1998 AUDI A4 Complaints

LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS WORN OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF PREMATURE FAILURE.*AK

IN HEAVY RAIN OR SLUSH, BRAKING IS SEVERELY DEGRADED. IT APPEARS THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS AND/OR PADS ACT LIKE SPONGES IN WET WEATHER, AND CAN'T SHED WATER FAST ENOUGH DURING INITIAL BRAKING. A SCAREY 1-2 SECONDS WILL ELAPSE BEFORE THE BRAKES, UNDER HIGH PEDAL PRESSURE, WILL ENGAGE. TO AVOID THE PROBLEM, YOU HAVE TO DRIVE WITH 1 FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND 1 FOOT ON THE GAS TO DRY OUT THE BRAKES, THEN REPEATEDLY CHECK FOR BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.*AK

IN SNOW AND SOMETIMES RAIN AND WHEN GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS THE BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE ABSOLUTLEY NO BRAKES. *AK

BRAKES DO NOT RESOND FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS

CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE.DURING HIGH SPEED BRAKING CAR SHIMMIES AND HOPS. PROBLEM BEGAN AFTER SERVICED BY AUDI AS PER AUDI BRAKE RECALL. IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS MY AUDI HAS SPENT 2 MONTHS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON.*AK

DURING RAINY WEATHER THE BRAKES HAVE A VERY PRONOUNCED DELAY FROM APPLICATION TO ENGAGEMENT DUE TO WET ROTORS, THE DELAY IS BETWEEN 1 AND 2 SECONDS. THIS IS NOT AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, IT HAPPENS WHENEVER IT RAINS AT A MODERATE TO HEAVY AMOUNT. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AFTER DRIVING FOR EXTENDED DISTANCE, BRAKES FAIL ON FIRST APPLYING, BUT RETURN TO NORMAL IF PUMPED. *YH

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE BRAKES DO NOT IMMEDIATELY GRAB. THERE IS A ONE HALF TO ONE SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES BECOME EFFECTIVE. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICABLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN YOU HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE BRAKES IN SEVERAL MILES. THE ROTORS OBVIOUSLY GET WET AND ARE NOT ABLE TO GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT TO SLOW THE CAR INITIALLY. THE DEALER TAKES THE POSITION THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND, ALTHOUGH I KNOW OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CARS INSPECTED BY AUDI, THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT TO BE A GLARING SAFETY DEFECT ON AN OTHERWISE WELL BUILT AND SAFE CAR.*AK

BRAKING IS DELAYED 3-4 SECONDS IN RAIN AND OR SNOW CONDITIONS. ADDITIONAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THERE WERE NO BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTOMOBILE SHOP, AND MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT WHEEL ITSELF RUBBED BRAKE LINE EVERY TIME VEHICLE WAS TURNED TO LEFT, WEARING A HOLE IN LINE, AND CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *AK