1998 Audi A4

CONTROL ARM ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 FRACTURED WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. AUDI TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA # 10016418, #11242004 COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: 22. SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM BULLETIN NUMBER: 11242004 BULLETIN DATE: NOV 2004 VEHICLE: 1,998 AUDI A4 SUMMARY: SERVICE ACTION JE CAMPAIGN-CHECK/REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AUDI HAS FOUND THAT IN RARE CASES, ONE OR BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT WEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER BO ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10016418 ). *TR

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE IS UNABLE TO HAVE A RECALL 99V248000 REPAIRED WITHOUT CHARGE. HE PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE LAST WEEK WITH AN OUTSTANDING RECALL, WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO OFFER A FREE REMEDY. THE RECALL STATED THAT THE TIE RODS WOULD BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER BOOTS THE TIE RODS WOULD NOT BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE DEALER PROVIDED A REPAIR ORDER INDICATING THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DAMAGED. *AK

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE UPPER, LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS AND THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A SEVERE OIL LEAKAGE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE DURING ACCELERATION. OIL WAS FOUND IN THE SPARK PLUG CAVITIES AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRES PROTECTIVE SLEEVE WAS BRITTLE DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE. *AK *SC *JB

AFTER LESS THAT 70K MILES, THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS (SPECIFICALLY THE BUSHINGS THAT PROTECT THE CONTROL ARMS' JOINTS) ON MY AUDI A4 HAVE PROVED DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO MY TECHNICIAN, THE CONTROL ARMS ARE THE PART OF THE CAR THAT MAKE STEERING POSSIBLE; THEREFORE, FAULTY CONTROL ARMS CREATE AN ENORMOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND A LIABILITY. AUDI HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS -- DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE MORE DEFECTIVE. EVERY AUDI TECHNICIAN THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS DEFECT HAS ADMITTED THAT AUDI IS DUCKING THE PROBLEM, AND AS A CONSUMER I FEEL CHEATED. AUDI IS NOT OPERATING ON GOOD FAITH. THIS IS BAD BUSINESS THAT LEAVES UNASSUMING CONSUMERS BEARING THE BURDEN NOT ONLY OF COSTLY REPAIRS BUT ALSO OF HAZARDOUS MECHANICAL FAILURES. *JB

I RECEIVED A RECALL ON MY 1998 AUDI A-4 FOR A PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE DEALER SAID THESE WERE OKAY, BUT THE UPPER FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS WERE BAD, AND ALSO THE STEERING TIE-RODS.*AK WHEN I CALLED AUDI THAT IT WAS THE UPPER NOT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS THAT WERE BAD THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS FOR THE LOWER. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR TECHNITIAN TO CONFIRM, WHICH HE DID. HE ALSO SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE TIE RODS IN SUCH BAD CONDITION. REPAIR COSTS ARE ABOUT $500. BECAUSE THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE BOTH PART OF THE SAME UNIT AND THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE HIGH MILEAGE (59,000 MILES) I DO NOT FEEL IT IS RIGHT FOR ME TO HAVE BEAR THIS COST.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON MY 1998 AUDI A4. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE SERVICE. THEY ARE GOING TO INSPECT MY CONTROL ARMS. IF THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED I MUST PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE I CAN PROVE THAT I HAD AN AUDI TECHNICIAN LOOK AT THE CONTROL ARMS AT THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED INTERVALS. THIS SEEMS VERY UNSAFE SEEING HOW IT AFFECTS THE STEERING OF THE CAR. IT ALSO SEEMS UNUSUAL AN INSPECTION OF THE CONTROL ARMS WOULD PREVENT A FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARMS.*AK