2014 Audi A4 Allroad

DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY DEFECT On February 24, 2026, an Audi-certified technician at Audi of Milwaukee discovered substantial rust perforation of the rear subframe on my 2014 Audi A4 Allroad (Repair Order #[XXX]). The technician documented the condition as follows: “INSPECTED REAR SUBFRAME CORROSION. RECOMMEND TO REPLACE REAR SUBFRAME AND RELATED PARTS.” The quoted cost to replace the rear subframe, control arms, and related components is $11,583.00. The vehicle was otherwise inspected as being in excellent condition with no body panel corrosion. Root Cause: Manufacturer-Installed Plastic Shield Design Defect (B8/B8.5 and B9 Platforms) The corrosion is caused by a design defect present on the Audi B8/B8.5 and B9 platforms: plastic aerodynamic shields are installed by the manufacturer on both sides of the rear subframe. These plastic shields trap road salt, water, and debris directly against the bare steel subframe, preventing it from draining or drying. Even vehicle owners who regularly wash the undercarriage—as I did—cannot prevent salt accumulation behind these shields. This is not general road salt exposure. The plastic covers are an Audi-designed component that actively concentrates corrosive materials against the subframe. The corrosion therefore originates from a manufacturer design decision, not from owner neglect or normal environmental exposure. III. SAFETY RISK The rear subframe is a primary structural and suspension component. It mounts the rear suspension, differential, and drivetrain to the vehicle. Rust perforation of this component poses the following safety risks: •Structural failure of the subframe while driving, potentially causing sudden loss of vehicle control •Collapse of rear suspension leading to loss of steering stability •Separation of the rear drivetrain or differential from the vehicle under load •Increased risk of catastrophic failure when towing, carrying passengers, or during emergency maneuvers •No visible warning to the drive INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFOR

ON SATURDAY 10/26/2019 AS I LEFT MY OFFICE TO HEAD HOME THAT DAY FROM WORK MY EPC LIGHT AND ENGINE MIL LIGHT IN MY DASHBOARD CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I STARTED TO SMELL GAS FUMES IN THE CAR AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK SEAT LIKE A FIRE HAD STARTED. I SHUT OFF THE CAR, GOT OUT AND OPENED ALL THE DOORS AND AS I APPROACHED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE I SPOTTED LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH WHERE THE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED. I CALLED MY AUTHORIZED MECHANIC AS HE HAS DEALT WITH MY VEHICLE BEFORE AND HE CAME AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, HOOKED IT UP TO HIS COMPUTER AND GAVE HIM A FEW ERROR CODES. 1 WAS FOR THE FUEL PUMP, ANOTHER FOR THE AFTER RUN COOLANT PUMP. HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP ITSELF THAT'S CAUSING THE ISSUE AND THAT'S WHY FUEL STARTED LEAKING ALL OVER THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHERE THE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED. HE ALSO ALERTED ME TO A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SHOWED UP ON HIS COMPUTER THAT SHOWED A RECALL FOR THE SAME FUEL PUMP ISSUES RELATED TO MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS. WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO GET IT BACK TO HIS SHOP. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AFTER HE REMOVED THE REAR SEAT TO GET TO THE FUEL PUMP IT REVEALED EXACTLY WHAT HAD OCCURRED. THE FUEL PUMP AND THE ELECTRONIC CONNECTORS CONNECTED TO THE PUMP ALONG WITH THE SEAL HAD BURNT OUT CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL EVERYWHERE AND FLOOD THE ENTIRE UNIT AS WELL AS MY BACK SEAT WHERE A SMALL SPARK FROM THE IGNITION WHEN STARTED ALMOST CAUSED A SMALL FIRE UNDER THE SEAT WHICH COULD OF ERUPTED BIGGER. LUCKILY IT DID NOT EXPLODE OR GOT ANY WORST AND OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK AND NEEDS TO RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE GETS HURT. MY CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2015 AND JUST HIT A LITTLE OVER 50K MILES, NEVER MISSED AN OIL CHANGE, YEARLY INSPECTIONS AND TUNE UP.

