2003 Audi A4 Fuel System Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a fuel odor was detected. The contact parked the vehicle and noticed there was fuel leaking on the rear driver's side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the fuel pump flange and hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the part replacement. The failure mileage was 143,839.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A FUEL PUMP OR OTHER ISSUE ALONG THE FUEL LINE. RECENTLY, THE GAS CAP INDICATOR HAS GONE OFF, AND WON'T TURN OFF. I EVEN TRIED REPLACING THE GAS CAP WITH A NEW ONE. I CHECKED FOR LOOSE PARTS ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK (THROUGH THE TRUNK). NO VISIBLE ISSUES, BUT I DO SMELL GASOLINE ON HUMID DAYS, THERE IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE ALONG THE FUEL LINE. I NOTICED THERE WERE RECALLS BY AUDI FOR DIFFERENT VINS (NOT MINE), THAT HIGHLIGHT ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM AND FUEL PUMP - RECALL NUMBER 06V017000 (01/23/2006), AND 07V375000 (08/28/2007) (OTHERS?). I'VE TRIED CALLING AUDI TO SEE IF THEY'D BE WILLING TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER A BROADER NUMBER OF VINS NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (INCLUDING MINE), AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER COSTS TO LOOK INTO IT.

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR STALLED. HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME AND IT WILL NO LONGER START BUT IT REVS. *TR

FUEL PUMP IS NO LONGER WORKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT STATED OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A HIGH-PITCHED NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MAY HAVE BEEN INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE FAILURE WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FUEL PUMP ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

RE: AUDI A4 - AUDI-USA CASE NUMBER: [XXX]- 7/13/2013 - 3:20 PM SPOKE WITH [XXX] ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HE TRANSFERRED ME OVER TO ANOTHER EXPERT - CURRENTLY MUSIC IS ON AND I AM ON HOLD TILL 3:29PM - A LADY NAME, [XXX], WHO BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CANNOT HELP ME WITH. THE CALL ENDED AT 3:48 PM. THEIR ARGUMENT FOR NOT REIMBURSING ME FOR MY EXPENSE WAS LAME AND ONE OF NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, HOWEVER, LEGALLY, THEY WERE ON THE CORRECT SIDE IN SAYING NO, AS WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF AUDI A4, MY CAR'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED AS ONE THAT WAS AFFECTED. THEY WERE HOWEVER, NOT HELPFUL IN CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT, THE ISSUE THAT WAS IDENTIFIED FOR SOME VEHICLES FOR THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR, WAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. AUDI, HOWEVER, LET ME KNOW THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP ME WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT OF MY EXPENSES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 06V017000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AREA OF MY VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT IN MY VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK SEAT AREA. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS GOING AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR RAN OK AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS WARMER BUT HAS RECENTLY RETURNED WITH THE COOLER WEATHER. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW A TECHNICAL BULLETIN/RECALL FOR MY MAKE AND MODEL. WHEN I DUG DEEPER INTO THE ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS I FOUND MY VIN NUMBER MATCHED THE NUMBERS IN THE DOCUMENTS. AUDI SAID THEY HAD NO RECORDS OF THIS (ALTHOUGH THEY WERE ON AUDI LETTERHEAD) AND SAID I COULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BUT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. THIS DOES NOT MATCH WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *TR

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING. SUDDENLY WITHOUT POWER. FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. 2003 AUDI A4, WHICH HAS HAD RECALL NOTICES ON IT FOR EXACTLY THIS ISSUE. YET WHEN I TALK TO THE DEALER ABOUT IT, THEY SAY MY "VIN ISN'T ONE OF THE ONES IMPACTED SO IT'S NOT COVERED." IT'S EXACTLY THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AND THE EXACT PROBLEM THEY'VE ADMITTED. BUT NOW IN A DOCUMENTED CASE, THEY ARE REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SHE WAS INFORMED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V375000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

