2003 Audi A4 Body & Structure Problems

DEFECTIVE CONVERTIBLE TOP ON 2003 AUDI A4 HAS RESULTED IN THE REAR GLASS WINDOW TO BECOME LOOSE. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THE WINDOW WILL FLY OFF. BASED ON ON-LINE POSTINGS, THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE. TO DATE, AUDI NOR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS DONE ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE FAULTY MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2003 AUDI A4 CONVERTIBLE IN NOVEMBER 2008 AND SINCE THEN THE DEFECTIVE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS RESULTED IN THE REAR GLASS WINDOW TO BE NEARLY COMPLETELY LOOSE. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD AND REPRESENTS A DANGER SINCE THE WINDOW COULD FALL OUT AND HURT OTHER PEOPLE. AUDI OF SANTA MONICA SAID THEY CAN'T/WON'T FIX IT AND REFERRED ME TO AN UPHOLSTERY SHOP WHO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND CAN'T FIX IT (DESPITE AUDI RECOMMENDING THEM FOR FIXING THIS). A DETAILED CHECK OF NUMEROUS ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS (IN THE U.S. AND GERMANY) SHOWS THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMING PROBLEM FOR 2003 AUDI CONVERTIBLES THAT AUDI SIMPLY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. 2003 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT KARMANN MANUFACTURE THE ROOF AND, INTERESTINGLY, HARMANN IN GERMANY SEEMS TO ACCEPT SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND HAS FIXED THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME PEOPLE, CHARGING ONLY FOR LABOR. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS FAULTY MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND FORCE AUDI TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR

REAR WINDOW CAME UNGLUED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED ON MY 2003 A4 CABRIOLET. AUDI DEALER REPLACED TOP. MY COST WAS 4000. *TR

THE ADHESIVE WHICH HOLDS IN THE REAR WINDOW ON MY 2003 AUDI A4 3.0 CONVERTIBLE CAME UNGLUED, RESULTING IN THE WINDOW GRADUALLY FALLING AWAY FROM THE ROOF. I HAD TO DUCT TAPE IT IN AS I DIDN'T WANT IT POPPING OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, AND TO PREVENT RAIN / MOISTURE FROM GETTING IN. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD SHOULD IT DISLODGE WHILE OPERATING. FYI, THE CAR HAD BEEN BABIED SINCE DAY ONE; GARAGE KEPT AND HAND WASHED. AUDI OF AMERICA DID FINALLY AGREE TO PAY FOR A NEW TOP (ABOUT 6K RETAIL) BUT COULD NOT TELL ME IF THE NEW TOP HAD DIFFERENT ADHESIVE (I DON'T WANT A REPEAT OF THIS CIRCUMSTANCE A FEWS YRS DOWN THE LINE). I RESEARCHED THIS, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS W/ THIS PROBLEM. MOST CARS WERE 03'S AT ABOUT 40-50K MILES. IN MY OPINION, AUDI NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS A DEFECT W/ THE ADHESIVE AND OFFER REPLACEMENT AT N/C. IF YOU HAVE AN A4 OR S4 CONVERTIBLE, MONITOR WHERE THE GLASS FITS IN THE TOP. LISTEN FOR A "FLAPPING" NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE MAIN MECHANIC SAID IN ADDITION THE ADHESIVE COMING UNDONE, THERE ALSO APPEARED TO BE SHRINKAGE OF THE TOP. I DO NOT KNOW, FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, IF THE SHRINKAGE WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM (I.E, THE "PULLING AWAY" FROM THE TOP) OR IF IT WAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH PROBLEMS THAT CULMINATED IN THE END RESULT. REGARDLESS, AUDI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM W/ THE WINDOW FLYING OUT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. SHE NOTICED A LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW OF THE CONVERTIBLE IN ADDITION SHE NOTICED THE ROOF DETACHED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT IS ADHESIVE PROCESS USED DOESN'T STICK TO CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WOULD COST $4,000 TO REPLACE THE TOP. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2003 A4 CABIOROLET HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TOP. NOW BARELY HANGING ON, THE WINDOW PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO PASSENGERS AND OTHER VEHICLES WHEN IT FALLS OUT. *TR