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Comments
SP
'98 2.8 Quattro
My second clutch has now totally collapsed just 15,000 miles later and Audi are refusing to replace it under the maintenance plan claiming I must have abused the vehicle. I'm getting ready to fight with them, legally if necessary. My other car (Mazda) has just done 150,000 miles on its first clutch, so it can be my driving, and I've been driving for 35 years (+/- 500,000 miles!)
I think the clutch design with the damper built into the dual mass flywheel results in a higher than normal heat build up on the front face of the clutch plate. My service agent confirmed that 30% of the clutch replacements they do require new flywheels also, and that doubles the cost of the repair.
I think its time Audi acknowledged their clutch is a weak point on an otherwise good vehicle.
Sorry for the late reply, below is a list of my issues, which have been repaired many times only to return. To make it worse after a failure soon all would be fine again...all random events and witnessed by Audi techs. (2003 A4 3.0 Quattro)
Failed key fobs
Failed memory seat option
Failed alarm
Failed auto door locks
Failed wipers
Failed wiper fluid pumps
Failed headlight washers
Failed rear defroster
Failed CD player
Failed radio
Failed speakers
Failed tail lights
Failed moon roof
Failed dash lights
Failed right side "reverse" tilt of mirror
Failed Equal Brake Distribution CPU
Failed trip/temp computer
Blue smoke coming out of exhaust for awhile
Engine warning lights
Fluid dripping from front
Suspension bangs
Steering column problems
Audi tells me I am having a unique experience...guess I have a real classic
I am staying away from Audi for good, and not because I had a terrible experience with reliability. It is because I had horrible service. Audi absolutely refuses to stand by their products when things get ugly. It is not their fault but the dealers.
They only way they respond is if you threaten them with some poor PR of legal attack.
They have a lot of technical issues that they hope does not become public. As an example, Edmunds just did a Long term follow up with a 2005 A4. They had a key fob issue. By the way, what happens is the two CPUs stop communicating (can't unlock the car, arm the alarm or memory seats move all by themselves) and the only way to fix it is to have them re programmed, but that has not worked for Audi as the keys would lose the programming. So their answer was to replace the keys, however, many times the new keys would freak out just the same. Well, I can tell you I had 6 of those key fob events, and the QA manager from Audi in Germany who came out to examin my Audi disaster told me they fixed those key fob failures couple years ago. Guess they have not emptied the parts bin yet. In fact, my moon roof had the same issues as past moon roofs that he swore to me were repaired 100% in the 2002 line up. Guess I got retro parts (mine is a 2003). What was intriguing was how interested the German engineers were in all the failures I was having with my car (glad I could help), so what happened? Well, the car still does not work and Audi thinks enough people have worked on my case. Bottom line, my car has had over 20 issues and 150 days at 4 dealers - just wonderful or is that pathetic?
Audi is not ready for prime time. There are many brands out there that back the product and understand that if you are honest with a customer they might just stick around awhile. As Audi says, Never Follow
Audi loaner program is as follows: this was told to me by a manager at Audi Corporate:
The dealer has the right not to offer a loaner car to you, however, Audi does provide a loaner if the car will need to stay more then 1 day for repairs. A bit vague but call Audi Customer Care and push them.
As for Lemon law electrical (which the engine warning light is) is tough to win. The car still runs, and is not endangering your life. However, Audi hates bad PR (they have so much of it). Call Customer Care and tell them that they have one more chance to fix it for good or you will be forced to contact the Automobile consumer protection agency (forgot actual name but it is inside your Audi customer care manual). If Audi does not respond and you want to keep pushing (as a last resort) call one of the lemon firms, very easy to find in the yellow pages or online. You might just get a quick settlement, like a month back. It is something.
My Audi has been about as reliable as the weather and the service as professional as a salesperson short of quota at months end. I won't be back
BTW, the St. Paul dealer is moving into a new $8 million facility on Monday. The Audi business must be profitable here in the twin cities!
Marleybarr, is a shame that even the same dealership (owned by the same family) does not provider loaners to someone that purchase the car in the other facility.
I was wondering if BMW dealers are the same way. Any experiences anyone?????
I had major static on FM stations and even playing CDs...not to mention certain features freaking out or the radio just failing altogether. Gone through two radios, many re programs and finally just gave up.
Some tech might be honest and tell you Audi has had radio issues for almost 7 yrs.
Ken in N.C.
DL
Thanks
hello all, I would just like to share some of the experiences i've had with my '05 A4. I leased it Jan 2005 (before the new 2005.5 styles came out) got a great deal on it. (currently has about 17,000 miles) Its been a fab car to drive, great in the snow, handles and moves very well... everything was dandy til about 2 months ago...
In Dec, the car started making a "whine" as I approached higher speeds (50+) and continues to get louder as you go faster. It was more of a clicking noise that came together to create a whine as you drove faster. I took it in to get it checked out.. turns out it was the transmission, and I needed a brand new one (I have the 6 speed manual)... so they ordered and got that replaced, car was in the shop for about a week. no big deal. I had a loaner.
about a month later, the check engine light came on.. took it in, they said the code read as "mis-fire on 4 cylinders" turned it off, and told me not to worry about it.
Yesterday, started the car to go to work.. the traction control and ESP lights came on and would not go off. I tried backing out and could not get the car to rev past 1500rpms, so basically could not get the car moving. tried re-starting the car, lights still stayed on.. left it running or about 5 mins, check engine light came on, and the car started shaking. So i had to call for a tow truck and took the car to the dealer.. wanted a loaner - to no avail.. spent about 5 hours waiting as they diagnosed the problem. (diagnosed the same code, mis-fire on 4 cylinders) and apparantly the traction control lights didn't come on when they drove it into the shop...They ended up just cleaning out the throttle body.
who knows..Just wanted to share.. anyways.. thanks for listening/reading!
Just wanted to express my sympathy to all the owners who have had issues with this car make. I am frustrated and upset with myself at the moment, so if you take offense from what I'm about to write, please accept my apologies.
I have had my A4 2003 3.0L Quattro for 3 years now, I have about 57,000 miles on it. After about a year my car started turning itself on after being parked coming home from work. This kept on draining out the battery and had to be towed away to the dealer. They fixed it, some electrical issues. Few months later engine light kept coming up so dealer checked and said no big deal, some typical stuff (what ?!?!). Last weekend the car was started in the morning and made horrible engine noise. I started driving it and the oil light came on. I check and saw the engine was dry on oil, put two quarters in and looked under the car where I saw all of it leaking down to the floor. Called the audi and they told me to bring it in. Trying to drive there the car stalled. They had to tow it away. Now, it looks like I will be in for thousands of dollars for the engine seemed to have gotten damaged and I'm couple thousands of miles out of warranty.
Ok, now, previously I had an Accord for 3 years and before that I had 30 month lease on BMW 3 Series. Not once did I have any minor or major issues with those cars. When I was looking to replace the Accord I was choosing between 3 series and A4. I figured to give Audi a try since I have owned bimmer already and just loved the A4's styling. I heard some bad stories about Audi's reliability but in spite of that I figured the new models might/should be improved. Well it appears that's not the case. I love the styling and materials inside and out, but what's underneath these cars or how they are put together just begs for improvement. I will never ever again buy an Audi no matter how great it looks and feels, I learnt my lesson.
Good luck to everyone.
I e-mailed Car and Driver about it and got a reply from them saying that "most problems with German cars is in the electronics" & "same quality materials as the Japanese cars, they just can't seem to put it together as well"
That made up my mind for the TSX.
By the way: They still said I should try the 3 series, man they love those cars.
Thanks
Craig
TB
On the highway I am getting 32 mpg, pretty good for the performance, very happy. But my commute is on long, windy roads (about 12 miles total) with not too many traffic lights and I'm only getting 22 or 23 mpg (according to the trip meter). On a tank of gas I'm getting maybe 320 miles as most of my driving is city or suburban.