CAR LOSES POWER AS IT TRAVELS . HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS AND FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT RECOMMENDED. CHECKED AND FOUND RECALL CAMPAIGN 07V375000 IS ACTIVE. DEALER REFUSES SAYING OUR CAR IS NOT ELIGIBLE EVEN THOUGH SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL AND MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR ARE SAME. THEY CLAIM VIN IS NOT IN RECALL BASE. WHO DETERMINES THE ACCURACY OF THE VIN NUMBERS ELIGIBLE? WE HAVE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM OVER THE PAST YEAR AND AFTER SEVERAL DIAGNOSIS WE ARE TOLD IT IS THE FUEL PUMP. WE JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL. *TR

MY WIFE AND I OWN A AUDI A4 CABRIOLET THAT RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSING A VERY NOTICEABLE VIBRATION IN THE FUEL TANK. AUDI WAS CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT IN THE GROUP THAT QUALIFIED FOR FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. THE CAR ONLY BEEN DRIVEN HAS 85,000 MILES AND IN MY OPINION A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM IS PREMATURE AND UNSAFE. UPON AUDI'S REFUSAL TO REPLACE THE PUMP I CALLED MY WARRANTY COMPANY TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. CONTINENTAL WARRANTY REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT PUMP. THE REASONING BEHIND THEIR DECISION IS THAT THE PUMP MUST HAVE COMPLETE FAILURE BE FORE THEY WOULD HONOR MY WARRANTY. AM I SUPPOSED TO STALL AT A RAILROAD CROSSING OR HIGH SPEED INTERSECTION BEFORE THE CAR IS CONSIDERED NON-DRIVABLE? *TR

ON 9/21/2009, MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FUEL PUMP FAILURE CAUSING A CONSTANT MOANING NOISE BY THE KEYS AUDI DEALERSHIP SERVICE IN VAN NUYS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS INCREASINGLY FAILING TO DISTRIBUTE THE FUEL INTO THE ENGINE AND WILL EVENTUALLY STOP FULLY FUNCTIONING. IN SEARCH OF MORE INFORMATION ON THE DIAGNOSIS, I HAVE FOUND A RECALL REPORT ON CERTAIN VEHICLES MATCHING MY CAR MODEL, YEAR, AND ENGINE TYPE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT COULD PRESENT A RISK OF CRASH. HOWEVER, AUDI DENIED THAT MY CAR IS QUALIFIED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. I AM, ON THE OTHER HAND , SUSPICIOUS OF NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF AUDI IN FULL COMPLIANCE FOR A RECOVERY OF SUCH A VITAL DEFECT THAT CAUSE A STOPPAGE A BLOOD FLOW, IN ESSENCE, IN TO A HIGHLY REGARDED AUDI ENGINE WHICH FALSELY RELIED UPON BY THE UNFORTUNATE LOYAL AUDI CUSTOMERS LIKE ME. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MY CASE DESERVES A FURTHER INVESTIGATION. I HOPE THAT MY COMPLAINT WILL BRING LIGHT TO THE PROBLEM THAT OTHER DRIVERS LIKE ME CAN BENEFIT AND LET THE BLOOD FLOW SAFELY AGAIN. *TR THANK YOU.

REFERENCE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V375000 & 06V017000 I HAVE AN AUDI A4 AND IT EXPERIENCED A "PULL BACK/STALLING" ISSUE ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE ON A TRIP TO VISIT A COLLEGE IN ARKANSAS. THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD THAT IS HEAVILY TRAVELED BY COMMERCIAL TRUCKS. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM OKLAHOMA TO PLANO TEXAS TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. THEY PUT THE CAR THROUGH A DIAGNOSIS AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED THIS WEEK ON APRIL 1, 2009. INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO AUDI, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANICS/TECHNICIANS THERE STATED THE ISSUE WAS THE FUEL PUMP CALLED OUT THE RECALLS MENTIONED ABOVE. WHEN I RESEARCHED THESE RECALLS THE VEHICLES COVERED WERE ONLY THOSE MANUFACTURED THROUGH APRIL OF 3003. SEE BELOW: HTTP://NHTHQNWWS111.ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/DOCSERVLET/ARTEMIS/PUBLIC/RECALLS/2007/V/RCDNN-07V375-5676.PDF MY AUDI WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 2003 SO THEREFORE NOT COVERED. IF THEY DID NOT "CHANGE OUT" OR SOMEHOW CORRECT THE IDENTIFIED SYSTEM THEN A SAFETY ISSUES STILL EXISTED IN THE CAR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, I AM CONCERNED FOR OTHER DRIVERS THAT MIGHT PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK IN MERGING ONTO FREEWAYS OR OTHERWISE REQUIRING A STABLE ACCELERATION WHEN MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE. *TR

