2003 Audi A4

REFERENCE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V375000 & 06V017000 I HAVE AN AUDI A4 AND IT EXPERIENCED A "PULL BACK/STALLING" ISSUE ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE ON A TRIP TO VISIT A COLLEGE IN ARKANSAS. THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY ROAD THAT IS HEAVILY TRAVELED BY COMMERCIAL TRUCKS. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM OKLAHOMA TO PLANO TEXAS TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. THEY PUT THE CAR THROUGH A DIAGNOSIS AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED THIS WEEK ON APRIL 1, 2009. INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO AUDI, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANICS/TECHNICIANS THERE STATED THE ISSUE WAS THE FUEL PUMP CALLED OUT THE RECALLS MENTIONED ABOVE. WHEN I RESEARCHED THESE RECALLS THE VEHICLES COVERED WERE ONLY THOSE MANUFACTURED THROUGH APRIL OF 3003. SEE BELOW: HTTP://NHTHQNWWS111.ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/DOCSERVLET/ARTEMIS/PUBLIC/RECALLS/2007/V/RCDNN-07V375-5676.PDF MY AUDI WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 2003 SO THEREFORE NOT COVERED. IF THEY DID NOT "CHANGE OUT" OR SOMEHOW CORRECT THE IDENTIFIED SYSTEM THEN A SAFETY ISSUES STILL EXISTED IN THE CAR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, I AM CONCERNED FOR OTHER DRIVERS THAT MIGHT PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK IN MERGING ONTO FREEWAYS OR OTHERWISE REQUIRING A STABLE ACCELERATION WHEN MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 AUDI A4 1.8T, WHICH I BOUGHT AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. I'VE HAD A SLEW OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS LOW-QUALITY VEHICLE FROM THE GET-GO, BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY. UPON TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (AUDI CHANDLER IN CHANDLER, AZ) FOR A SEPARATE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT A FREE INSPECTION ON MY TIMING BELT SINCE THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO SO. AND GUESS WHAT? SURPRISE, SURPRISE, MY CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY ONE OF THOSE WITH THE KNOWN FAULTY TIMING BELT. KEEP IN MIND THIS CAR IS UNDER THE "CERTIFIED" PRE-OWNED WARRANTY, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THIS WAS CHALKED TO WEAR AND TEAR. MY CAR ONLY HAD 62K MILES ON IT, AND THE OEM RECOMMENDS INSPECTION AT 80K MILES AND REPLACEMENT AT 108K MILES. TO AVOID A POSSIBLE FUTURE ACCIDENT (I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN), I HAD TO COUGH UP $1000 TO REPLACE THE BELT, TENSIONERS, WATER PUMP, ETC. I SUBMITTED A REIMBURSEMENT FORM FOR MY EXPENSES TO THE FIRM HANDLING THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST AUDI/VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT FAULTY TIMING BELTS. THE SETTLEMENT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MADE ON 11/4/08, BUT IT'S NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY 2009, AND NOTHING. I AGREE WITH SOMEONE ELSE WHO POSTED ONLINE BEFORE...WHY DO THESE OEM'S HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS BADLY HURT OR DIES UNTIL THEY ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY, DEFECTIVE PIECES OF JUNK THAT ARE WAY OVERPRICED?? PLUS, IF MY CAR WAS TRULY A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE, WOULDN'T AUDI HAVE DISCLOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT WOULD BE FAULTY TO ME? OR, HOW ABOUT REPLACING THE BELT PRIOR TO SELLING IT AGAIN??? NOTHING WAS DISCLOSED TO ME, AND THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS OPENED IN 2002. I AM STILL SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, BUT KNOWING AUDI'S STANCE ON THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS, THEY'LL JUST CHALK IT UP TO WEAR AND TEAR AND WISH ME A GOOD DAY. WHAT'S WORSE, AUDI SOLD A MILLION CARS IN 2008, WHICH SET ANOTHER SALES RECORD FOR THEM. HOW CAN WE GET THE WORD OUT TO NOT BUY AUDI AND BUY A QUALITY CAR?????!! *TR

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2002. IN OCTOBER 2003, THE TRANSMISSION SUFFERED A MASSIVE FAILURE AND REQUIRED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. AROUND JULY 2007 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE "PRND" INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING. CHAMPION AUDI IN POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). DESPITE MY DEMANDS, THE AUDI DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART, AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME UPWARDS OF $2500 TO REPLACE THE TCM. MY INDEPENDENT (AND AAA APPROVED) REPAIR FACILITY RECENTLY CONFIRMED THE TCM REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. BOTTOM LINE: THE TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL, AGAIN, AT ANY TIME. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND AUDI NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND REPLACE THE TCM AT NO CHARGE. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT TCM FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON AUDIS. AUDI IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES YET REFUSES TO DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

