1999 Audi A4

MY AUDI, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THEIR ABS CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTION BECAUSE OF DESIGN. THIS MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE ABS TO NOT WORK ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN, THE COMPANY THAT PRODUCES AUDIS AND VWS ACTUALLY RECALLED THIS EXACT PART ON THEIR VW VEHICLES, BUT FOR SOME REASON REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR THEIR AUDI CUSTOMERS. THE COST TO REPLACE THIS CONTROL UNIT IS $1,400 - $1,700, AND AS SUCH I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITHOUT ITS ABS FUNCTIONING. BELOW IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PART, BUT ON THE VW JETTA: "2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS NHTSA RECALL ID NUMBER: 02V031000 RECALL DATE: JAN 31, 2002 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 55000 SUMMARY: ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). CONSEQUENCE: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987. NOTES: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC," PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND HELP VW TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER! *TR

I BOUGHT AN AUDI A4 1999 1.8T FWD. THE NEXT DAY I BOUGHT IT THE ABS ORANGE LIGHT CAME ON & BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING NON-STOP WITH THREE BEEPS WHEN I START THE CAR ITS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. YESTERDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST AUDI DEALER AND THEY QUOTE ME 1,200 THAT'S A LOT SINCE THIS PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS UNIT IS POOR MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. *TR

1999 AUDI Q4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE REPAIR OF ABS LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED A SOLID ORANGE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD AND A RED LIGHT THAT WAS BLINKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAD ILLUMINATED AGAIN AFTER PAYING OVER $2,000 IN REPAIRS. ANOTHER DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ABS MODULE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS DUE TO A BAD FUEL PUMP. (THE CONSUMER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HIS FATHER)*JB

MY BRAKE LIGHT STARTED BEEPING AND FLASHING ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING. THE BEEPING AND FLASHING CONTINUED THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE AUDI WON'T RELEASE THEIR SERVICE CODES. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE MECHANIC ASKED ME "WERE YOU DRIVING YOUR CAR IN THE RAIN?" I HAD QUITE A FEW SARCASTIC RESPONSES TO THE STUPID QUESTION BUT I JUST SAID, YEAH. I ASSUME A CAR IS ENGINEERED TO BE DRIVEN IN ALL CLIMATES INCLUDING, RAIN. A PRODUCT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO PERFORM ITS INTENDED USE. NOT THE A4. WHO NEEDS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE CAR IF THEY DON'T PLAN ON DRIVING IT THROUGH RAIN AND SNOW? THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ME $1500. HE TOLD ME THAT MY ABS AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY UNTIL I FIX IT. I LIVE IN COLORADO AND I FREQUENTLY DRIVE THROUGH THE SNOW. I DRIVE THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN ICY AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. LUCKILY, IT WAS SUMMER TIME WHEN MY MODULE WENT OUT. I TAKE MY LITTLE SISTERS, LITTLE BROTHERS, AND NEPHEWS SNOWBOARDING. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED OR I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT I THOUGHT HAD ABS, BUT DIDN'T. THERE IS A SLIM MARGIN FOR ERROR WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON SNOWY CURVES THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS. I COULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF BY THE TIME I REALIZE MY ABS WASN'T WORKING. OR I COULD SLIDE OVER A GROUP OF PEDESTRIANS. EVEN IF AUDI DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST NOTIFY THEIR OWNERS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT DRIVERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF. I WENT ONLINE AND I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AUDI DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING EXCEPT OFFER TO REPAIR THE BROKEN MODULE FOR FULL PRICE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V131001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT INSUFFICIENT VACUUM IS PROVIDED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, HE NOTICED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE WAS ONLY ENTITLED TO ONE REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE RECALL LAW. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4 QUATRO. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE DEALER. AS HE DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE LOT, HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. HE INFORMED THE SALES ASSOCIATE THAT THERE WAS RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HIM ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $3,000. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT THE OTHER VEHICLE. HE KEPT THE AUDI AND TOOK IT TO AN AUDI DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AND NEW BRAKE PADS. IN ADDITION, THE RIMS WERE BENT. THE AUDI DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD IN THAT CONDITION AND WITH THOSE DEFECTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,926 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,927. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE WORN. UPDATED 03/18/09. *JB

THE ABS MODULE ON MY VEHICLE HAS FAILED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE QUITE PREVALENT AMONGST AUDI AND VW VEHICLES. AN ABS FAILURE COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS. THIS MODULE SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE PROBLEM BEGINS WITH THREE BEEPS, A SOLID YELLOW ABS LIGHT AND A FLASHING RED BRAKE LIGHT. THE WARNING MAY COME ON MOMENTARILY WHILE I AM DRIVING AND GO AWAY, BUT IN MOST CASES WILL BECOME MORE PREVALENT AS TIME GOES ON. SOMETIMES THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT REMAIN ON. OCCASIONALLY THE ABS ACTIVATED (IN OTHER WORDS ABS BRAKING HAS ACTIVATED) WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. FROM RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH AUDI A4 AND VW PASSAT B5 MODELS. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED. THE SUDDEN ABS ACTIVATION WILL OCCUR RARELY. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUDDEN ABS ACTIVATION IS OBVIOUS; BRAKING WHEN NOT EXPECTING IT CAN CAUSE TRAGIC RESULTS. LOSING THE ABS FUNCTIONALITY WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN IT IS NEEDED CAN ALSO CAUSE TRAGIC RESULTS. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE SHOP. A VAG WAS HOOKED UP AND THE FOLLOWING CODE APPEARED: "01203 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER" REPLACING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY RESOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE IS TO BUY A NEW ABS UNIT, BUY A USED ABS UNIT, OR HAVE THE CURRENT CONTROL MODULE REBUILT. AGAIN, SYSTEMATIC AND WIDESPREAD FAILURES OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ARE OCCURRING. NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH REGARD TO THIS ISSUE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AND CONSIDER RECALLING THE MODULE BEFORE IT TRAGIC RESULTS DO OCCUR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN BUT DOES NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD. THE CONTACT HAS HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V131001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN