2003 AUDI RS6 (A6 4.2 V8 BITURBO) FUEL TANK DEFECT: THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO MY 2003 AUDI RS6 SEDAN. AFTER NOTICING A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR IN MY GARAGE THE MORNING AFTER FILLING UP SAID CAR, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PRO…
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2003 AUDI RS6 (A6 4.2 V8 BITURBO) FUEL TANK DEFECT: THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO MY 2003 AUDI RS6 SEDAN. AFTER NOTICING A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND FUEL VAPOR IN MY GARAGE THE MORNING AFTER FILLING UP SAID CAR, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER TO HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE CAR'S FUEL TANK IS BROKEN AT THE TOP WHERE THE ROLL OVER VALVE IS BONDED TO THE TANK. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A 7 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM SUCH AS A LEAKING FUEL TANK. IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE NOW FOUND THAT A SIMILAR PROBLEM EXISTS WITH OTHER AUDI A6 BASED MODELS - AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL SAFETY RECALL (08V-157) FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER ONLY ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SMALLER 18.5 GALLON FUEL TANK. THE 21.7 GALLON TANK IN THE AUDI RS6 (4.2 BITURBO QUATTRO) IS MADE OF THE SAME DEFECTIVE MATERIALS AND APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE OTHER A6 BASED VEHICLES LISTED IN THE REFERENCED SAFETY RECALL. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE QUITE PREVALENT IN ALL B5 AUDI A6 BASED MODELS (REGARDLESS OF TANK SIZE OR VENT LINE MATERIALS) AND I BELIEVE THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE ALL COMPLAINTS AND RECALL ALL 2001-2004 AUDI A6 BASED VEHICLES (INCLUDING THE RS6) AS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS FAILURE THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN VEHICLE SYSTEM THAT IS CRUCIAL TO SAFETY. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE FUEL AND VAPOR LEAK DIS NOT IGNITE AS IN MY GARAGE IS MY HOMES GAS STORAGE WATER HEATER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10363614
90,000 miles · Oct 17, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
AFTER FILING THE GAS TANK THERE IS GAS LEAKING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. MECHANIC SUSPECTS THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10360848
132,000 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL TANK LEAK- THE PLASTIC ROLL OVER VALVE OF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS AND LEAKS FUEL. I AM NOW ON MY 4TH GAS TANK SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR NEW IN JAN/04. THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED AS RECOMMENDED ON EACH INCIDENT. THE REPAIR IS A SIGNIFICANT REPAIR JOB DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL TANK. MY FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 47K MILE…
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FUEL TANK LEAK- THE PLASTIC ROLL OVER VALVE OF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS AND LEAKS FUEL. I AM NOW ON MY 4TH GAS TANK SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR NEW IN JAN/04. THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED AS RECOMMENDED ON EACH INCIDENT. THE REPAIR IS A SIGNIFICANT REPAIR JOB DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL TANK. MY FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 47K MILES, SECOND REPAIR AT 87K MILES, AND MOST RECENT AT 132K MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10360285
43,093 miles · Oct 8, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
I WOULD SMELL FUEL WHENEVER FILLED TANK ABOVE 3/4TH'S. HAD PERSONAL MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT, DETERMINED IT WAS THE ROLL OVER VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK. CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA, WHICH STATED VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER CPO WARRANTY. BROUGHT TO AUDI DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND RELATED PARTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10359605
44,000 miles · Jun 24, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI RS6. THE CONTACT SMELLS GASOLINE NEAR THE FUEL TANK, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE SMELL IS NOTICEABLE USUALLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI RS6. THE CONTACT SMELLS GASOLINE NEAR THE FUEL TANK, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE SMELL IS NOTICEABLE USUALLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,000.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 AUDI A6, MODEL YEAR 2002-2003 S6 AND MODEL YEAR 2003 RS6 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.2L ENGINES AND MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 19, 2001, THROUGH JUNE 8, 2004. THE AGING OF THE PLASTIC MATERIAL IN THE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE COMBINED WITH BENDING STRESS FROM THE ALUMINUM VENTILATION LINE TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE NIPPLE. IF THIS HAPPENS, A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE NIPPLE ON THE ROLLOVER VALVE TO PREVENT LEAKAGE OR REPAIR THE CRACKING AT THE NIPPLE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF A DRIVER'S KNEES PUSH AGAINST THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT) LOCATED UNDER THE DASHBOARD, IT CAN CONTACT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING HARNESS, AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE COULD ORIGINATE IN THE LEFT DASHBOARD AREA.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVERING ON THE KNEE BOLSTER (CRASH ELEMENT). IN ADDITION, THE WIRING HARNESS AS WELL AS THE FELT PROTECTOR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD CARRIER WILL BE CHECKED, AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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