1999 Audi A4

JANUARY 17, 2007, 8 DEGREES - DRY ROAD CONDITIONS I ACCELERATED UP A STEEP HILL ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN AT THE TOP OF THE HILL I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE'S RPMS RACED TO 7,000. I POPPED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND PUNCHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR REDUCED SPEED AND RPMS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT - IT HAPPENED LAST WINTER WITH WET ROAD CONDITIONS BUT VERY VERY COLD. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER LAST YEAR AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I HAD THE ACCELERATOR CABLE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE AUDI A-6 AND THE DEALER CLAIMS MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L, V6 5-VALVE ENGINES, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WHILE DRIVING DURING EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES THE THROTTLE MAY FREEZE IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATING IN THE THROTTLE BODY. IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS HIS/HER FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO MAKE AUDI REALIZE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND APPLIES TO THE A-4 NOT JUST THE A-6. *NM *NM

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO MY WIFE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS UNDER 4 DEGREES AND EXTREMELY WINDY AND SNOWING. SHE WARMED THE CAR UP FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING IT. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS A LITTLE BIT OFF COLD. THE HEAT WAS ON AND WORKING FINE. THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO GO, AND HESITATED DURING ACCELERATION. SHE DROVE A MILE TO THE INTERSTATE WITH NO ISSUES AND THE CAR WARMED UP. ONCE ON THE INTERSTATE, SHE DROVE ABOUT A HALF MILE ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 65. WHEN SHE TRIED TO PASS, AND BEGAN ACCELERATING THE THROTTLE FROZE. THE RPMS INCREASED QUICKLY AND SIGNIFICANTLY. SHE TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. SHE DOWNSHIFTED USING THE TIPTRONIC, THE CAR WENT FASTER. SHE PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE RPMS REVVED OUT. THE CAR APPROXIMATELY WAS GOING 90 MILES AN HOUR OR GREATER AT THE APEX OF MY SPEED. SHE GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE BY USING MY E-BRAKE, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AT THE STOP LIGHT BECAUSE SHE FEARED IT WOULD NOT STAY STOPPED. SHE DROVE ABOUT A HALF MILE TO WORK USING THE E-BRAKE AND BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, AND NEARLY HIT A TREE TRYING TO STOP. SHE TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN AFTER SHE PARKED TO SEE IF THE THROTTLE WAS STILL STUCK, IT WAS. THREE HOURS LATER I ARRIVED, STARTED THE CAR, AND THE THROTTLE WAS NO LONGER STUCK. I CALLED THE DEALER THAT DAY, EXPLAINED THE ISSUE, AND THEY WOULDN'T TAKE THE CAR UNTIL 6 DAYS LATER. THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS THE CAR MAT STUCK UNDER THE PEDALS, AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE APPOINTMENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET LOOKED AT ANYWAY, THEY INSPECTED TO FIND EGR VALVE CLOGGED CAUSING MOISTURE BUILDUP AND THROTTLE TO ICE OVER. THEY REPLACED THE EGR VALVE, AIR PUMP AND VACUUM HOSE AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS TOTALED $546.30. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE A6 THROTTLE BODY FOR THE SAME YEAR, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND THE EXACT SAME PART NUMBER! BUT AUDI CORPORATE TOLD US IT DID NOT APPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE A4 NOT THE A6 AND WAS NOT CONCERNED OR WILLING TO HELP. *JB

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 1999 AUDI A4. ON 01/19/07 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE I-15 FREEWAY AT 75 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. I BRAKED, AND THE CAR SLOWED A LITTLE, BUT I STILL FELT TENSION, LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO PUSH FORWARD. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH MY FEET WERE NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THE PEDALS. I TRIED PUTTING MY FOOT UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND PULLING IT UP IN CASE IT HAD FROZEN IN A DEPRESSED POSITION, BUT IT WAS NOT FROZEN. THE PEDAL FREELY MOVED UP AND DOWN. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACED TO 7500 RPM WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL (MY FEET WERE COMPLETELY OFF ALL PEDALS). I QUICKLY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF DRIFTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE LOOKED AT A SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN AUDI/VW CARS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE A HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS WITH AUDI CARS FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THEY BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS IN THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH CAN FREEZE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. ACCORDING THE MECHANIC, MOST REPORTED CASES INVOLVE COLD TEMPERATURES AND DRIVING LONG DISTANCES. I WAS DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 5 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EARLIER RECALL ON THE A6 MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME THROTTLE BODY AS OURS, BUT WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD US THAT OURS HAD NO RECALL. THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT THIS WEEK. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR VEHICLE. I HAVE COME ACROSS AN ENTRY ON A DISCUSSION BOARD WHERE SOMEONE REPORTED THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING A 2007 A4. LUCKILY I WAS IN A RURAL AREA WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES. I AM AFRAID THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND CAUSE A MORE SERIOUS, MAYBE FATAL ACCIDENT. NOTE: PURCHASE DATE WAS ESTIMATED. EXACT INFORMATION IS IN THE CAR AT THE SHOP. *NM

THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL (NHTSA: 04V495000 ) ATTACHED BELOW FOR THE 1999 AUDI A6 HAPPENED ON MY CAR THE AUDI A4. IT IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 1999 A4 AS WELL. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN VERMONT WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET/SNOWY AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS DROPPING RAPIDLY (5 DEGREES/HOUR). THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS FREAKY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH AUDI USA, THEY EXPLAINED I NEEDED TO GO TO A DEALER. TWO AUDI DEALERS IN THE BOSTON AREA WERE DISMISSIVE OF THE SITUATION. "THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN YOUR CAR". WELL IT DID AND AUDI SHOULD TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. 1999 AUDI A6 BASE RECALL ID FROM NHTSA: 04V495000 RECALL DATE: 10/12/2004 COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 28300 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L, V6 5-VALVE ENGINES, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, WHILE DRIVING DURING EXTREMELY LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES THE THROTTLE MAY FREEZE IN AN OPEN POSITION DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATING IN THE THROTTLE BODY. DEFECT CONSEQUENCE: IF THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER LIFTS HIS/HER FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL. THIS LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. REMEDY: AUDI WILL INSTALL A REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY KIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2004. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. OWNERS OF VEHICLES WHICH ARE NOT REGISTERED IN THE COLD-WEATHER STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING, WILL BE NOTIFIED OF A SERVICE ACTION, UNDER WHICH THEY WILL BE PROVIDED THE FREE REMEDY UPON REQUEST. NOTES: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC, JB/JG. *JB

THROTTLE STICKS AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. THIS HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 10 F. IT OCCURS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS OFF. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HARD TO STOP VEHICLE WITH A THROTTLE STUCK OPEN. LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES WARMS UP THE THROTTLE BODY ENOUGH THE THE THROTTLE UNSTICKS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ON A SUB ZERO (-6 DEGREE F) NIGHT, MY CAR WHICH WAS SET AT 55 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL, ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 62 MPH, AND THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. BRAKING, AND PUSHING THE APPROPRIATE BUTTONS WOULD NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY PUSH THE FOOT BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO FORCE THE CAR TO A STOP, AND THEN THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE. AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF 3 TIMES, I FINALLY DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. ON THE WAY HOME, WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY CRUISE CONTROL FEATURES, THE THROTTLE ONCE AGAIN BECAME STUCK AND WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. TODAY I HAD THE CAR SERVICED, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED 3 CALLS DURING THE TIME PERIOD I WAS THERE REGARDING A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN THE SAME OR A SIMILAR ENGINE.*AK

WHEN THE CAR WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE REPAIR FACILITY NOTED TO ME THAT I WAS LUCKY TO BRING IT IN WHEN I DID, AS IT WAS AT RISK FOR SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDED AN OIL PUMP FAILURE ($750) AT ABOUT THE THREE YEAR MARK; AND OCCASIONAL SUDDEN LURCHING/RPM REVVING OR SUDDEN ONSET OF A 'LAG' IN POWER, WHICH THE DEALER NOTED WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN BUT COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INDICATOR GAUGE BEING GROSSLY INACCURATE - INDICATING I HAVE USED ONLY A QUARTER TANK OF FUEL TO DRIVE 350 MILES. HOWEVER, THE MOST BOTHERSOME ONGOING PROBLEM IS FOUR OR FIVE TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR A NON-FUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. EACH TIME THEY HAVE 'REPLACED THE VACUUM HOSES' BUT THIS 'REPAIR' WILL BEGIN TO FAIL AGAIN LATER THAT SAME DAY. THE SYSTEM WILL EITHER FAIL TO ENGAGE ALTOGETHER, OR IT WILL BE ENGAGED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, THEN WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE SPEED WILL CONTINUALLY DECREASE UNTIL I HAVE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM AND TURN IT OFF. I REPORTED THIS TO AUDI OF AMERICA'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE (VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL) WHO HELPED ME ARRANGE ANOTHER SERVICE VISIT, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. CRUISE CONTROL HAS NEVER WORKED AND I'M GIVING UP ON IT EVER WORKING. I JUST HAVE TO PRETEND THAT I DON'T HAVE IT, WHICH IS VERY ANNOYING DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL. *NLM