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

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY A4. FIRST, MY HEADLIGHT SHORTED OUT AND COST OVER $600 BECAUSE IT FRIED ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND I HAD TO GET A NEW HEADLAMP SETTING AND WIRES. EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE COMPUTER HAS A LIGHTBULB SIGNAL LIGHT THAT IT IS NOT SENDING THE CORRECT AMPAGE. THE POWER STEERING LEAKS CONTINUOUSLY AND MAKES NOISES ALSO. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON AND THE MOTOR IS RUNNING VERY BUMPY LIKE ALMOST LIKE IT IS MIS-FIRING OR SOMETHING. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY. WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE IT STALLS AND WILL NOT GO. I PUT IT IN TO NEUTRAL, THEN REVERSE AGAIN AND IT SLOWLY CATCHES SOMETIMES. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND I HAVE HAD MY CAR SITTING FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER ALL THIS SUDDENLY APPEARED. I AM SAVING MONEY TO TRY TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE WILL STALL OR I WONT BE ABLE TO TURN DUE TO THE STEERING AND CRASH SO IT IS INOPERABLE AT THIS TIME. *TR

THE ADHESIVE WHICH HOLDS IN THE REAR WINDOW ON MY 2003 AUDI A4 3.0 CONVERTIBLE CAME UNGLUED, RESULTING IN THE WINDOW GRADUALLY FALLING AWAY FROM THE ROOF. I HAD TO DUCT TAPE IT IN AS I DIDN'T WANT IT POPPING OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, AND TO PREVENT RAIN / MOISTURE FROM GETTING IN. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD SHOULD IT DISLODGE WHILE OPERATING. FYI, THE CAR HAD BEEN BABIED SINCE DAY ONE; GARAGE KEPT AND HAND WASHED. AUDI OF AMERICA DID FINALLY AGREE TO PAY FOR A NEW TOP (ABOUT 6K RETAIL) BUT COULD NOT TELL ME IF THE NEW TOP HAD DIFFERENT ADHESIVE (I DON'T WANT A REPEAT OF THIS CIRCUMSTANCE A FEWS YRS DOWN THE LINE). I RESEARCHED THIS, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS W/ THIS PROBLEM. MOST CARS WERE 03'S AT ABOUT 40-50K MILES. IN MY OPINION, AUDI NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS A DEFECT W/ THE ADHESIVE AND OFFER REPLACEMENT AT N/C. IF YOU HAVE AN A4 OR S4 CONVERTIBLE, MONITOR WHERE THE GLASS FITS IN THE TOP. LISTEN FOR A "FLAPPING" NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE MAIN MECHANIC SAID IN ADDITION THE ADHESIVE COMING UNDONE, THERE ALSO APPEARED TO BE SHRINKAGE OF THE TOP. I DO NOT KNOW, FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, IF THE SHRINKAGE WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM (I.E, THE "PULLING AWAY" FROM THE TOP) OR IF IT WAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH PROBLEMS THAT CULMINATED IN THE END RESULT. REGARDLESS, AUDI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM W/ THE WINDOW FLYING OUT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR

HELLO A RECALL NOTICE CAME IN FOR MY 03' AUDI A4 FOR ETC SENSOR.(70K MILES) TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALER GOT IT FIXED. A WEEK LATER OR SO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WAS DEAD IN ITS TRACKS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND TWO MECHANICS SHOPS, ITS THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER PRICE ON TRANSMISSION WAS 7,558.00 TOTAL. OWE MY GOODNESS...... CAR IS WORTH ABOUT THAT. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LOCATE A USED OR A REBUILD TRANSMISSION BUT THEIR IS NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IN PRICE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SO HARD TO FIX AND PARTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE THAT NO ONE WANTS TO DEAL WITH THE CAR AT ALL. NOT TO MENTION THE DIFFICULTY THAT REQUIRES TO REPLACE THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FOR MY VEHICLE MODEL. SPECIAL TOOLS AND PROGRAMMING. CALLED NEARBY STATES WITH NO LUCK FINDING A REBUILD TRANSMISSION. ALSO AUDI DOES NOT MAKE THEM ANYMORE, MAKING THEM EVEN HARDER TO FIND. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOR THE PAST 3 WEEKS TRYING TO FIND SOME INFORMATION ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND I CAME ACROSS THE SAME STORY FROM MANY AUDI A4 OWNERS. THIS IS NOT A DRIVER PROBLEM BUT A DESIGN FLAW. TRANSMISSION IS NOT FIXED BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD 7.5K FOR A NEW ONE THAT WILL GIVE OUT IN ABOUT 50K AGAIN. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE TREMENDOUSLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING ONTO A RAMP TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY I COULD OF CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EASILY. THROUGH OUT BLOGS AND WEBSITE ADVICE, THEIR ARE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO GIVE OUT RIGHT ABOUT 50-85K MILES. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. *TR