THIS IS THE 4TH TIME I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE MY GAS PUMP AND /OR MY 3RD ENGINE IN MY 2014 AUDI A4. MY EPC LIGHT TURNS ON THEN MY CAR VIOLENTLY SHAKES AND THEN IT CUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION, DRIVING IN THE GAS STATION PARKING LOT, AT A PARKING LOT AFTER LEAVING A FRIENDS HOME AND AT MY HOME. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO AUDI USA, LAS VEGAS AUDI AND THE FINANCE COMPANY. TODAY IT HAPPENED 1 YEAR AND 1 DAY AFTER IT HAPPENED LAST. I PARKED AT THE STORE RAN IN AND CAME OUT TURNED ON THE CAR AND THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON REPAIRS, CAR RENTALS, RIDESHARES AND REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER. I AM NOT SURE WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE BUT I NEED ASSISTANCE. THE 1ST TIME AUDI REPLACED THE ENGINE AND 7 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO THEY REPLACED THE GAS PUMP, 1 YEAR LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR ANOTHER GAS PUMP BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ENDED. THEN ITS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BY ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR THE EXACT SAME THING.

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE IN MOTION ON A BUSY STREET.STEERING WHERE BECAME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SHUTDOWN. TRIED TO RESTART IGNITION IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT OFF THE ROAD BUT KEPT SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY. ALL ELECTRICAL AND COMPONENTS WERE NOT WORKING. EVEN IN NEUTRAL THE STEERING WHERE WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE FUEL PUMP WHICH COST $1400 TO REPLACE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS. THE FIRST DEALER (AUDI MEMPHIS, LOCATED AT 1825 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128, (901) 388-8989) DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING AND ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND DEALER (AUDI WEST PALM BEACH, LOCATED AT 2101 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409, (561) 688-2000) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE THIRD DEALER (AUDI FORT LAUDERDALE, LOCATED AT 1200 N FEDERAL HWY, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304, (954) 876-4144) DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE RIMS WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

4 YEAR OLD CAR 3 MONTHS PAST 4 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND MAJOR OIL LEAK, WHICH IF NOT REPAIRED CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT ENGINE. BOTH VALVE COVER GASKETS AND TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKETS ARE LEAKING. WHEN ASKED SERVICE CONSULTANT AT AUDI HOW OFTEN THIS HAPPENS, HE SAID IN 15-20% OF CARS BY 50,000 MILES (I HAVE 46,000 +). THIS IS A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND SHOULD BE MADE PART OF A RECALL. I AM PAYING OVER $2000.00 FOR THIS REPAIR AFTER A 10% DISCOUNT WITH A DEALERSHIP "COUPON". THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THESE PARTS AND IT IS INEXCUSABLE THAT AUDI PASS THIS DEFECT AND THE COSTS ON TO 15-20% OF CUSTOMERS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP AND COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE . THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO HAVE PREVENTED THIS FROM OCCURRING . I THINK THE NTSB CAN ALERT AUDI TO THE . FACT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CARS THEY ARE SELLING, CAUSING UNNECESSARY COSTS AND BURDENS AND POSSIBLE ENGINE HAZARDS TO CONSUMERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 AUDI A4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION OFF, THE CONTACT'S NEIGHBOR ALERTED HIM OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT GRABBED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND OPENED THE FRONT DOOR WHERE HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND THEY ALSO FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY FOR INVESTIGATION. AUDI NATICK (549 WORCESTER ST, NATICK, MA 01760, (508) 651-0388) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190350385. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

I RELEASED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PUSHING THE RED RELEASE MECHANISM AFTER I PARKED MY CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE I DISCOVERED THE SEAT BELT HAD, IN FACT, NOT RETRACTED BUT HAD TWISTED ITSELF INTO THE HOLDER. I WAS UNABLE TO FREE IT. IT WOULD NOT PULL OUT OR REWIND. AUDI CHARGED ME THE REPAIR. WHEN I OBJECTED STATING IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT AND AS IT IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE USABLE, THE SAFETY BELT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD AUDI DOESN'T DO THAT. AS THEY DID NOT QUOTE ME OR TELL ME THE ITEM WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REDUCED THE CHARGE TO HALF THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED TO BE PAID. IT SHOULD BE THAT ALL SEAT BELTS ARE UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE LIFE OF ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT WHEN IT HAS BEEN OBVIOUSLY CUT OFF/VANDALIZED. YEARS AGO I HAD A HONDA THAT HAD A SEAT BELT ISSUE AND HONDA REPAIRED IT AT NO CHARGE. THANK YOU.