Audi A4 Complaints (1997)

98 consumer complaints on file.

#10136417September 13, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I HAVE A 1997 AUDI A4 Q THAT HAS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ALREADY DONE FOR THIS CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V317000) AS OF OCT 06,2000. I CALLED THE A LOCAL DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND GAVE THEM MY VIN # AND THEY CLAIM MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I WENT TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND LOOKED AT THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF MY CAR AND IT DOES SHOW THAT THE YEAR OF MY CAR WAS INCLUDED. IN FACT, I WAS EVEN ABLE TO PRINT OFF SEVERAL DOCUMENTS REFERRING TO THE RECALL AND IT DOES SHOW THAT MY VIN IS ACTUALLY INCLUDED (VIN RANGES WAU---8D-VA000181 TO WAU---8D-VA294397). QUOTING THE RECALL LETTER; "THE PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING CAN FRACTURE AT THE RETURN SPRING ANCHOR POINT. FRACTURE OF THE HOUSING COULD CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. " THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR () MAKING IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136026September 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
MY AUDI A-4 WAS PARKED ALL DAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ONLY IN THE DASH. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO AUDI THEY REFUSE TO GIVE ME A REPORT AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR. THEY ALSO SAID THEY COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS TAMPERED WITH. THE FIRE DEPT THAT PUT OUT THE FIRE, SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THIS CAR IS STOCK, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND MODULE. THIS CAR HAS HAD RECALLS AND MAY COMPLAINTS. THIS COULD CAUSED INJURY AND DEATH IF MY CHILD AND I WERE IN THE CAR. I FEEL AS IF I AM BEING BLOWN OFF, I HAVE CALLED AND SPOKE TO MANY PEOPLE AND THERE IS NO STRAIGHT ANSWER. NOW MY CAR IS SITTING AT SCOTTADALE PAINT AND AUTO BODY WHERE I WAS INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE IT BY AUDI. I HAVE CALLED THERE TODAY TO CHECK ON MY CAR AND NO ONE CAN FIND IT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN SENDING E-MAIL AND SO ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135562September 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE FAILURE I AM HAVING IS WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR, THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT RETURN TO THE PROPER POSITION AFTER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STARTED. THIS CAUSES ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS, AND HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING TO BE INOPERATIVE AFTER STARTING THE CAR. ALSO, WHEN TURNING OFF THE CAR THE KEY DOES NOT TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION. THIS RESULTS IN DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING AND REINSERTING THE KEY, AND IT ALSO DOES NOT CUT OFF ALL POWER RESULTING IN A DEAD BATTERY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, AND IT ALSO DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE ANTI THEFT ALARM SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN 2001, AND THE DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE CHANGED THE DEFECTIVE PART HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. PAUL MILLER AUDI WAS NOT WILLING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THEIR COST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134577September 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: THE KEY WOULDN'T GO INTO THE IGNITION, AND THEN THE RADIO WOULDN'T GO OFF. THEN, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULDN'T WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH CONTACTED THE DEALER AND AUDI, AND THEY BOTH SAID THE IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT, RECALL 00V317000, HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED, BUT THERE WAS NO DOCUMENTATION. WAS CONCERNED THAT IF IT WAS ALREADY REPLACED THEN IT SHOULD NOT MALFUNCTION WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.*AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134398August 27, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
FAILING LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130629July 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
IGNITION SWITCH APPEARED TO BREAK WHEN STARTING CAR. THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN ALL THE WAY TO STARTING POSITION AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO START IN THE RAIN. PULLED CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUT OFF IGNITION. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND IGNITION KEY REMAINS IN FORWARD POSITION. CALLED AUDI. AUDI STATES THAT THE RECALLED IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF IT NOT BEING REPLACED. SERVICE FOR THE CAR HAS BEEN AT AUDI SERVICE SINCE PURCHASE IN 1997. I DO NOT RECALL EVER RECEIVING THE RECALL LETTER OR HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. IF IT WAS REPLACED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, IT APPARENTLY REMAINED DEFECTIVE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125149June 13, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
AUDI (97 A4 QUATTRO) HAS ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL RELATED TO CONTROL ARMS - OFFERING FREE REPLACEMENT. THEY FURTHER STATE THAT IF THE CONTROL ARMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, THEY WILL REIMBURSE ALL COSTS. I HAVE MY CAR MAINTAINED FAITHFULLY, USUALLY BY A DEALER, BUT I DID NOT HAVE THE FORMAL 90K MILE CHECK DONE. SINCE I DID NOT FOLLOW THEIR FORMAL PROCESS, THEY ARE REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. (THIS IS NOT A "MAINTAINABLE PART", SO THE ONLY FIX, IF INDICATED AT 90K MILES, WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACEMENT). AUDI'S POSITION SEEMS UNREASONABLE, GIVEN THE "UNREPAIRABILITY FACTOR".
