Audi A4 Complaints (1996)

89 consumer complaints on file.

#732705September 28, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
IN 1998, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AUDI WAS ADVISED OF A PROBLEM WHICH BEGAN WITH A NOISE IN THE CAR. THIS WAS EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED IN 2/2000 AT NO COST TO MYSELF AS AUDI ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A "DEFECT" IN THAT MODEL YEAR. 2 WEEKS AGO, I DISCOVERD THAT THE LOWER CONTROLS ARMS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THEM TOGETHER. I AGAIN REPORTED THIS TO AUDI OF AMERICA AND WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT THEY HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER. I WAS INSTRUCTED AUDI AND MY MECHANIC THAT THE I COULD LOSE THE STEERING AT ANY POINT. UPON INSPECTION BY AUDI THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CARE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THESE UPPER CONTROL ARMS MUST BE REPLACED. AFTER DISCUSSING THIS WITH THEM, THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE AND RUDE AND HAVE AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE PARTS, BUT I MUST PAY ALL OF THE LABOR AT THEIR PREMIUM PRICES. SINCE THE CAR IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO TAKE IT TO A REASONABLY PRICED AUTO SHOP. AUDI HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR TWO YEAS, AS I WAS TOLD BY AN AUDI MECHANIC THAT THEY HAD CONSIDERED A RECALL. AUDI IS PUTTING THEIR CUSTOMERS IN GREAT DANGER AND WILL DO NOTHING UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726466August 2, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES AND THUNKS OVER BUMPS, AND MAKES CREAKING NOISE WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE, AND WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865901July 24, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
IGNITION SWITCH WAS STILL ON WHEN CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE. ALSO, STARTER DIDN'T RETURN BACK WHEN ENGAGED FROM THE SWITCH, AND AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING SLOWY AND THERE WAS A SMELL COMING FRON THE AIR CONDITIONER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD CONSSUMER THAT HE NEEDED AN EVAPORATOR , AND IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#864524June 29, 2000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
INNER TIE RODS WERE LOOSE AND WORN OUT WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING. RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#862266May 22, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF VEHICLE OR GOING OVER BUMPS FRONT END MAKES A LOUD NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER , AND THEY REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722898May 19, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES ARE MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE DURING WET WEATHER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722899May 19, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE WEARING OF THE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING THE CONTROL ARMS AS WELL AS THE STABILIZER LINKS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722924May 19, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE WET, THEY DO NOT WORK UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE HELD FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN 5 SECONDS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#718941February 18, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
AFTER STARTING MY VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS (INCIDENT OCCURED APPROX. 8:00 PM), I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. I ALSO NOTIICED THAT MY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS (LIGHTS DURING NORMAL START-UP), OUTSIDE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE GAUGE, DOOR LOCKS, AND MY TURN SIGNALS WERE ALL INOPERABLE. I THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF MY ENGINE TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEMS WHEN I FOUND THAT I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION (TO THE OFF POSITION). I VERIFIED THAT MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION SHIFTER WAS IN PARK "P". THE ENGINE WAS FINALLY SHUT (1.5 HRS LATER) DOWN BY PULLING FUEL PUMP FUZE. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH (# VWN 4AO 905 849 B), THIS CORRECTED ALL PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY SIMULAR TO THE 1994/1995 AUDI 90 RECALL (ID #96V017000) OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FEB. 1996 WHICH IS TWO MONTHS FOLLOWING THE LAST RECALLED AUDI 90 (MFD. RECALL JAN 94 TO DEC 95). AUDI INC . WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS REPAIR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE: THIS PART (IGNITION SWITCH FOR THE 90 AND A4 APPEAR TO BE THE SAME: I VERIFIED THIS AT ONE DEALER) CAUSES VERY SIMILIAR MALFUNCTIONS IN THE A4 AS THE AUDI 90 HAD IN 1994/1995 VEHICLES. NOTE: SOME AUDI A4 OWNERS MAY NOT HAVE REPORTED TO NHTSA BECAUSE WARRANTY COVERS PART UP TO 50,000 MILES. PLEASE VERIFY HOW MANY IGNITION SWITCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE A4 VIA DEALERS. IF THIS ISSUE PROMPTED A RECALL OF THE AUDI 90 (RECALL: 1996) , MY VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY OTHERS HAS JUST EXPERIENCED A SIMILIAR IF NOT WORSE PROBLEM (CAN NOT SHUT OF ENGINE, NO HEADLIGHT/TAIL LIGHTS ETC. USING NORMAL TECHNIQUE, ENGINE ALSO BEGAN TO OVERHEAT). THIS IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. I FORTUNATELY HAD THE KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION SAFELY, BUT ALL A4 OWNERS ARE NOT TECHNICALLY INCLINED. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION/CLARIFICATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851899November 22, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
