Audi A4 Complaints (1998)

258 consumer complaints on file.

#10062777March 22, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED MY CAR AND I TOOK IT TO AUDI DEALERSHIP TO GET AN OIL CHANGED AND FOUND OUT THAT PASSENGER TIRE ROD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND I TOLD THE MECHANIC THAT, IS THERE ANY RECALL ON THIS MODEL?, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NONE.., DID MY RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V248000 ). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062313March 16, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1998 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.8 ACCELERATOR THROTTLE STUCK OPEN THIS WINTER SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AT MY HOME. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062371March 16, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY AUDI A4 AVANT 2.8 QUATTRO 1998 ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN IN COLD TEMPERATURES ( BELOW 15 DEGREES F ) AND TWO DEALERSHIPS FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM SO FAR. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE HAS WARMED UP PARTIALLY, BUT HAS NOT REACHED IT'S OPERATING TEMPERATURE YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063018March 11, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE TURNING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIE RODS, AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060852March 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
1998 AUDI A4 FWD / 101,000 MILES / BROKEN DRIVERS SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM / FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENT (LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM) SNAPPED AT BUSHING AS I WAS PARKING. CAR WAS RENDERED LIMP AND COULD NOT BE TOWED DUE TO PROBABLE FENDER DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE CAUSED BY DRAGGING LIMP WHEEL. HAD THIS COMPONENT BROKEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061277March 3, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
UPON STARTING VEHICLE THE IGNITION GETS STUCK IN THE CRANK POSITION. WHENEVER THIS HAPPENS WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL 00V317000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056303February 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN VERY COLD WEATHER, THE ENGINE STICKS AND HOLDS A SPEED OF 6,000 RPM. THIS CONDITION LASTS FOR AT LEAST 40 MINUTES DURING WHICH TIME THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN FOUR TIMES. I HAVE INVOLVED THE LOCAL AUDI DEALER AS WELL AS AUDI OF AMERICA. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. AUDI OF AMERICA IS REFUSING TO EITHER ACKNOWLEDGE OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS ON JAN 16, 2003. THE LAST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED WAS JAN 16, 2004. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054827January 25, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE STICKING ON ACCELERATION IN SUB-ZERO DRIVING TEMPERATURES. BRAKES ENABLED ME TO STOP CAR AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. IF I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR RE-ACCELERATED TO THE STUCK POSITION. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, ENGINE HEAT EVIDENTLY MELTED THE ICE AND IDLE SPEED RETURNED TO NORMAL. HAVE SPOKE TO OTHER AUDI OWNERS AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR STUCK THROTTLE PROBLEMS IN SUB-ZERO DRIVING TEMPERATURES. INDEPENDENT AUDI REPAIRMEN HAVE SUGGESTED THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BECAUSE THERE IS NO SOURCE OF HEAT (EXHAUST HOSE ROUTING OR ENGINE COOLING ROUTING) NEAR THE THROTTLE PLATE AND THERE IS NO FIX OR REPAIR TO THIS DESIGN PROBLEM. IF A CRASH OCCURS, THE ENGINE HEAT MELTS THE ICE BUILDUP BEFORE A CAUSE OF ACCIDENT CAN BE DETERMINED. WHEN I CONTACTED AN AUDI DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH OTHERS AND TO GET REPAIR ADVICE, THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM TYPE AND JUST SAID TO BE VERY CAREFUL DRIVING. I ALSO CONTACTED AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FILE A REPORT AND THEY ALSO SAID THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM BUT DID GIVE ME A CASE NUMBER (881108347). IT IS -9 DEGREES TODAY AND -18 IS FORECAST TONIGHT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES. NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THE THROTTLE STICKS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052770January 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RETURN TO RUN FROM START AFTER STARTING CAR. IF THE THE KEY IS NOT RETURNED FROM START MANUALLY, THE ACCESSORIES (I.E WINDOWS, LIGHTS, RADIO, FAN, ETC) WILL NOT RUN AND THE STARTER WILL CONTIUE TO RUN POTENTIATING THE FAILURE OF THAT PART. RECALL NOTICE #00V31700 COVERS MODEL YEAR 1997 FOR CARS MANUFACTURED THROUGH 8/97. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED 8/97 BUT IS MODEL YEAR 1998. AUDI USED THE MODEL YEAR LIMITATION TO DENY REPAIRNG THE FAULTY PART AND SHOULD INCLUDE ALL CARS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE TIME FRAME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052778January 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SUDDEN & CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BEARING/PULLEY OF MAIN TIMING BELT, WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FEWER THAN 55K MILES ON ODOMETER AND WAS WELL MAITAINED.*AK SUCH FAILURE CAN CAUSE INSTANTANEOUS DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE, WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR SUDDEN AND RAPID DECCELERATION, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC COLLISION. THE LOSS OF THE BEARING CAUSES THE MAIN TIMING BELT TO SHIFT POSITION AND/OR TO SNAP, CAUSING THE ENGINE VALVES TO MOVE OUT-OF-SYNC WITH THE ENGINE PISTONS OR TO STOP MOVING ALTOGETHER. THE PISTONS THEN COLLIDE WITH THE VALVES, CAUSING ENGINE DESTRUCTION. FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND INSTANTANEOUSLY. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF IMPENDING FAILURE THAT ONE CAN OBSERVE DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION. IN MY CASE, ENGINE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR, BUT THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE DIRECTLY TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN WHO DID THE REPAIR SAID THAT, IN MY CASE, I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY AND THAT ONLY SLIPPAGE HAD OCCURED, AND THAT THE SLIPPAGE WAS JUST BELOW THE POINT AT WHICH ENGINE DESTRUCTION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS TECHNICIAN WAS FROM GERMANY (AS WAS THE VEHICLE), AND HE SAID THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS BEARING (AND/OR ASSOCIATED WATER PUMP) IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HE ALSO SAID THAT IN GERMANY A RECALL WAS ORDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS THEY CONSIDERED THE FAILURE PREMATURE, FREQUENT, AND THAT IT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, AS THE ENGINE COULD EASILY DESTRUCT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSIG A COLLISION. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS DOZENS OF REPORTS OF PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS BELT/PULLEY/WATER-PUMP SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. (1998 AUDI A4 2.8L QUATTRO AUTOMATIC)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052679January 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1998 AUDI A4 1.8T FULLY MAINTAINED TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. SERVICE MANUAL CALLS FOR TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AT 90,000 MILES. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 76,000 MILES. AUDI USA REFUSAL TO GATHER SERVICE INFO OR COMPENSATE FOR LOSS AND PROVIDED NO AVENUE FOR APPEAL OR ESCALATION OF THE CASE. AUDI USA HAD MADE NO EFFORT TO INFORM DRIVERS OF THIS PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052371January 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THE ABS MIL WOULD COME ON AT RANDOM AND STAY ON. NOW IT IS ON ALL THE TIME THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050728December 18, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
MY HEATER RECENTLY QUIT BLOWING HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE HAS 75K000 MILES AND IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. I AM TOLD IT IS THE HEATER CORE. THIS SEEMS ODD AS A HEATER CORE SHOULD NEVER GO BAD OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD. THE LABOR IS 14 HOURS OR ABOUT $1,200. THEN, I WAS MADE AWARE THAN THE AUDI DEALER STOCKS HEATER CORES. THIS SEEMS EVEN MORE ODD AS IT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ENOUGH FOR THE DEALER TO WANT TO STOCK THE PART. I HAVE HAD OTHER THINGS GO WRONG ON THE CAR AND THEY ALMOST NEVER STOCK THE PART. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS HAPPENS AND AWFUL LOT. THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF FAILURE RATE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049140December 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I DISCOVERED A SIGNIFICANT ENGINE OIL LEAK IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AT 50K MILES. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041549October 9, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE PASSENGER SIDE ARBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 40-45MPH ON A SECONDARY ROAD. THERE WAS NO COLLISION AT THE TIME AND NO EVIDENCE OF POTHOLES OR ROAD DEBRIS. THE DEALER SCANNED THE COMPUTER AND RETRIEVED "CRASH DATA" AND CLAIMED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WORKED AS EXPECTED. THEY NOTED A SMALL DENT UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COLUMN OF THE CAR WHICH THEY CLAIMED WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THEY REFERRED ME TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ADJUSTER EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION - NO DENT OR OTHER DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM IN THE CAR IS DISABLED. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041413October 7, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE AND INACTIVE, WHICH IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040983September 30, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD OFFER ANY ADVICE. I HAVE A 1998 AUDI A4 THAT WAS PURCHASED IN JULY, 1997 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000 ROAD MILES. IT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THROUGH THE YEARS, THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH WAS A BROKEN (NOT WORN) CLUTCH THAT WAS REPAIRED LAST MONTH. I CONTACTED AUDI USA AND REQUESTED THAT THEY HELP PAY FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THEY REFUSED, STATING THAT THE CAR IS WELL OUTSIDE THEIR 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARANTY PERIOD. I GRANT THEM THAT, BUT A NUMBER OF OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE 7 OR EVEN 10 YEAR POWERTRAIN WARRANTIES. MY OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH THIS VEHICLE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. ADDITIONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT A BROKEN CLUTCH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL HARM IF IT WERE TO RESULT IN TOTAL CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL (MY CLUTCH APPARENTLY FAILED "PARTIALLY" ALLOWING ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUDI REPAIR FACILITY). ARE THERE ANY OPTIONS FOR FURTHER PURSUIT OF THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ROBERT A. WEATHERLY, MD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037535September 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, PARKING BRAKE, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
IN MARCH 2003, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAULTY SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED FOR $300. IN JUNE 2003, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON. THIS TIME IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY OIL PUMP THAT WAS REPLACED AT $900. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY THERMOSTAT AND SENSOR. REPLACEMENT COST $750. ALSO, WASHER FLUID CONTAINER CRACKED AND HAND BRAKE LEVER HANDLE CRACKED (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) -- BOTH MADE OF CHEAP QUALTIY PLASTIC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037337September 6, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MULTITUDE OF PROBS. W/ ALMOST EVERY ASPECT (BRAKES, ENGINE VALVES, OIL LIGHT STAYS ON, RAIN LEAKS, BAD WHEEL BEARINGS, ETC.) OF THIS CAR. MOST FRUSTRATING HAS BEEN RUDE AND INCOMPETENT SERVICE BY AUDI DEALER. AFTER AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THE DEALER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH NOT ALL THE NOISE WAS GONE, THE CAR WAS SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE TO CALIF.,(WE LIVE IN NJ). WE DID NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER BECAUSE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE REMAINED AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHERE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE FOUND TO BE DAMAGED. WE WERE ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DO SO . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038156September 2, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH LIGHTS COME ON WITH EITHER THE IGNITION OR PHOTO SENSOR. *PH THIS DESIGN MAKES THE CONSUMER THINK THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS ARE ON ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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