I OWN A 2003 AUDI A4 1.8 . I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHILE ADJUSTING MY CAR TO THE SPACE, THE ENGINE CUT OFF AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO RESTART THE ENGINE NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN I WAS TOLD THIS I IMMEDIATELY WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP. I CALLED THE NUMBER GIVEN FOR THE RECALL ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ONE ON THE RECALL LIST. I THEN WENT ON LINE TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL WITH FUEL PUMP COMPLAINTS AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME REASON. THE CAR COULD HAVE CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC OR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IF I DID NOT PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THIS IS UNFAIR TO SELL DEFECTIVE PARTS, HAVE A RECALL AND REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN OTHER MODELS OTHER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE LISTED. THAT REPAIR COSTS ME $768.00, I SHOULD AND SO SHOULD THE OTHER COMPLAINANTS BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS DEFECT BY AUDI., WHY DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE THESE MANUFACTURERS ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECTS. SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION COILS, I REPAIRED THE FIRST IGNITION COIL, THEN THE SECOND ONE WENT BAD, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I CHANGE ALL, PULLED UP THIS INFO ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AGAIN THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THIS PART. CONSUMERS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. *TR

2003 AUDI A4. 1.8 L TURBO. WHILE IN TRAFFIC FUEL PUMP FAILED AND CAR STALLED. AUDI HAS ISSUED PREVIOUSLY A RECALL FOR FUEL PUMPS IN 2003 A4S. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD PRODUCTION DATE ON MY CAR IS OUTSIDE OF DATE RANGE OF RECALL. DATE RANGE SHOULD BE EXPANDED. RECALL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BELOW. RECALL DATE: AUG 28, 2007 MODEL AFFECTED: 2003 AUDI A4 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL. CONSEQUENCE: IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 20007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. THIS RECALL IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V017). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A BUMPING SOUND AS IF THERE WERE A FLAT TIRE. WHEN THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE DROVE SMOOTHLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TEN TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE. INITIALLY, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. FINALLY, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V375000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,130 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V375000); HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DISABLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V017000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

AUDI HAS INTENTIONALLY PUT MY FAMILY AND ME AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE BY REFUSING TO REPLACE A POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP IN MY 2003 A4 1.8L TURBO. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME SPECIFIED IN THE FUEL PUMP RECALL CAMPAIGNS, AUDI USA TOLD ME MY CAR SHOULDN'T BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE RECALLS DON?T INCLUDE MY CAR'S VIN. (CAMPAIGNS #06V017000 AND #07V375000) THESE RECALLS COVER A4 1.8L TURBO ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2002 TO MARCH 31, 2003. MINE WAS MANUFACTURED ON NOVEMBER 8, 2002. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT AUDI IS PUTTING US AT RISK FOR A CRASH AND INJURY, SINCE 1) THEY USED THE SAME EXCUSE TO DENY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL 4 DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS THAT TURNED OUT NEEDING REPLACEMENT (SEE ODI #10214099); 2) MY CAR HAS ALREADY HAD SERIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS (COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR BY 69,000 MILES); 3) AUDI SEEMS UNAWARE OF HOW MANY CARS ARE REALLY AFFECTED BY THIS, GIVEN THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE ENOUGH VEHICLES IN THE FIRST FUEL PUMP RECALL OF 74,000 CARS AND HAD TO ADD A SECOND ONE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 34,000; AND 4) THESE FUEL PUMPS ARE KNOWN TO FAIL AS EARLY AS 50,000 MILES, AND MY CAR HAS 70,000. IT IS FOR THESE FOUR REASONS MY FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AUDI?S EXPENSE. AUDI NEEDS TO STOP MAKING ITS CAR OWNERS PAY FOR THEIR ENGINEERING MISTAKES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PRACTICE THAT NEEDS TO STOP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR