2009 Audi A4

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING THE AUDI INTERFERENCE ENGINE TO BECOME OUT OF SYNC RESULTING IN THE ENGINE BECOMING TOTALED. THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND IS WIDELY REPORTED ON 2009 AND NEWER MODELS. BELOW IS AN ARTICLE WITH THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION. THE CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN IN 2X FOR MISFIRES AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ISSUE WITH THE SPARK PLUGS, IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT THIS WAS THE TIMING CHAIN BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND MISSED. UPON THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON THE CAR WAS LEFT PARKED UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE SERVICE APPT WHEN IT WAS TO BE DROPPED OFF AT THE SERVICE LOCATION, AT THAT TIME, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FIRE OUT OF ALIGNMENT DAMAGING THE ENGINE. WHEN SPEAKING TO A MEMBER OF THE AUDI DEALERSHIP IT WAS SHARED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE IS IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THAT THEY ARE SEEING THIS OCCUR MORE AND MORE IN THEIR VEHICLES. THIS FAILURE IS ALSO REMINISCENT OF THE 2007 CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WHICH PROMPTED AUDI TO MOVE FROM A TIMING BELT TO THE FOR THE SAME OUTCOME OCCURRING. HTTP://REDLINESPEEDWORX.COM/2-0T-TSI-TIMING-CHAIN-FAILURE/ IF AUDI HAD PLACED OUT UPDATED PARTS, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL TO REPLACE THE PART OR ANYTHING MENTIONED BY THE MANUFACTURE INDICATING THE RELEASE OF UPDATED HARDWARE TO ADDRESS A "POTENTIAL ISSUE"

VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND STARTED TO SHAKE. PARKED AND STOPPED ENGINE. ON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART IT BRIEFLY FIRED BUT THEN DIED AND STALLED. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE RESULTED IN IT TURNING OVER WITH NO APPARENT FIRING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALER AND WE WERE INFORMED IT WAS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN SLIP. IT APPEARS FROM INFORMATION ONLINE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN THIS 2009 B8 2.0T ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. THE HEAD AND PISTONS WERE ALL DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE WAS DECLARED UNREPAIRABLE BY THE AUDI DEALER. DEALER CHARGED $1300 FOR INSPECTING THE PISTONS AND WANTS $13,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE HAD REPLACEMENT PISTON RINGS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT AT NO CHARGE TO US DUE TO THE KNOWN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE (FOR WHICH THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT). AUDI INCREASED THE ENGINE WARRANTY FROM 4 TO 8 YEARS AS PART OF SETTLEMENT OF THIS CLASS ACTION, BUT ONLY IN RESPECT OF FAILURES RELATED TO THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. AUDI MAINTAINS THAT THIS ISSUE IS UNRELATED BUT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT ANECDOTALLY SHE'S SEEN SEVERAL SUCH FAILURES AFTER PISTON RING REPLACEMENT (I HAVE THIS INTERACTION RECORDED ON VIDEO). SEARCHING ONLINE SHOWS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES SELLING REPLACEMENT TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART THAT AUDI USES ON THIS ENGINE. AUDI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY FAULT ON THIS ISSUE. RED LINE SPEEDWORX WEBSITE WHICH SELLS UPGRADE KITS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART SAYS THAT TYPICALLY THIS FAILURE OCCURS AT 80K MILES PLUS. SINCE THE STANDARD WARRANTY IS 50K MILES THIS MEANS THAT AUDI VIEWS ITSELF AS NOT LIABLE FOR THESE FAILURES. WE ARE FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST AUDI OVER THIS ISSUE.

WHEN DRIVING CAR IT BECOMES REALLY DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. OFF AND ON. I MYSELF ALMOST HIT SOMEONE WHEN MAKING A TURN AT AROUND 20 MPH, I HAD TO BRAKE AND TURN WITH BOTH HANDS USING ALOT OF FORCE. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MY DAUGHTER AS WELL. STARTED HAPPENING THE END OF LAST YEAR. CALLED DEALERS AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON VEHICLE

VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH / STARTED TO SHAKE. VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED / TURNED OFF AND COULDN'T RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY CHAIN TENSIONER. MAY I ADD HERE THAT I'M BEING TOLD BY THE SERVICE PEOPLE THAT UPDATED CHAIN TENSIONERS ARE BEING RECOMMENDED ON NEWER VEHICLES. JUST PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION THE CARE WAS SERVICED FOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE.

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO ROTATE BECAUSE OF A STRONG RESISTANCE TO ROTATION. THIS BEHAVIOR WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL IN NORMAL TRAFFIC WITHOUT EXTREME FORCE. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP TESTED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE "INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT" BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. A CARS STEERING SHOULD WORK FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I QUOTE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN'S REPORT: 'CONFIRMED CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND FOUND THE STEERING WAS JERKY AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. INSPECTED STEERING COMPONENTS AND FOUND THAT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS BINDING CAUSING THE STEERING TO JERK. REMOVED AND REPLACED SHAFT AND TESTED AND FOUND CAR TO BE OPERATING AS DESIGNED." I REQUESTED THE REPLACED PART WHICH I HAVE. (PART NUMBER 8K1 419 753 F). THE PART INCLUDES TWO UNIVERSAL JOINTS , ONE ON EACH END. EACH UNIVERSAL JOINT INCLUDES TWO FLEXIBLE BEARINGS WHICH ALLOW THE SHAFT TO BE FREE TO ROTATE FOR CHANGE IN ANGULAR POSITION. ONE OF THE ROTATING PINS WAS FROZEN AND WOULD NOT ROTATE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND MAY BE OCCURRING ON MANY OF THIS TYPE OF SHAFT. THE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENTS BY AUDI SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL INSPECTION IS NEEDED. I TOLD AUDI US HEADQUARTERS THAT I WOULD BE FILLING A CLAIM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. AS A RESULT THEY OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE $714.70 BILL WHICH I ACCEPTED INSTEAD OF WAITING FIVE MONTHS FOR A HEARING IN MASSACHUSETTS SMALL CLAIMS COURT. *TR

THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WOULD EMPTY RESULTING IN THE COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON. THE CAR WOULDN'T DRIVE PAST AROUND 45MPH. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON THE GROUND AT THE TIME. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP STATED THEY FOUND AIR IN THE SYSTEM, BUT NO LEAKS. THEY PRESSURE TESTED THE COOLING SYSTEM AND PULLED VACUUM ON COOLING SYSTEM, FOUND BOTH OK. DRAINED ALL COOLANT AND REPLACED WITH NEW COOLANT AND EVACUATED ALL AIR BUBBLES. THEY REPLACED COOLANT RESERVOIR CAP WITH OEM CAP. THEY FOUND THE CAR WORKING TO AUDI STANDARDS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A COUPLE DAYS THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP CHECKED FOR CODES (NOTE THAT THE PREVIOUS INVOICE DIDN'T INDICATE WHETHER THEY CHECKED FOR CODES OR NOT). THEY FOUND CODE FOR COOLANT TEMP SENSOR, TEST DROVE THE CAR, CHECKED TEMP OF COOLANT HOSES & FOUND ONLY TOP RADIATOR HOSE GETTING HOT. THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP/COOLANT TEMP SENSOR/THERMOSTAT HOUSING ASSEMBLY (ALL ONE PART). THEY FILLED AND BLED COOLING SYSTEM. THEY TEST DROVE, RECHECKED AND FOUND THE CAR WORKING TO AUDI STANDARDS. (SIDENOTE: WE PAID FOR A REPLACEMENT WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY IN 2013, BUT WE WERE OUTSIDE THE 12,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THAT SERVICE. STILL, THIS PART SHOULDN'T BE SO POORLY DESIGNED TO NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN SO SOON.) THE PROBLEM RETURNED, BUT THIS TIME THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WE HAD TO TOW THE CAR BACK TO THE AUDIT DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE NOW SAYING THE COOLANT ISSUE IS DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET (BUT WHY DIDN'T THEY FIND THIS BEFORE?). EACH TIME, MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR AND WE COULD'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A SLOWED OR STOPPED VEHICLE. MY TRUST IN AUDI DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS COMPLETELY GONE SINCE THEY ARE CONTINUOUSLY CHARGING TO FIX A PROBLEM WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. MY CONFIDENCE IN AUDI CORPORATE'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS DIMINISHED BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY ROBOTIC IN THEIR RESPONSE TO THE MATTER. WE WON'T PURCHASE AN AUDI EVER AGAIN. *TR