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125158June 13, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DT: PERIODICALLY CLUTCH WILL NOT REALEASE AND THIS DISABLES CONSUMER FROM DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND OTHER TIMES WHEN I SHIFT ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109577January 14, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
BOTH OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED. *NM THE CONSUMER PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1882 AUDI 4000 AND A 1985 AUDI 4000S QUATTRO. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102827December 13, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I HAVE A 97 AUDI A4 2.8 . QUATTRO. I HAVE AHAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM IS THAT A CONTROL ARM ON THE SUNROOF (APPEARS TO BE A POWDER METAL PART ABOUT 1 INCH IN SIZE) HAS BROKEN. THIS BREAK REQUIRES THAT THE THE COMPLETE SUNROOF BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1300. I WAS INTERESTED TO KNOWN IF OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT SIMILAR FAILURES ON AUDIS OR VWS. THANKS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103514December 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
EVERY 30,000 MILES TO 40,000 MILES THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE FRONT END MADE A CLANKING NOISE, AND THE FRONT WHEELS LOOSENED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS OFFERED 50% OF TOTAL REPAIR COST BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100785November 30, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
UPON STARTING THE CAR, IT MADE A NOISE AS THOUGH THE KEY WAS STILL IN STARTING POSITION. THE CAR DROVE OKAY, BUT THE WIPERS, HEADLIGHTS, DIGITAL ODOMETER, EVERYTHING ELECTRIC WOULD NOT WORK. I WENT TO WORK, PLANNING TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER LATER THAT DAY. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AT LUNCH TIME, THE KEY WOULD NOT EVEN GO INTO THE IGNITION. AFTER CALLING AAA, AND HAVING 3 DIFFERENT TOW TRUCKS, NO ONE WAS ABLE TO TOW THE CAR BAUSE IT HAS ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR ON TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL. I THEN CALLED EVERY LOCKSMITH IN THE PHONEBOOK UNTIL ONE FINALLY STOPPED BY. HE WAS ABLE TO LUBRICATE THE KEY AND GET IT IN THE IGNITION. UPON DOING SO HE TOLD ME THAT THE HOUSING WAS PROBABLY FRACTURE AND OUT OF PLACE. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER, WHERE I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE IGNITION RECALL, AND CHARGED $542 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND HOUSING OF THE IGNITION. I LATER DISCOVERED ON MY OWN THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT AUDI HEADQUARTERS. I SPOKE TO TWO DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVE WHO WERE BOTH VERY RUDE. I THEN SENT AUDI A COPY OF MY BILL AND REQUESTED THAT THEY REIMBURSE MY COSTS FOR THE DEFECTED PARTS. THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT BY LAW, AUDI SHOULD REIMBURSE ME AND IF NOT THAT I SHOULD PURSUE LEGAL ACTION. I HAVE RE-SENT MY BILL TO AUDI, AND IF WITHIN 30 DAYS, I HAVE NOT BEEN REIMBURSED, THEY WILL BE SEEING ME IN COURT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100490November 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OIL SLUDGE RELATED FAILURE ON OUR 1997 AUDI A4. INGRID EVERT, FROM THE OFFICE OF AUDI OF AMERICA'S MARK TRAHAN, HAS TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY CAR IS WITHIN THE VIN RANGE AFFECTED BY WHAT IS, IN HER WORDS, A "MANUFACTURING DEFECT". HER REASON FOR REFUSAL IS THE FACT THAT I CHANGE MY OWN OIL AND THUS LACK RECEIPTS. SO, ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS WITHIN THE AFFECTED VIN RANGE, AND I HAVE PERFORMED ALL OIL CHANGES IN EXCESS OF THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS, AND MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS FAILURE REGARDLESS OF THE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE CAR, MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101202October 27, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RE: 1997 AUDI A4; RECALL CAMPAIGN LE, ELECTRICAL IGNITION SWITCH. *BF THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN 2001 PRIOR TO ANY FAILURE. A FEW YEARS LATER THE SWITCH FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER THAT PROMPTED THE INITIAL RECALL. THE IGNITION SWITCH BLEW UP THE STARTER CAUSING $1100 IN DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT WAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092870September 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COOPERATE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091173September 17, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
