1999 AUDI A4 Complaints

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE DURING WET CONDITIONS. THIS IS ONLY DURING HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY DRIVING WHERE THE BRAKES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY APPLIED. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS APPLIED DURING THESE CONDITIONS, THERE IS APPROXIMATELY A 1 TO 2 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES START TO RETARD SPEED. IT FEELS OR SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A FILM OF WATER BETWEEN THE DISCS AND PADS AND THIS HESITATION IS OCCURRING WHILE SQUEEZING OR DRYING OUT THIS FILM OF WATER. *AK

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE OR MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAG SYSTEM, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY, NOW THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR IT AGAIN SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS 68000 MILES CITING THAT ALL REPAIRS HAVE A 12000 MILE WARRANTY. NLM

WHEN ACCELERATOR ROD BREAKS,, RATHER THAN SLOWING DOWN--IT THROWS THE CAR INTO FULL THROTTLE.*AK

RIGHT REAR AXLE BEARING IS FAILING. LOUD GROAN HEARD AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 30 MPH. DEALER CLAIMS TIRE NOISE IS THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. TWO NON-AUDI SOURCES SUPPORT AXLE BEARING FAILURE (AUTO MECHANIC AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER).

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V414, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT SAT FOR THREE DAYS WITH NO REPAIRS MADE, RECALL REPAIRS STILL HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED. *YD

THREE FAILURES OF HEADLIGHTS. AFTER 6 MONTHS, DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT. 6 MONTHS LATER PASSENGER SIDE BURNT OUT. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BURNT OUT AGAIN, JUST 18 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. HAVE ALSO HAD A FUSE BLOW IN A CELL PHONE CHARGER PLUGGED IN THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY, BUT CONSUMER FELT THAT RECALL ON TIE ROD COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT.*AK

WHENEVER ROADS ARE WET AND BRAKE ROTORS FAIL VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. BRAKES FAIL TO RESPOND, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK DEALER REPLACED BRAKES, CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM HAS SOMEWHAT IMPROVED. *SLC

UNDER WET ROAD CONDITIONS AND HARD RAIN, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, CONSUMER HAS TO PUMP BRAKES A FEW TIMES BEFORE THERE IS ANY BRAKING ACTION. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

PROBLEM: WHEN TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 38 F, RECIRCULATION BUTTON NEVER WORKS. BEING IN BOSTON THAT COVERS MOST OF THE WINTER. THE ONLY WAY NOT TO BREATHE THE FUMES IS TO TURN THE VENTILATION OFF COMPLETELY. THIS THEN SHUTS THE HEAT AS WELL. MY NEW COMMUTE TAKES ME DAILY THROUGH THE CALAHAN TUNNEL. IF OUTSIDE IS 13 F, AND I AM STUCK IN TRAFFIC IN THE TUNNEL FOR AN HOUR, THESE ARE MY OPTIONS: KEEP THE HEAT RUNNING UNTIL POISONED BY GAS FUMES (GARAGE ANALOGY), OR SHUT OFF HEAT UNTIL FROSTBITTEN AT 13 F. CAN THIS BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY VIOLATION? ATTEMPTED RESOLUTION: AUDI OF AMERICA'S RESPONSE WAS THAT A/C HAS TO BE TURNED ON FOR RECIRCULATION BUTTON TO BE OPERATIONAL. SINCE A/C DOES NOT WORK BELOW 38 F (THEY CITED SOME FEDERAL REGULATION) SO THE RECIRCULATION BUTTON DOES NOT AS WELL. THE DEVICE WORKS AS DESIGNED, ACCORDING TO AUDI. MY DEALER, TOM WALTON OF PARK PORSCHE AUDI, TOLD ME CONFIDENTIALLY THAT THEY HAVE CUSTOMERS WHO DID NOT WANT TO PURCHASE AUDI A4 UNTIL THESE PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED. I FILED A REPORT WITH AUDIO OF AMERICA TWICE. THERE WAS NO FOLLOW UP EITHER TIME. MEANWHILE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THEY INQUIRED ABOUT THIS BEFORE AND WERE TOLD THAT DEVICE OPERATES AS DESIGNED. THE SAME YEAR I RENTED EXACTLY THE SAME VEHICLE IN GERMANY AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT A/C ASSEMBLY INSTALLED, AND THAT RECIRCULATION BUTTON WORKED WELL IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 F. IN U.S., THE SAME A/C ASSEMBLY BECAME AVAILABLE WITH THE 2000 MODEL YEAR, WHERE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT PRESENT. I ASKED THE DEALER IF I COULD PAY TO HAVE THAT A/C ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BUT WAS TOLD THAT THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. WHEN SURFING ON THE WEB, I DISCOVERED A SIMILAR PROBLEM REPORTED BY ANOTHER OWNER WITH THE SAME VEHICLE, BUT ONLY THIS TIME THE 1997 MODEL YEAR. SO IT APPEARS THAT FOR SURE 1997-1999 MODEL YEAR A4'S HAVE A FAULTY A/C ASSEMBLY. READ MICHEAL OF LA JOLLA, CA REPORT: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/AUDI.HTM. *AK