WHEN HITTING A BUMP VEHICLE'S CONTROL ARM MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND CAUSES A SLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL . DLR HAS REPLACED BROKEN CONTROL ARM BEFORE. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714668November 11, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713497October 18, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT RETURN FROM STARTER ENGAGED POSITION, STARTER STAYED ENGAGED WHICH LEAD TO ITS FAILURE AFTER PROBLEM OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND A/C SYSTEM DID NOT WORK. APPARENTLY OTHER MODELS OF AUDIS WERE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY NOT THE A4? REPAIR COST: $800.00.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#712709October 3, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHEN SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR,ENGINE FUMBLES CAUSING THE CAR TO VIBRATE....ON COLD STARTS,ANY RELEASE OF THE THROTTLE AND THE FRONT END MAKES LOUD CLICKING,DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE THOUGH HAPPENS EVERY DAY....UNDER ACCELERATION WHEN COLD ,EXHAUST RATTLES,SOUNDS LIKE HEAT SHIELD RAPPING AGAINST SOMETHING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#711965September 24, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AUDI APPARENTLY WILL COVER REPLACEMENT, EVEN THOUGH PAST WARRANTEE ($1200 PARTS AND LABOR)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#843351July 26, 1999
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THERE IS A DELAYED SHIFTING PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE WILL SLAM INTO GEAR AND SOMETIMES SURGE FORWARD SUDDENLY CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#843210July 23, 1999
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
EQUIPMENT:BICYCLE CARRIER BROKE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#837895June 8, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAD ACTIVATED AND VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALTHOUGH PROBLEM WA SSPORADIC, THE SAME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, AN EFFORT TO ACCELERATE WOULD CAUSE ENGINE TO RACE UP TO 4 RPMS. VEHICLE COASTED ON RESIDUAL MOMENTUM, HAVING ONLY BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITY AS ENGINE STRUGGLED TO RECOVER. CONSUMER BROUGH VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO SUGGESTED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#705890April 22, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
(1) SUSPENSION: FRONT END GROANS AND CREAKS OVER BUMPS (EVEN SMALL BUMPS), AS WELL AS WHEN PEOPLE ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE, EXTENT OF DANGER UNKNOWN -- AUDI HAS "DIAGNOSED" IT AS A "CONTROL ARM" PROBLEM; (2) SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY OPENS ON ITS OWN WHILE VEHICLE IN OPERATION WITH NO HUMAN INVOLVEMENT, CAUSING MAJOR DISTRACTION AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION -- AUDI HAS DIAGNOSEDIT AS AN ELECTRICAL "SWITCH" PROBLEM. AUDI SERVICE REPS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THESE TWO DEFECTS OCCURRING ON MY CAR ARE REOCCURRING PROBLEMS IN A4S, AND NOT JUST ON THE 1996 MODEL YEAR, BUT ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS (1997, 1998 AND 1999) AS WELL. DESPITE THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE PROBLEMS, AUDI REFUSES TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARISE ON VEHICLES THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY (LIKE MINE). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704628March 18, 1999
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SERVICE MANUAL FOR 96 AND 97 AUDI A4 DO NOT INDICATE THE NEED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT AT 90,000 MILES. MANUFACTURER ADMITS THE FAILURE BUT REFUSES TO UPDATE MANUALS FOR OWNERS. THIS CAR HAS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE WHICH WILL CAUSE SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE IF THE TIMING BELT FAILS. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL THE SERVICE MANUALS AND INFORM OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL COSTLY AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IF THE TIMING BELT FAILS. THE 98 AND NEWER MANUALS INDICATE THE TIMING BELT NEED, BUT THE 96 AND 97 MAKE NO MENTION. I CONTACTED AUDI IN 3/99 BUT THEY REFUSED TO UPDATE THE MANUALS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832467December 18, 1998
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER OR IF THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN WARMED UP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE GEARS NOT TO ENGAGE. MAY STAY IN ONE GEAR FOR ABOUT A MILE. THIS MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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