGE A MANDATORY RECALL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ACCIDENTS ENSUE.

FIRST IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED ON 3.0 A4 AVANT, I WAS DISTRESSED TO DISCOVER THAT THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT THAT HAS HAPPENED TO A LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS WITH NO PLANS TO REPLACE MORE THAN THE UNITS THAT FAIL WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A $35,000 CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THE CLOCK, IT DOES NOT MAKE YOU FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE TO KNOW THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 TIMES. THE DEALER WAS VERY EFFICIENT AND COURTEOUS, BUT THAT DOES NOT CUT IT WITH SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM THAT COULD STRIKE AT ANY TIME. WITH SO MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, AUDI SHOULD BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE.

IGNITION COIL CAUSED VEHICLED TO STALL. AUDI AGREED TO REPLACE 1 COIL BUT SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FIX THE OTHER 4. WHEN ASKED IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN I WAS TOLD "IT IS A CRAP SHOOT". THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME DEFECTIVE AND I NOW CONSIDER IT "PARTIALLY FIXED". IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BEING AS IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF I-95 LAST NIGHT.

AUDI A4 (1.8T) WAS "MISSING" ON STARTUP, SHAKING, SEVERE LOSS OF POWER. I TRIED DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT HAD TO TURN AROUND AND PARK IT AT HOME, FOR SAFETY. WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I LEARNED IT WAS A FAILED IGNITION COIL PACK, AND I SOON LEARNED I WAS IN GOOD COMPANY: TECHNICIAN THERE ESTIMATED THERE WERE AT LEAST 85 CARS -- ALL 1.8TS OF AUDI AND VW -- IN SEVERAL NEARBY LOTS WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT IGNITION COILS. GERMAN PRODUCTION WAS ON 3 SHIFTS TO CRANK THEM OUT, WORLDWIDE. I ENJOY THIS CAR BUT CAN NO LONGER RELY ON IT UNTIL ALL OF THE ORIGINAL IGNITION COILS -- ENDING WITH AN "-H" PART-NUMBER SUFFIX -- ARE REPLACED WITH THE CURRENT, UPDATED ONES ENDING WITH A "-J." I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED (AS ARE U.S. AUDI DEALERS, I'VE SINCE LEARNED) THAT VW WON'T RECALL ALL 1.8TS TO REPLACE THE BAD COILS, WHICH ARE DESTINED TO FAIL AT SOME POINT. UNLESS THERE'S A RECALL, I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AUDI OR VW AND WARN AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN TO AVOID THEM. THIS IS SHODDY CUSTOMER CARE AT BEST, AND A DISREGARD FOR MY SAFETY AT WORST.

THE IGNITION COIL MADE THE VEHICLE RIDE ROUGH. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND CUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE 1 OUT OF 6 COILS. *TS THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FIVE MILES AND THE A SECOND COIL FAILED. AUDI REPLACED ALL SIX COILS THEN THE REMAINING FIVE WERE "J" COILS. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED REPEATEDLY BY FATHER'S & SONS, BUT THEY HAD NOT COMPLETED THE REPAIR. ALL OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BEEN REPLACED. (SOME TWICE) THE OTHER EMISSION PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT GIVE THE CONSUMER THE PAPER WORK BECAUSE AUDI DID NOT PAY THE FULL COST FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *SCC *JB