I PURCHASED MY AUDI 2009 A4 QUATTRO IN OCT. 2012. AFTER ONLY ONE MONTH I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER SHIP TO FIX. THEY SPEND OVER $2,000 IN REPAIRS TRYING TO GET THE OIL CONSUMPTION DOWN. I CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. I HAVE SINCE SPENT OVER $6,000 TO TRY AND REPAIR THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. DUE TO THE FINANCIAL SITUATIONS I HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM RESOLVED. ON MY LAST TRIP TO THE MECHANIC MY OIL CONSUMPTION WENT FROM 300 MILES PER QUART OF OIL TO NOW ONLY 100 MILES PER QUART OF OIL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND YET WHEN I CONTACT AUDI THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. AUDI SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE FOR SELLING FAULTY VEHICLES AND AVOIDING A RECALL TO TRY AND SAVE THEIR NAME AND THEIR PROFITS. I HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE CUTTING OUT OR NOT PRODUCING FULL POWER. AT TIMES IT WILL SEIZE OR NOT START AT ALL. *TR

THIS PAST FALL, AUDI REPLACED MY PISTONS AND RINGS DUE TO A FAILED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. MY CAR WOULD REQUIRE OIL AFTER ABOUT 250 MILES. WITHIN A WEEK OF CHANGING THE OIL AT AUDI I RECEIVED A WARNING LIGHT. AUDI AT THAT TIME DECIDED TO REPLACE MY PISTONS AND RINGS. ON 12/29 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR STARTING RATTLING VERY LOUD AND I WASN'T ABLE TO ACCELERATE. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING, GRAY SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE REAR TAILPIPE AND MY CAR TURNED OFF. I MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND IT LOOKED AS IF OIL HAS LEAKED ALL OVER THE RIGHT TIRE BY THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO AUDI FOR SERVICE. THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME IT WILL COST $5000 TO FIX THE CAR. I FEEL THE SINCE THEY LAST WORKED ON THE ENGINE THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. *JS

I OWN A 2009 AUDI A4 WITH 63,000 MILES. THE AUDI DEALER CHANGE THE PISTONS AND RINGS IN MY VEHICLE DUE TO AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM TWO WEEKS AGO. ON NOVEMBER 4, 2014 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR IS IDLING UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY WHEN AT A STAND STILL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED INTERNALLY AND WANTS TO CHARGE $935 PLUS TAX TO REPAIR. UNDER SECOND OPINION I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A PART IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO FAIL AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSPECTED WITH THE PISTON REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING SEEM FINE. CONTACTED AUDI USA TO SEE IF THEY WILL HELP, I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER OF AUDI FOR 13 YEARS. *TR

ENGINE BURNED EXCESSIVE OIL AND WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DURING THE SERVICING IN AUGUST 2013, WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS NORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION. ABOUT 2QTS BETWEEN SERVICING. I ALSO INFORMED THAT I OCCASIONALLY SMELLED BURNING OIL AND ADVISED THE TECH TO LOOK FOR LEAKS. WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM FOUND. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN 2013, TOOK IT FOR SERVICING IN 08/01/2014 AND DEALER INFORMS THAT CAM SEAL IS LEAKING AND IS A $1000 FIX. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT I MAY SMELL BURNING OIL!! MY CAR AT PRESENT HAS LESS THAN 22,000 MILES! I HAVE NOTICED THE OTHER PEOPLE BRING UP THE ISSUE OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE SERVICE DEPT PROVIDES A BOGUS ANSWER. I BELIEVE NHTSA SHOULD COMPEL AUDI TO FIX ISSUES ON DEFECTIVE DESIGNS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR WARRANTY. IT IS HIGHLY UNETHICAL TO CHARGE CUSTOMER FOR THOUSANDS FOR A KNOWN DEFECT AND THAT TOO RIGHT THE YEAR AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP HID THE CAM LEAK TO AVOID THE COST TO AUDI DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP REGARDING THIS ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR