2001 Audi A4

DURING 90,000 MILE SERVICE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT BOTH SIDE SPINDLES (STEERING KNUCKLES) WERE CRACKED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THE CAR WAS IN A POSITION TO LOOSE STEERING CAPABILITY WITH THOSE ITEMS CRACKED. THEY SAID IT'S RARE TO SEE BOTH SIDES CRACKED. TIE ROD ENDS WERE ALSO REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. I STILL HAVE BOTH SPINDLES IF NEEDED. MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH SPINDLES AND TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE IS CERTIFIED AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY FROM AUDI UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER. THE VEHICLE HAD AN 80,000 MILE SERVICE DONE IN APRIL 2006. *NM

THE TIE RODS ON MY CAR WORE OUT AFTER ONLY 45K MILES. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REQUIRED SAFETY INSPECTION. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ON AUDI VEHICLES, AND THEY REPLACE 4-5 SETS PER WEEK. I FEEL THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW WITH AUDI AND THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE REISSUED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 98 AND 99 AUDI TIE RODS, BUT IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. THE REPAIR WAS $250. I FEEL THAT THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS AS I WASNT EXPECTING A MALFUNTION SO SOON, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT INVOLVES SUCH A VITAL COMPONENT OF VEHICULAR SAFETY.