2003 Audi A4

I HAVE A 2003 AUDI A4 3.0 CABRIOLET WITH 38,000 MILES ON IT. THE GEAR DISPLAY BEGAN TO BLINK FREQUENTLY AND THE MANUAL SHIFTING FUNCTIONALITY WOULD NOT WORK. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHILE IN REVERSE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,400. AFTER RESEARCHING, I HAVE SEEN MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FEEL THIS MAY BE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, GIVEN LOW RELATIVE MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

ON 8/1/07 I PURCHASED A 2003 AUDI A4 WITH A 1.8T ENGINE FROM A LOCAL USED CAR DEALERSHIP. IN MAY, 2008, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, WE HAD A QUALIFIED MECHANIC CHECK THE VEHICLE THOROUGHLY AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. 2 DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE SINCE THAT TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI IN REGARD TO THIS SINCE IT IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSES SLUDGE IN THE OIL PAN TO RECIRCULATE THROUGH THE ENGINE, WHICH IS WHAT LED TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE OIL RETURN PORTS WERE NOT MADE LARGE ENOUGH TO RECIRCULATE THE OIL PROPERLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SINCE I PURCHASED IT AS A USED VEHICLE, "AS IS", THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY WILL DO TO ASSIST ME IN THIS SITUATION. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHATSOEVER PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE AND REPLACING THE ENGINE WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $5000. THEY HAVE NEVER ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY OFF AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY", BUT TO QUALIFY THE VEHICLE OWNER MUST PROVE THAT ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMED BY AUDI CERTIFIED MECHANICS. AS A 2ND OWNER, I HAVE NO PRIOR RECORDS FROM 8/1/07 AND PREVIOUS. THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" COVERS 200-2004 A4 MODELS WITH THE 1.8T ENGINES, SO OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER RECALLED THEM. DO I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE OTHER THAN TO FILE SUIT AGAINST THEM? *TR

BOUGHT A 2003 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET IN 2005. 6 MONTHS LATER, REAR WINDOW IN 2003 AUDI A4 DETACHED FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP CAUSING REAR LEATHER SEAT TO ROT AND TEAR DUE TO RAIN WATER LEAKING THROUGH THE DETACHED WINDOW. TRIED TO HAVE THE WINDOW REATTACHED BY AN AUDI DEALERSHIP REFERRED DETAILING COMPANY, ADHESIVE DID NOT HOLD AND I WAS TOLD THE CAR WOULD NEED A NEW ROOF. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, DON ROSEN AUDI OF CONSHOHOKEN, PA NOR AUDI WILL TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DETACHED WINDOW OR PROVIDE PAYMENT FOR REPAIRS. *TR

2003 AUDI A4. 1.8 L TURBO. WHILE IN TRAFFIC FUEL PUMP FAILED AND CAR STALLED. AUDI HAS ISSUED PREVIOUSLY A RECALL FOR FUEL PUMPS IN 2003 A4S. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD PRODUCTION DATE ON MY CAR IS OUTSIDE OF DATE RANGE OF RECALL. DATE RANGE SHOULD BE EXPANDED. RECALL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BELOW. RECALL DATE: AUG 28, 2007 MODEL AFFECTED: 2003 AUDI A4 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL. CONSEQUENCE: IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 20007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. THIS RECALL IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V017). *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

WITH 33,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE: THE STANDARD ALLOY WHEELS CORRODE TO THE WHEEL HUB OVER A PERIOD OF 4 MONTHS. IF THE WHEEL IS NEEDED TO BE REMOVED E.G. FLAT TIRE OR CHANGE FROM WINTER WHEELS, IT WILL NOT COME OFF WITH NORMAL TOOLS AND CONDITIONS. THE CAR MUST BE ELEVATED ON A LIFT AND THE WHEEL POUNDED WITH EXTREME BRUTE FORCE TO REMOVE IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME. I FIND IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE THAT A FLAT TIRE CAN'T BE REPLACED WITHOUT HAVING A TOW TRUCK TAKE THE CAR TO A SHOP--JUST TO REMOVE THE WHEEL. THE AUDI TECHNICIAN SAYS THAT IF I USE BRAKE ANTI-SEIZE PRODUCT ON THE WHEEL/HUB JUNCTION IT MAY PREVENT IT. [MY QUESTION IS "WHY DIDN'T THEY APPLY THIS IF THEY ALREADY KNEW IT WAS NEEDED]. *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

AT A STOPLIGHT YESTERDAY, THE CVT TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED. WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY VERY SLOWLY LURCH FORWARD WITH A GREAT DEAL OF "GRINDING" NOISE. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO LIMP OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MY SHOP. MY MECHANIC TODAY TOLD ME THE CVT (CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION) FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. NEW, THE PART ALONE IS $7,500, WITH ANOTHER $1,000+ IN LABOR. MY 2003 A4 HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED SINCE NEW AND ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES. I HAVE FOUND CONSIDERABLE "TRAFFIC" ONLINE REGARDING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH AUDI CVT - BUT VERY LITTLE ON YOUR SITE. THIS IS S A MAJOR DESIGN PROBLEM THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF. *TR