Audi A4 Complaints (1998)

258 consumer complaints on file.

#10254239January 8, 2009
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED THREE TIMES WITHIN THREE YEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. THE WIPERS WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE MOTOR FAILED AGAIN IN 2007 AND 2008. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED EACH TIME AT THE COST OF $496. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242985September 20, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
OUT OF NOWHERE, ABS LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING. TOOK TO SHOP, THEY STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE ABS MODULE TO LOCK OUT COMMUNICATIONS; 1400 + FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE CAR; I FIND IT OUTRAGEOUS THE ELECTRONIC MODULE IS OUTSIDE, SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SALT. PLEASE SEE MY COMPLAINT ON COIL SPRINGS AS WELL. RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THIS IS USUAL AND CUSTOMARY FOR THIS MODEL, I FEEL NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP HERE AND CALL AUDI ON THE TABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242986September 20, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:FRONT
REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AT 114000 MILES- CRACKED IN HALF, FRONTS PROBABLY NEXT. VEHICLE'S LIFE HAS BEEN IN THE NORTHEAST SUBJECT TO HEAVY USE OF ROAD SALT; SEEMS SPRING COMPOSITION SIMILAR TO THE BRAKE ROTORS AND COIL SPRINGS ON FORD PRODUCTS THAT PROMPTED A SIMILAR RECALL. AN ISSUE LIKE THIS ISN'T EXPECTED FROM AUDI, AND IS DISAPPOINTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233438July 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER READOUT IS UNREADABLE. DISPLAY HAS DIMMED OVER TIME. VEHICLE: 1998 AUDI A4 QUATTRO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232381June 26, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE FAILED, AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE COST WOULD EXCEED $1,100 BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226659May 5, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN, WHEELS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO MOVE IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION. ALSO, WHEN TURNING, SHE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V248000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING). THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223308April 3, 2008
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HAS 114K MILES IN NORTHEAST CONDITIONS, BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN; POSSIBLE DEFECT LIKE IN THE FORD TAURUS RECALLS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175579December 8, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT FURTHER STATED THE FAILURE CAUSED THE STARTER TO SHORT OUT AND BURN UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V403000, REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173437November 14, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS/BRAKE LIGHT JUST STARTED FLASHING. THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING ABS MODULE IS THE CAUSE. UNDER HARD BRAKING OR WET CONDITIONS THE CAR SLIDES LOOSES TRACTION. OLD PART IS STILL IN CAR TO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE RIGHT NOW. HAD CAR LOOKED AT BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME ABS MODULE IS THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164350August 3, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
1. HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER BURNING THE BACK OF MY LEG WHEN ON THE LOWEST SETTING(1/6). 2. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS ABOUT 1% OF THE TIME AND WILL ENGAGE UNEXPECTEDLY IF NOT TURNED OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10158469May 28, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS COMPUTER OUT. FROM PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO IT'S A FREQUENT PROBLEM IN THESE CARS. IT IS QUITE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152664March 14, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS CONTROL UNIT ON MY AUDI A4 FAILED AFTER ONLY 67,000 MILES. I HAVE NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKING WHATSOEVER, AND AUDI HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PART SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SEARCHING THROUGH AUDI FORUMS I FOUND THIS FAILURE TO BE VERY COMMON AND EVERYONE HAD NO ABS UNTIL THE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED WHICH COST AN AVERAGE OF $1500+. THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, I STARTED THE CAR ONE DAY AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON MY DASH. I TESTED THE ABS ON AN ICY ROAD AND FOUND THAT IT INDEED DOES NOT PREVENT MY BRAKES FROM LOCKING UP.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151447February 28, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILURE OF ABS MODULE, 1998 AUDI A4. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150161February 13, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1998 MANUAL AUDI A4. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 32 DEGREES F OR BELOW. THE CONDITIONS WERE STEADY SNOW AND WET/ICY/SLUSH ROADS. I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BREAK FAILURE WHEN EXITING THE HIGHWAY TO A REST AREA. I PUMPED THE BREAKS AND REGAINED SOME BREAKING POWER TO FINALLY SLOW THE VEHICLE. I COMPLETELY MISSED THE PROPER EXITING LANE DUE TO LACK OF BREAKING. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE RESULTED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT OF LOSS OF BREAKING POWER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150198February 13, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY ABS LIGHT STARTED BLINKING IN MY 1998 AUDI A4. I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED; FOUND THAT IT WAS A LIGHT FAILURE; I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO PULL OUT THE ELECTRONICS AND MOST LIKELY NOT EVEN SOLVE THE PROBLEM. LATER I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT MY ABS WAS NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL (WHICH IS NOW THE CASE), I FILED COMPLAINTS WITH AUDI AND BOSHE ABOUT THIS BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE COULD BE NO RECALL BECAUSE ABS IS NOT A TRAFFIC CONCERN. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND MAKING A 98 DEGREE TURN NOT TERRIBLY FAST; THERE WAS NO STOP SIGN, AND I ENDED UP DOING A 360 TO A STOP. I FOUND THIS NOT ONLY A SCARY EXPERIENCE, BUT ONE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE; IM DRIVING THE HONORABLE QUATTRO. I DECIDED TO LOOK FURTHER. I FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY W/ MODELS IN 1998. IM A FAIRLY GOOD DRIVER IN FACT I DID A DEFENSIVE DRIVING CLASS AT INFINEON RACEWAY SO I WAS STILL CONFUSED HOW I LOST SO MUCH TRACTION IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. I FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE QUATTRO ITSELF. THE ELECTRONIC BRAKING, TRACTION SYSTEMS, AND VARIOUS OTHER VEHICLE DYNAMIC SYSTEMS ARE ALL DEPENDENT ON THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. ALL THE TEST UP TO THEN SHOWED NO LINK TO ABS CONTROL UNIT; I WAS MADE TO BELIEVE THAT MY CAR JUST HAD A LIGHT FAILURE. I STARTED RESEARCHING THE CONTROL UNIT AND I FOUND THAT THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE PART BUT NOT FOR AUDI BUT FOR VOLKSWAGEN! THE CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 02V031000. I TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO WERE OWNERS OF VOLKSWAGENS WHO GOT THE RECALL AND MANY OF THEM HAD ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEMS TO MINE. SOME EVEN SAID THE UNIT CAUGHT FIRE. SO HERE I AM TOLD I HAVE A LIGHT PROBLEM, THEN TOLD AUDI CANT DO ANYTHING FOR ME EXCEPT GET A WHOLE NEW ABS SYSTEM AT MY EXPENSE. NOW I FIND THE TRUTH IS ONE CONTROL MODULE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LACK OF CONTROL IN MY CAR AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE CAR FIRE. PLEASE HELP: I AND MANY OTHERS NEED A NEW UNIT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150199February 13, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY ABS LIGHT STARTED BLINKING IN MY 1998 AUDI A4. I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED; FOUND THAT IT WAS A LIGHT FAILURE; I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO PULL OUT THE ELECTRONICS AND MOST LIKELY NOT EVEN SOLVE THE PROBLEM. LATER I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT MY ABS WAS NOT ENGAGING PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL (WHICH IS NOW THE CASE), I FILED COMPLAINTS WITH AUDI AND BOSHE ABOUT THIS BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE COULD BE NO RECALL BECAUSE ABS IS NOT A TRAFFIC CONCERN. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND MAKING A 98 DEGREE TURN NOT TERRIBLY FAST; THERE WAS NO STOP SIGN, AND I ENDED UP DOING A 360 TO A STOP. I FOUND THIS NOT ONLY A SCARY EXPERIENCE, BUT ONE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING. IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE; IM DRIVING THE HONORABLE QUATTRO. I DECIDED TO LOOK FURTHER. I FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. SPECIFICALLY W/ MODELS IN 1998. IM A FAIRLY GOOD DRIVER IN FACT I DID A DEFENSIVE DRIVING CLASS AT INFINEON RACEWAY SO I WAS STILL CONFUSED HOW I LOST SO MUCH TRACTION IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. I FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE QUATTRO ITSELF. THE ELECTRONIC BRAKING, TRACTION SYSTEMS, AND VARIOUS OTHER VEHICLE DYNAMIC SYSTEMS ARE ALL DEPENDENT ON THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. ALL THE TEST UP TO THEN SHOWED NO LINK TO ABS CONTROL UNIT; I WAS MADE TO BELIEVE THAT MY CAR JUST HAD A LIGHT FAILURE. I STARTED RESEARCHING THE CONTROL UNIT AND I FOUND THAT THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE PART BUT NOT FOR AUDI BUT FOR VOLKSWAGEN! THE CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 02V031000. I TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO WERE OWNERS OF VOLKSWAGENS WHO GOT THE RECALL AND MANY OF THEM HAD ALMOST IDENTICAL PROBLEMS TO MINE. SOME EVEN SAID THE UNIT CAUGHT FIRE. SO HERE I AM TOLD I HAVE A LIGHT PROBLEM, THEN TOLD AUDI CANT DO ANYTHING FOR ME EXCEPT GET A WHOLE NEW ABS SYSTEM AT MY EXPENSE. NOW I FIND THE TRUTH IS ONE CONTROL MODULE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LACK OF CONTROL IN MY CAR AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE CAR FIRE. PLEASE HELP: I AND MANY OTHERS NEED A NEW UNIT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149996February 10, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I TURNED MY HEATED SEAT ON IN MY AUDI A4. I FELT IT GETTING REALLY HOT IN ONE SPOT AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT MY SEAT TO FIND A HOLE BURNT IN THE SEAT. I CONTACTED AUDI THEY TOLD ME TO BRING TO THE NEAREST SERVICE CENTER. THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147274January 9, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATED SEAT OVERHEATS. MELTS LEATHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10147151January 7, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENT. RESEARCH UNCOVERED THE FACT THAT THE ABS CONTROLLER IN THE AUDI AND VW PASSAT IS FAULTY. AUDI CUSTOMER CARE HAS REPLACED THE ABS CONTROLLER FOR OTHER CUSTOMERS. SEE THIS DISCUSSION THREAD HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=3409&START=0&TSTART=0. IF THIS ARTICLE\AD (HTTP://CGI.EBAY.COM/EBAYMOTORS/ABS-BOSCH-5-3I-ABS-CONTROLLER-REPAIR_W0QQCMDZVIEWITEMQQCATEGORYZ111105QQITEMZ4601089179QQRDZ1QQSSPAGENAMEZWDVW) IS TRUE AND THE PROBLEM IS A COLD SOLDER JOINT THEN IT IS TRULY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143991November 30, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AUDI A4 ABS MALFUNCTION. 1998 2.8 LITER QUATTRO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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