2013 Audi A5

I WAS SENT A RECALL NOTICE FOR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS. I LIVE ON NANTUCKET ISLAND AND THERE ARE NOT AUDI DEALERSHIPS HERE. I HAVE TO PUT MY CAR ON A FERRY IN ORDER TO GET THE AIRBAG PROBLEM CORRECTED. THE COST WAS 160 DOLLARS AND AUDI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED WITH OUT GETTING TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THIS IS MY SECOND CONTACT WITH YOU. FIRST GAVE ME REFERENCE #10503984. THERE ARE "DEAD" SPOTS IN THE MAGNETIC POWER STEERING. THIS "FEELING" HAS OCCURRED FROM 25MPH ON UP PAST INTERSTATE SPEEDS (70). THE PROBLEM INITIALLY OCCURRED FROM THE 11 TO 1 O'CLOCK POSITIONS WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL CAN BE MOVED RIGHT TO LEFT WITH NO RESPONSE TO THE CAR. PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND NOW OCCURS AT OTHER POINTS IN THE STEERING MOTION. CONTACT WITH AUDI USA CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS ONLY PRODUCED RESPONSE FROM AUDI OF "WORK WITH YOUR DEALER". AUDI DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I AM FAILING TO UNDERSTAND HOW A "STEERING" ISSUED CAN NOT BE SAFETY RELATED. NOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING, ONE HAS AN UNEASY FEELING DRIVING THE CAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE BECOMES A "DEAD" SPOT IN THE STEERING INPUT. STEERING WHEEL CAN BE MOVED 2-3 INCHES RIGHT TO LEFT WITH NO EFFECT ON THE STEERING OF THE CAR ITSELF. THESE INCIDENTS ARE UNPREDICTABLE IN WHEN THEY OCCUR AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED FROM SPEEDS AROUND 30 MPH TO OVER 70 MILES PER HOUR. IN CONTACTING MY DEALER THEY SAID AUDI USA IS AWARED OF PROBLEM. IT HAS OCCURED ON A5,A4, AND ALLROAD MODELS FOR SURE. PRESENTLY DEALERS ARE ONLY MAKING A LIST OF COMPLAINTS AND SAYING AUDI IS "WORKING" ON THE PROBLEM. AUDI USA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME ON THE PHONE TODAY THAT AUDI DOE NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOW CAN MOVING A STEERING WHEEL WITH NO EFFECT ON THE DYNAMICS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

AT 1500 MILES I DEVELOPED A NOTCHY FEELING IN MY STEERING WHEEL AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. THIS NOTCHY FEEL CREATES A NEED FOR CONSTANT CORRECTION JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT PATH. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE NEW ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING THAT AUDI IMPLEMENTED IN 2013 MODELS. THIS PROBLEM IS IMPACTING MANY DRIVERS ACROSS ALL MODEL LINES AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE THAT IS NOT PREVALENT EACH DAY, HOWEVER MY ABILITY TO KEEP MY CAR TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT PATH IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE WHEN THE ISSUE ARISES. AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS IT CREATES A SENSATION THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO AUDI OF AMERICA AND HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE OR FOLLOW UP. I HAVE ALSO HAD MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE REPORTING THAT THE VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OR FATALITY OCCURS AS A RESULT OF FAULTY STEERING COMPONENTS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO READ THE CONCERNS OF OTHER OWNERS. HTTP://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/513862-STEERING-ISSUES-2013. *TR