Can I expect my mileage to improve around the city? I was hoping for 25 or 26 mpg. I do notice though that mileage is better when it's warm. I live in Cleveland and recent mornings have been down to 15 deg F or so, takes the car a while to warm the engine up.
Anyone got any thoughts on this? I am using premium 93 gas all the time.
The nature of turbocharged engines is that when you're cruising along and not ever accelerating, you're using the 2.0L engine alone (in your case)... but whenever your accelerated and induce the turbo, you'll drink down some gas. If you have a tendency to hit the gas here and there, that'll drop your number.
Now, aside from all of this, your engine is only 2200 miles old.... Many engines take a while (as much as 15k) to fully break in and reach the fuel economy they ultimately settle down at. So in addition to the above couple paragraphs, also keep an eye on your gas mileage after the next 5k+ miles.
my 2000 A4 audi with 120km.I bought the car 3 years ago ever since I've changed oil pump twise, ABS controller
and about 15 times fog lights.and now the engine light came back. so I took it back to audi dealer this time they said
its not the oil pump but crankcase gasgate leaking and few hoses needs to be replaced, looking around $2000.
I told not to do anything, I'm sick and tired of this car.
and now Iam looking for a 2nd opinion.
I'm looking at a 2001 A4 wagon from Carmax (52k miles)
this will be a car for my wife, need more space in a car because my wife is pregnant. she has a BMW 325is two door now. We live in the NorthEast and the Bmw is not great in the snow. Really like the all-wheel drive.
my mother and stepfather both have 2001 audi (allroad,& A6) they have had no problems. I was looking at Audi because of the good luck they have had.
From looking at this site I am getting cold feet about the audi. Any feedback on my choice to look at Audi could really help. It seems like I really should look into the extended warrenty they provide ir I go with this car.
Thank you
shop. Reset the check engine light and replaced 2 o2 sensors, drove it a week, light came back on.etc. Replaced the other 2 o2 sensors and reset light, drove light came back on, but the code was different. Reset codes drove all day without turning off and passed smog test. I decided since the old batterie was running down easily the shop agreed with me when the batterie loses some juice overnight it was tripping the old code back on. SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A SHORT SOMEWHERE. You could try resetting the code and use a trickle charger on it at night to keep the batterie up to the proper amps overnight
if any one has any info on what the gearbox prob could be please help. other probs i just put down to wear and tear as she has just done 100k miles. thanx gary
In the short term: When you turned the key to start it, did you get dash lights and hear various relays or was it dead dead dead.
I'm thinking that you aren't getting the right diagnosis on this problem. How did one shop get the starter to work but the car wouldn't start and the next shop says the starter is no good? What's going on?
I think you need a third opinion. First thing I'd do is test the battery and clean all the battery cables and check the battery cable connection to the starter motor.
thanks!
The minimum out of warranty repair on an Audi would be say one hour labor + parts, with average parts at $300. So one instance of one repair would cost you $400.
If you have only one repair a year for four years that's $1,600. You should probably count on that happening. So you have a theoretical differential of $700 "extra" spent on the extended warranty.
question is, will your A4 behave in that manner?
These extended warranties are not really warranties but insurance policies. You are betting your car breaks and the insurance company is beating that it doesn't; however, the premium they are charging you, and the exclusions they are throwing in, gives you an idea of how risky THEY think your car is.
AUDI A4 AVANT
CHEVY MALIBU MAXX
1. Which will cost more to keep maintained?
2. Is there an aprox. percentage difference?
I like many features of the Audis, but am very concerned about their bad reliability record and the comments that they are very expensive to fix.
Help. When i push any of the buttons on the stereo, nothing happens. I can't play radio, cd. It does not accept my cassette tape either. However, I think there is power going through the stereo since the display is lighted red. I'm afraid my battery is being drained. What to do?