CONTROL ARM FAILURE, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND VEERING INTO A CURB, DAMAGING THE VEHICLE ($2000+), INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILED PART (ESURANCE). IT WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS GOING ONLY 35 MPH, THAT NO ONE WAS STANDING OR DRIVING WHERE I HIT THAT CURB.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090223September 1, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER STATED A SPRING BROKE INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH. AS A RESULT, STARTER STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING AND CURRENTLY FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088142August 18, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
APPARENTLY RELATED TO CASE: EA04017 I WAS DRIVING A 1997 AUDI A4 2.8L V6 QUATTRO AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT: I WAS DRIVING 55-MPH ON THE TACONIC STATE PARKWAY IN NEW YORK, AROUND NOON (AMBIENT TEMPERATURE ~30F ABOVE ZERO). I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER AN HOUR WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING TO NEARLY 70-MPH DOWN HILLS BUT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AT THE TIME AND SET TO 55-MPH, SO I TURNED IT OFF BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT OCCURRING. I TRIED BRAKING AS I WENT DOWN HILLS AND THAT SLOWED ME DOWN ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER 55-MPH. I FOUND A REST AREA, SLOWED THE CAR DOWN WITH MY BRAKES AND CAME TO A SAFE STOP (FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE REST AREA). WHEN I CAME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE RPMS WERE AT ABOUT 3500 BUT IT USUALLY IDLES AT 1000. I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE RPMS SHOT UP TO 7000 BEFORE I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I TRIED PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TURNING THE CAR BACK ON, BUT THE RPMS SHOT UP AGAIN QUICKLY SO, AGAIN, I TURNED OF THE IGNITION (I TRIED THIS 3 TIMES BEFORE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR). THEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES, GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN. IT STARTED UP FINE AND IDLED AT THE NORMAL 1000 LEVEL. I DROVE ANOTHER 30 MINUTES TO MY DESTINATION WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN, AND HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE (I HAVE NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL SINCE, EITHER). I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK FOR FAILURE CODES WITH AN OBDII SCAN TOOL, BUT NO ERROR CODES CAME UP. HE ALSO COULD NOT SEE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE, SO I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT CAUTIOUSLY EVER SINCE. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP! LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086446August 9, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD END FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082511July 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECALL 00V317000: IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT.I HAVE A 1997 AUDI A4 VIN [XXX] THAT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL IN JAN 2004. THE SYMPTOMS PROMPTING THE RECALL HAVE REOCCURRED (WIPERS AND LIGHT NOT WORKING DUE TO SWITCH DEFECT). TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER WHO STATUS RECALL WORK WAS WARRANTED FOR 1 YEAR OR 12000 MILES SO THEY WILL NOT FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE VECHILE IS 8 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR. IS THERE ANY REQUIREMENT THE THE RECALL REMENDY WORK? IT APPEARS THEY PUT IN A PART THAT HAS THE SAME DEFECT THAT LEAD TO THE RECALL.*AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Audi A4