1997 Audi A4 problems

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC STOP BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10562418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS IN MY '97 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO WERE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER AS PART OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2004 BY AUDI TO REPLACE A NOTED DEFECTIVE PART. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST AUDI BY SEVERAL OWNERS SPURRED THE VOLUNTARY RECALL. MY LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED REPLACING AGAIN, BASED ON AN INSPECTION BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHEN I CONTACTED AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE 2004 CONTROL ARM RECALL HAD A ONE-YEAR WARRANTY AND AFTER THAT TIME I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST, WHICH EXCEEDS $2,000 FOR THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS DEFECTIVE PART NEEDS REPLACING AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NUMEROUS AUDI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED REPEATED LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE AND NHTSA IS URGED TO CALL A MANDATORY RECALL FOR AUDI TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE PART SO IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED BY OWNERS EVERY FEW YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10263878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL JS FOR THE AUDI A4 IGNITION SWITCH IN NOVEMBER 2006 AND COMPLIED WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS BY BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT SWITCH IN JANUARY 2007. THE DEALER DID NOT DO THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SAID MY CAR ALREADY HAD THE CORRECT SWITCH. IN JUNE 2008, THIS IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED IN THE EXACT MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, I HEARD A CRACK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THEN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HORN, TURN SIGNAL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND AIR CONDITIONING, IMMEDIATELY BECAME INOPERATIVE. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE OFF POSITION AND HAD TO BE PULLED OUT BY FORCE AND SUBSEQUENTLY FORCED BACK IN TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL FOR THE TOW TRUCK. I CONTACTED BOTH THE DEALER AND AUDI CUSTOMER RELATIONS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THE RECALL HAD BEEN CLOSED BY THIS TIME, NO ONE WAS WILLING TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN DONE PROPERLY OR THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY CAR, WHICH THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY CLAIMED WAS THE CORRECT ONE, WAS JUST AS DEFECTIVE AS THE RECALLED SWITCH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM AUDI, BUT THEY REFUSED.

NHTSA complaint #10233056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 AUDI A4. IN JANUARY OF 2004, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR FOR FREE; HOWEVER, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED IN 2007. THE DEALER CONDUCTED A VISUAL INSPECTION. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT HAD BEEN DONE IN 2004, A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY. ON JUNE 9, 2008, THE IGNITION SWITCHED FAILED AGAIN. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE BATTERY DRAINED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED ONCE MORE THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,487 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,500.

NHTSA complaint #10231179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKING PERFORMANCE SEEMS TO BE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED IN WET, AND ESPECIALLY WET AND COLD, CONDITIONS. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN, BUT DOES NOT HAPPEN REGULARLY, AND ALWAYS AFTER PROLONGED HIGH-SPEED DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION. THE REDUCTION IN PERFORMANCE SEEMS MUCH MORE DRAMATIC THAN WOULD BE EXPECTED FROM TYPICAL REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCE IN THESE CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10210693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 06V403000 (IGNITION SWITCH). WHEN THE CONTACT WENT TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, IT FAILED TO START. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD ONLY RELEASE THE KEYS AND VEHICLE TO A TOW SERVICE. THE INVOICE STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS IS THE ONLY AUDI DEALER IN HIS AREA. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 165,522. THE CONSUMER STATED TO THE AUDI BACK TO FIX AND THE VIN SHOULD SHOW CAR COULD DRIVE NORMALLY TO DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER STATED DEALERSHIP SABOTAGED CAR AND DRAFTED FALSE DOCUMENTS. UPDATED 08/24/07

NHTSA complaint #10198335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 AUDI A4. WHEN TURNING THE KEY TO THE RIGHT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY REMAINS IN THE START POSITION INSTEAD OF TURNING BACK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 111,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10196493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1997 AUDI A4 QUATTRO LEASE WITH ENGINE PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT AUDI CORPORATION IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH SLOG AND DID NOT SEND HIM A LETTER**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL PUMP FAILED WHICH CAUSED OIL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE, WHICH NOW SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. THE CONSUMER MECHANICS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS FULLY AWARE OF AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM FROM THE USE OF INFERIOR ENGINE OIL OR FROM INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES, CAN CLOG THE OIL PUMP. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10194438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AUDI SAFETY RECALL JS - IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED CUSTOMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS MADE FROM AN OUTSIDE DEALER**NAR**CC 06/06/07 ADD TO LETTER SEND FROM OFFICE OF ATT GENERAL**CC THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAITED SEVERAL MONTHS TO EXECUTE THE REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10193172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I COMPLIED WITH AUDI SAFETY RECALL JS FOR MY 1997 AUDI A-4Q WHEN NOTIFIED BY AUDI TO DO SO BY A RECALL NOTICE. THE PART THAT WAS SUPPLIED BY AUDI(AN IGNITION SWITCH) FOR THE RECALL SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER AND WITH THE SAME EFFECTS AS THOSE THAT LED TO THE RECALL. I REPLACED THE MALFUNCTIONING SWITCH AT MY EXPENSE AND SOUGHT A REFUND FOR MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FROM AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY REFUSED MY REQUEST AND SAID THEY HAD SATISFIED THEIR OBLIGATION TO ME BY REMOVING MY IGNITION SWITCH (THAT WAS WORKING FINE) AND REPLACING IT WITH A MALFUNCTIONING SWITCH AS PART OF AUDI SAFETY RECALL JS.

NHTSA complaint #10183809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V317000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10175184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V317000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10175184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON THE IGNITION, THE KEY TURNED FORWARD BUT WOULD NOT SPRING BACK INTO PLACE. THE IGNITION HOUSING RETURN SPRING ANCHOR POINT FRACTURED CAUSING THE RETURN SPRING FORCES TO BE FAULTY FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE PROPER POSITION AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE REPLACED UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN ID#00V317000. THE CONTACT INSISTED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE REPLACED, THE REPLACED PARTS MAY HAVE BEEN FAULTY. THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT AN OPEN CAMPAIGN.

NHTSA complaint #10170947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

1997 AUDI A4 IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED TWICE. ONCE REGARDING A RECALL NOTICE. SECOND TIME SWITCH FAILED THE SAME AS IN THE RECALL NOTICE. *KB

NHTSA complaint #10167998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE KEY TO THE START POSITION WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE KEY WILL NOT BACK INTO THE ON POSITION AND AS A RESULT, THE STARTER GRINDED. THE KEY MUST BE MANUALLY MOVED BACK TO THE START POSITION. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 00V317000, CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 03/20/06.

NHTSA complaint #10150997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

(1)I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (LE RECALL) FROM AUDI OF AMERICA ON THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1997 A4 SEDAN. THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED ON 1/29/03. AT THAT POINT IN TIME THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN PERFORMING CORRECTLY FOR 59 MONTHS BUT I HAD IT REPLACED BECAUSE OF AUDI'S RECOMMENDATION; NOT BECAUSE IT HAD A MALFUNCTION. (2)IN JULY OF 2004 THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS OF SERVICE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS VISITING ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. I NOTICED THAT THE A/C WAS NOT BLOWING COLD AIR. AS I WAS DRIVING BACK IN TO THE TOWN OF ST. AUGUSTINE I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING DRAGGING UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THEN FOUND THE CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST AUDI DEALER IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND THEN RENTED A CAR TO GET BACK HOME TO TAMPA, FLORIDA. THE BILL FROM THE JACKSONVILLE DEALERSHIP WAS $1758 TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STARTER MOTOR. I ALSO INCURRED A $150 TOWING FEE AND APPROX $70 RENTAL CAR FEE. (3)AFTER THE REPAIRS I CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA BUT THEY SAID THEY ONLY WARRANTY REPLACED PARTS FOR 12 MONTHS. SINCE THIS SWITCH LASTED 18 MONTHS IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I CONTEND THAT AUDI OF AMERICA DID NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT, IN FACT, THEY MADE IT CONSIDERABLY WORSE. VIN OF 1997 A4 IS [XXX](4) PLEASE NOTE: I AM ALSO THE OWNER OF A 1996 A4 SEDAN. I WILL OPEN ANOTHER INCIDENT REPORT FOR THAT AUTOMOBILE. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10140957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10136417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.