Audi A4 Complaints (2001)

131 consumer complaints on file.

#10131489August 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
A4'S HAVE A POORLY DESIGNED CAM TENSIONER THAT EVENTUALLY LEAKS OIL. THE COST TO REPAIR THE ITEM IS APPROXIMATELY $1000. THE DEALER (CAROUSEL AUDI) EVEN ADMITS TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A POOR DESIGN AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT AT THE DEALER. I'VE ALSO READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT ON AUDI FORUMS. THE LEAK TYPICALLY FOUND SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAS EXPIRED. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL RESPECTIVE CARS TO HAVE IT REPAIRED! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130075July 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
FRONT BRAKE FAILURE. OUT OF FOUR PAD/SHOES, 3 PADS PHYSICALLY SEPARATED OFF OF THEIR RESPECTIVIE SHOES. ONE OF THE THREE ACTUALLY CAME OUT DURING DRIVING. WHEN THIS OCCURED, I TEMPORARILY LOST BRAKING ABILITY AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY DECELARATION. CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT BECAME USAFE TO DRIVE. THE REMAINING PAD/SHOE THAT WAS NOT SEPARATED WAS IN REAONABLE CONDITION MEASURING 7.7MM (OUT OF 10MM). THE TWO REMAINING SEPARATED PADS ARE CHIPPED SHOWING MAJOR DELAMINATION AND MAJOR DEGREDATION. REMAINING PADS & SHOES HAVE BEEN SAVED. BRAKE PADS/SHOES & ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY IRA AUDI 97 ANDOVER STREET DANVERS, MA 978-739-8806 THIS APPEARS TO BE A CATASTROPHIC PRODUCT FAILURE ONCE THE PAD LETS LOOSE COMPLETELY. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE, I WAS HEARING A THUNK SOUND WHEN THE CAR WOULD CHANGE FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD MOTION. THIS OCCURED ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING OVERNIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127401July 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
12/2004, PURCHASED CERTIFIED 2001 AUDI A4 FROM BEECHMONT AUDI IN CINCINNATI, OHIO. CAR HAD A COMPREHENSIVE 300+ POINT INSPECTION PERFORMED BY AUDI AS PER PAPERWORK. 5/20/2001, VEHICLE TAKEN TO BLUEGRASS AUDI IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY FOR A BRAKE ASSIST PROBLEM. SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO BRINING THE VEHICLE IN, I WAS IN REVERSE LEAVING MY GARAGE WHEN I FOUND THAT I NEEDED TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED WHEN I DROVE FORWARD THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. I TRIED BACKING UP AGAIN AND FOUND THE BRAKING TO BE NORMAL. LATER THAT AFTERNOON I WAS GOING TO LUNCH AND WHEN I BACKED UP THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKE ASSIST AGAIN AND I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MAXIMUM FORCE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE CAR NEEDED A BRAKE FLUSH. THEY PERFORMED THE BRAKE FLUSH, BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO AUDI SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH A GROMMET THAT CONNECTS TWO VACUUM HOSES AT THE BULKHEAD. THEY ADDED A CLAMP TO STOP THE AIR FROM ESCAPING THE SYSTEM, BUT THE NEXT DAY IT PROVED NOT TO WORK. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE WITHIN AUDI LIMITS. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE GROMMET. AFTER THE ITEM WAS REPLACED, IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS OF 7/4/2005. IN SUMMARY, THE VEHICLE HAS A BRAKE ASSIST PROBLEM IN REVERSE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IN MY UN-SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, THE BRAKE ASSIST FAILS IF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING AND NOT RUNNING FOR LESS THAN 2-3 HOURS. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKES OPERATE, BUT MAXIMUM BRAKE PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE PRESSURE BUILDS UP. THIS COULD BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG JUST IN CASE THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120019May 5, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I'D LIKE TO FILE A COMPLANT FOR A FAULTY VEHICLE COMPONENT ON MY 2001 AUDI A4 (MILEAGE: 30,000 MILES). THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ARE COMING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. I'VE BEEN READING A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET (THAT'S HOW I FOUND THIS SITE). DEALER SAYS THERE'S A "FAULT CODE IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE"...AND WANTS $1500 (!) TO REPAIR IT. THE ABS UNIT SHOULD NOT BE FAILING AS FREQUENTLY AS IT SEEMS TO BE IN THIS CAR. FOR A $1500 COMPONENT TO MALFUNCTION WHEN IT'S RARELY ACTUATED IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION. THE TSB SHOULD FORCE AUDI TO PERFORM A RECALL AND/OR COMPENSATE CUSTOMERS FOR THIS OUTRAGEOUS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118419April 25, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
'01 A4 2.8: (1) DIGITAL DISPLAY IS BLURRY AND CANNOT FULLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THE COMPUTER IS DISPLAYING, (2) INTERNAL OIL SEALS HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE CAUSING A FOUL BURNT-OIL SMELL WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, (3) TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS VERY HARD AND ROUGH, (4) VERY POOR DESIGN BY THE ENGINEERS TO PLACE A CUPHOLDER DIRECTLY OVER THE STEREO AND HEATER INSTRUMENTATION WHICH HAVE CAUSED MY BUTTONS TO STICK. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO VARIOUS DEALERSHIPS AND SHOPS AND TECHNICIANS HAVE STATED THAT THE SEALS ARE OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SO IS THE DISPLAY PANEL WITH HAS SOME SOFTWARE OR LCD PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116470April 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
IMPROPER MOTOR OIL SPECIFICATION CAUSES SLUDGE BUILDUP IN ENGINE, LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114790March 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED ENGINE OIL LEVEL. NOT LOW. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A NEW OIL PUMP DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. ON FURTHER INSPECTION THE DEALER FOUND SCARRING ON THE ENGINE BEARINGS AND WEAR ON THE CAMSHAFT. UPON FLUSHING ALL THE PRE-EXISTING OIL OUT OF THE ENGINE, METAL FILINGS WERE FOUND. NEW DIAGNOSIS: COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE REQUIRED. AUDI, USA KNOWS THIS IS A PROMBEM WITH A4 1.8T. THEY'VE EXTENDED WARRANTIES AS A DIRECT RESULT. YET BECUASE I'M THE SECOND OWNER AND CAN'T PRODUCE ALL PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, I'M BEING REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE NEW ENGINE. THIS IS A POOR ENGINE DESIGN THAT I SHOULDN'T BE HELD LIABLE FOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113350March 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHILE BRAKING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT/REAR BRAKE PADS FELL OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111905February 21, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE TIE RODS ON MY CAR WORE OUT AFTER ONLY 45K MILES. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ON AUDI VEHICLES, AND THEY REPLACE 4-5 SETS PER WEEK. I FEEL THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW WITH AUDI AND THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE REISSUED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 98 AND 99 AUDI TIE RODS, BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. THE REPAIR WAS $250. I FEEL THAT THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS AS I WASNT EXPECTING A MALFUNTION SO SOON, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT INVOLVES SUCH A VITAL COMPONENT OF VEHICULAR SAFETY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107330January 13, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATING WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES, " THAT THE DEALER HAD RESET THE AIR BAG MODULE TEN TIMES'. AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105642January 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
FRONT BRAKE PADS SEPARATED FROM THEIR BACKING PLATES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104772December 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILURE OF ABS CONTROLLER IN 2001 AUDI A4 1.8T. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT ENGINE HEAT MELTS SOLDERING IN UNIT. $1,300 ESTIMATED REPAIR ($1,000 FOR PART ALONE). INTERMITTENT FAILURE LIGHT AND BEEP WHEN DRIVING, ABS NOT ACTIVE WHEN LIGHT IS BLINKING. I'VE READ ON AUDI WEBSITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE THAT AUDI OF AMERICA REFUSES TO TAKE STEPS TO RECTIFY EITHER MONETARILY OR THROUGH REDESIGN OF THE CONTROLLER TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097497October 22, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH OR LESS VEHICLE MADE A CRACKING/POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097268October 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS
02 V 131 001/FMVSS 201 AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT & 04 V 357 000/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR/MIL: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED BOTH OF THESE RECALL NOTICES AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER WITHIN HER AREA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093627October 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
MALFUNTION INDICATOR HAD BEEN ON BEFORE I DEPLOYED TO IRAQ AND WAS STILL ON WHEN I CAME BACK. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALOR FOR THE $50,000 MILE SCHEDULED MAINT. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER, I STARTED THE CAR AT A STORE AND HEARD A LOUD POP, THE ENGINE STARTED IDLING HARD AND WAS VERY NOISY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN FIRST GEAR THE TWO BLOCKS TO MY HOUSE BUT THE CAR WAS VERY SHAKY. THE SPARK PLUG HAD SHOT OUT, THERE WAS OIL AND GRIME ALL OVER IT AND THE THREADS OF THE CYLINDER WERE STRIPPED. MY FRIEND IN THE CAR, WHO HAS WORKED ON PORSHES BEFORE, SAID I WAS LUCKY THIS HAPPENED WHEN IT DID BECAUSE IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH SPEED, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED AT $5100 AND THE DEALOR SAID THAT THERE WAS NO TAMPERING WITH THE SPARK PLUGS FOR ALMOST A YEAR SO THIS "JUST HAPPENED" DUE TO "WEAR AND TEAR." THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD AND MOST THE MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES DUE TO SEVERAL TRIPS CROSS COUNTRY. I AM NERVOUS TO THINK WHAT WILL GO WRONG WHEN THE CAR GETS A LITTLE OLDER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090746September 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2001 AUDI A4 AVANT 1.8T THAT I TOOK DELIVERY IN AUGUST 2000. LATE LAST YEAR, AUGUST-OCTOBER 2003, I NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER'S CENTER LCD DISPLAY STARTED TO FADE ON THE TOP PART. LATER ON I FIGURED OUT THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN UNDER THE HEAT OF THE SUN FOR A WHILE. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I FIGURED IT'S JUST MY CAR AND I'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH MY WARRANTY PERIOD (4 YEARS/50,000MILES) AS MY CAR ALREADY HAVE 70K MILES ON IT. THEN I STARTED HEARING FROM FELLOW AUDI OWNERS THAT I MET THAT IT'S HAPPENING TO THEIR CARS TOO. ONE HAS A 2001 AUDI A4 SEDAN WITH 30K MILES AND THE OTHER WITH A 2001 S4 SEDAN, BOTH REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. ANOTHER IS A 2002 AUDI TT, BUT HE'S LUCKED OUT BECAUSE HE HAS MORE THAN 50K MILES TOO (OUT OF THE WARRANTY). WHAT I'M CURIOUS IS WHETHER THERE'S BEEN ANY REPORTED SIMILAR CASE? I FEEL THAT THE DAMAGE IS NOT CAUSED BY THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE LONG-DISTANCE DRIVEN CAR. MAYBE THIS IS A TYPE OF DEFECT?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088974September 1, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I WAS PULLING INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE PARKING LOT. AS I PULLED INTO THE SPACE IN FRONT OF THE STORE AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, RATHER THAN SLOWING DOWN THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE THE CAR DID NOT STOP. IT SUDDENLY SHOT FORWARD. THE CAR HIT A BRICK WALL OF THE COVENIENCE STORE ,- CRACKING THE BRICKS AND DAMAGING THE FRONT OF MY CAR. I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY TWO DAUGHERS. THE CAR SHOR FORWARD SO QUICKLY, MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082575July 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AUDI A4 1.8T OIL PUMP FAILURE CAUSES CAM ADJUSTER FAILURE, CAUSING POSSIBLE $8000 IN DAMAGE TO CAMS IN 1.8T MOTOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074259July 6, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. *NM *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073835May 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITH THE DASHBOARD FLASHING. THE CONSUMER BEGAN SMELLING BURNT WIRES AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD. UPON DOING SO, FLAMES SHOT OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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