2003 Audi A4

FORGOT TO INSTALL C CLIP ON TEMP SENSOR ON RADIATOR HOSE WHICH POPPED OUT CAUSING MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE AND BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS DENIED FOR MANY MONTHS. IN OCT. 08 THEY FORGOT TO TIGHTEN BRACKET WHICH CAUSED WIRES TO SMOKE AND FIRE.AUG 08-TRIMMED SERPENTINE BELT RATHER THAN REPLACED AND CAR STOPPED RUNNING IN MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE. SEPT 09 REPLACED OIL PAN BUT FORGOT TO PUT PLUG BACK OCT 08 OIL RESIDUE ON DAMPER THEY THREW OUT AND DID NOT REPLACE. THEY FORGOT TO PUT BOLTS BACK ON SUB FRAME AND MIRACLE I WAS NOT KILLED. THIS CAUSED AXLE PROBLEMS. WHEN THEY REPLACED BOLTS THEY DID NOT HAVE BUSHINGS IN STOCK AND THEY RELEASED CAR WITHOUT THESE BUSHINGS WHICH IS A SAFETY VIOLATION. WHEN BUSHINGS CAME IN THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON OUR VEHICLE AND WE HAD TO GO TO DIFFERENT MECHANIC. THEY TOLD US WE NEEDED TIMING BELT WHEN THE HEADGASKET WAS BLOWN. NOW THERE IS NEW RECALL FOR COIL PACKS AND THEY REFUSE TO WORK ON OUR CAR. THE NEW GM IS LISTENING TO THE SERVICE MGR. WHO IS NOT TELLING THE COMPLETE STORY NOR IS THE NEW GM REVIEWING THE FACTS. OUR LIVES ARE IN DANGER WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SINCE WE STILL OWE $15K WE CANNOT TRADE IT IN. STARTED JUNE 2008 AND CONTINUES UNTIL TODAY. COIL PACKS WHICH WERE JUST RECALLED ARE CAUSING CAR NOT TO RUN AND WE ARE STUCK *CW

PURCHASED VEHICLE APRIL 2009 (CARFAX WAS CLEAN) REPLACED IGNITION COIL 2X BY SEPTEMBER 2009 REPLACED CLUTCH, RACK AND PINION, AND COMPUTER MODULE IN OCT 2009 CURRENTLY CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MALFUNCTIONING I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN A CONSISTENT OPERATING CONDITION FOR MORE THAN 2 WEEKS AT A TIME. I HAVE SPENT ALMOST $5,000 IN CAR REPAIRS TO DATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER IN THE FOOT WELLS ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS FLOODED DUE TO CLOGGING OF THE INTAKE PLENUM DRAIN GROMMET. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO HAVE IT CLEANED IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,342. UPDATED 8/7/09 *CN UPDATED 08/11/09.*JB

I OWN A 2003 AUDI A4 1.8 . I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHILE ADJUSTING MY CAR TO THE SPACE, THE ENGINE CUT OFF AND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO RESTART THE ENGINE NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN I WAS TOLD THIS I IMMEDIATELY WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP. I CALLED THE NUMBER GIVEN FOR THE RECALL ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ONE ON THE RECALL LIST. I THEN WENT ON LINE TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL WITH FUEL PUMP COMPLAINTS AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME REASON. THE CAR COULD HAVE CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC OR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IF I DID NOT PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THIS IS UNFAIR TO SELL DEFECTIVE PARTS, HAVE A RECALL AND REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN OTHER MODELS OTHER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE LISTED. THAT REPAIR COSTS ME $768.00, I SHOULD AND SO SHOULD THE OTHER COMPLAINANTS BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS DEFECT BY AUDI., WHY DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE THESE MANUFACTURERS ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECTS. SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION COILS, I REPAIRED THE FIRST IGNITION COIL, THEN THE SECOND ONE WENT BAD, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I CHANGE ALL, PULLED UP THIS INFO ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AGAIN THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THIS PART. CONSUMERS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. *TR

ENGINE BOX FLOODS AFTER DRIVING THROUGH LONG DISTANCES IN HEAVY RAIN. RESULTS IN CAR THAT WILL NOT RUN AT ALL (NEEDED TO BE TOWED) DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE ENGINE BOX FLOODS FROM INSUFFICIENT DRAINAGE FROM THE COWL WHICH THEN SHORTS OUT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (BASICALLY THE CAR'S COMPUTER CENTER) THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED (BOTH AFTER DRIVING THROUGH DIFFICULT RAIN STORMS) THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN OCTOBER OF 2005, AND IT TOOK NEARLY 6 WEEKS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. REPAIR WAS DONE BY AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER THAT ORIGINALLY SOLD ME THE CAR. THE FINAL BILL WAS NEARLY $5000. THEY INSISTED IT WAS A FLUKE AND HAD ME MAKE AN INSURANCE CLAIM TO COVER THE REPAIRS AS FLOOD DAMAGE. I MADE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO AUDI AT THAT TIME SINCE IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. (SOMEONE THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED TO ME THAT THEY HAD WITNESSED THIS BEFORE, EACH TIME TELLING THE CUSTOMER TO GO THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE TO COVER THE COST). HERE I AM LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND. I DROVE THROUGH AN INTENSE RAINSTORM AND I HAVE A FLOODED ENGINE BOX. THE BILL IS ONCE AGAIN GOING TO EXCEED $4000, NOT TO MENTION THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I WILL NEED TO RENT A CAR (AGAIN) TO CONDUCT MY BUSINESS. I SELL REAL ESTATE AND DEPEND ON MY VEHICLE. ONCE AGAIN I PHONED AUDI CUSTOMER CARE AND LODGED ANOTHER FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DESIGN FLAW. I AM CURRENTLY SEEKING LEGAL COUNCIL IN ORDER TO RECOUP THESE COSTS. I HAVE BOTH COMPLAINTS WHICH ARE EXACTLY THE SAME FILED WITH AUDI. I DO NOT HAVE THE FIRST SET OF PARTS, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY KEEP THE ONES THAT HAVE RECENTLY FAILED. AT THIS POINT I DO NOT HAVE A CAR, I AM WAITING TO SEE IF MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL AGAIN PAY FOR THIS CLAIM. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AUDI NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE FLAW. *TR

1.THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: AUDI A4S HAVE AN INTAKE PLENUM DRAIN GROMMET LOCATED NEAR THE BATTERY; THIS FUNNEL IS KNOWN TO BECOME CLOG DUE TO DEBRIS AND GRIME. THE DRAIN GROMMET ON MY VEHICLE BECAME CLOGGED SOME TIME AGO AND I DID NOT BECOME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THE FUNNEL STOPPED WORKING AND ALLOWED WATER TO DRAIN INSIDE MY CAR. THIS CAUSED MY COMFORT MODULE TO FAIL - MY POWER WINDOWS, POWER LOCKS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, KEYLESS REMOTE ENTRY, ALARM, TRUNK, BATTERY AND GAS TANK LID CEASED TO FUNCTION. 2.THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES; AND, AUDI OF AMERICA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS PRETTY COMMON IN THE 2003 AUDI A4'S. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ABOUT IT ONLINE, MANY CONSUMERS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS CLOGGED DRAIN GROMMET. UPON DOING MORE RESEARCH, I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE 2002 AUDI A4 MODELS HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT HAD ITS VEHICLES RECALLED. 3.WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE) I BROUGHT MY 2003 AUDI A4 TO THE DEALERSHIP (AUDI OF HAWAII) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH COST ME $1400. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE PLENUM GROMMET DRAIN, COMFORT MODULE, BATTERY, AND HAD TO CLEAN THE BOTTOM INTERIOR OF MY CAR WHICH WAS SATURATED WITH WATER, MOLD, AND MILDEW. I ALSO WROTE A LETTER TO AUDI OF AMERICA AND AUDI OF HAWAII TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM TO OTHER 2003 AUDI A4 OWNERS SINCE IT WAS ADDRESSED FOR THE 2002 AUDI A4 VEHICLES. THEIR REPLY WAS THAT SINCE IT HAD NOT BEEN 'FEDERALLY MANDATED' THEY WILL NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2003 AUDI A4. *TR

2003 AUDI A4 WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. CONSUMER STATES THAT MANUFACTURER TOLD HER THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BECAUSE HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SHE STATED HER VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TIME. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS: FAULTY IGNITION COILS, TRANSMISSION AND A RADIATOR REPLACEMENT. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING, THE VALVE AND CAM SEALS WERE LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS AT TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED A LOOSE CONNECTION. *JB

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY 2003 A4 (1.8T) STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AS I ACCELERATED FROM A COMPLETE STOP. EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR LOST MOST ALL OF ITS POWER AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND WOULDN'T GET ABOVE 15 MPH. AND EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, HAVING TO COAX THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OUT OF HARM'S WAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED EACH TIME TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT AN IGNITION COIL (OR TWO) HAD BLOWN. ALL 4 COIL PACKS HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR AT A COST OF OVER $900. AUDI KNOWS THEY PRODUCED CARS WITH FAULTY IGNITION COILS IN A4 CARS EQUIPPED WITH 1.8 LITER ENGINES IN THE 2001, 2002, AND EARLY PRODUCTION 2003 MODEL YEARS. IN FEBRUARY 2003 THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THESE COILS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS AN EARLY PRODUCTION 2003 MODEL, AUDI USA TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS PRODUCED VERY SOON AFTER THE RANGE OF CARS COVERED IN THE REPLACEMENT. MEANING THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF ALL REPAIRS. I DO NOT BELIEVE AUDI IS CERTAIN THEIR REPLACEMENT ACTION COVERED ALL DEFECTIVE COILS, ESPECIALLY AS MY CAR WAS PRODUCED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME AS THOSE THAT WERE PART OF THE REPLACEMENT. FAULTY IGNITION COILS EXIST IN A FAR GREATER NUMBER OF CARS THAN WHAT AUDI RECOGNIZES AND COVERS IN THEIR 2003 REPLACEMENT ACTION. *TR