VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY

Oct 06, 1997 — Recall Campaign #97V172000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 54,800 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

97V172000

Manufacturer:	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Recall date:	October 06, 1997
NHTSA Campaign #:	97V172000
Units affected:	54,800

Description:: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME AIR BAG SENSORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH AUDI'S DURABILITY STANDARDS OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE.
Consequeces:: IN THE EVENT THE SENSOR SHOULD MALFUNCTION, THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM CAN INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE.
Notes:: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 13, 1997.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Affects the following:

1993 AUDI 100 Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 AUDI 100 CS QUARTO.(N/A) THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH WHEN HE TRAVELED OVER AN EXTREMELY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE TRANSMISSION OIL PAN FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT THEN AUTONOMOUSLY RELEASED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO ABRUPTLY HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS EYES, HEAD AND NOSE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURY TO HIS KNEE FROM ABRUPTLY STRIKING THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL. HE SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO HIS ARMS AND HANDS. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL PERTAINING TO THE AIR BAG FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V172000: AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO FURTHER INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE STRUTS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CONTACT FAILED TO HAVE THE STRUTS CHANGED. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THE STRUTS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND WERE REPLACED LESS THAN 20,000 MILES BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS STILL IN THE DEALER'S POSSESSION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000. UPDATED 12/01/2010. *LJ UPDATED 12/08/10;
1993 AUDI 90 Complaints
TIE RODS MIDAS AUTO REPAIR CENTER PUT ON MY 1993 AUDI 90 CS WHERE BOTH DEFECTIVE THAT THEY GOT FROM CAR QUEST. THE DAY THE TIE RODS FAILED WAS WHEN I AND MY WIFE WHERE COMING OUT OF THE DRIVE THROUGH AT TACO BELL ON WILSON STREET IN BREWER MAINE. THE FRONT PASSENGERS RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD CAME UNDONE AND SEPARATED FROM THE STRUT HOUSING WHERE IT BOLTS DOWN TO IT AND CAUSED MY WHEEL WHICH WAS IN A STRAIGHT POSITION TO COCK RIGHT AND I LOOSING CONTROL TOTALLY OF THE CAR AND DRIVING UP OVER A LARGE CURB ALMOST INTO A BUILDING. IT FELT LIKE THE WHEEL HAD COME RIGHT OFF THE CAR. THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD FROZE UP AND ALSO WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME OF EVEN WORSE IF IT WERE DRIVEN LONGER. MIDAS TOWED ME IN AND KEPT SAYING SORRY OR THIS AND ALSO SAID THAT CAR QUEST SENT THE WRONG TIE ROD FOR MY CAR FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD BUT, CAR QUEST SAID THAT THE TIE ROD IS LISTED FROM THE MANUFACTURE TO FIT THIS CAR. THEY REPLACED BOTH TIE RODS BUT, WHEN MY INSURANCE CAME TO SEE THE CAR THE CAR UNDERNEATH WAS DAMAGED TO MUCH THEY SAID SO THEY TOTALED THE AUDI OUT WHICH I BOUGHT BACK FROM THE INSURANCE. MY WIFE AND I BOTH SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THESE TIE RODS AND ARE SEEING DOCTORS ALL THE TIME NOW BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. THE AUTO BODY SAID WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE THAT IF WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED WE WOULD HAVE ROLLED THE AUDI OVER POSSIBLY AND GOT KILLED. THESE TIE RODS ARE POOR A DESIGNED AND POSSIBLY ARE BEING MISLABLED FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THEM TO FIT CARS THAT THEY DON'T OR CAR QUEST IS LABELING THEM WRONG IN THEIR SYSTEM TO FIX CARS LIKE MINE. THE VERY SAD THING IS MIDAS IS A STATE INSPECTION STATION AND SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THESE WEREN'T RIGHT FOR MY AUDI AND COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS ACCIDENT WHERE MY WIFE AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND FIX THE ISSUE SO THAT THIS ACCIDENT THAT WE HAD DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANOTHER AUDI OWNER OR OTHER MAKE AND GETS KILLED. *TR;