1996 AUDI A4

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON PENNSYLVANIA RT. 401 I DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, WHERE A DRAIN IS BURIED UNDER THE ROAD, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER A ARM SNAPPED IN HALF AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND THE CAR TO GRIND TO A HALT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

I HAVE 1996 AUDI A4 AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000, WHICH IS NOT ABLE TO RETURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION CAUSING ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I SEE THE FOLLOWING RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE. BUT WHEN I CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834, THEY SAYS MY 1996 AUDI A4 IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THIS RECALL. VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): AUDI / A4 1996-1997 MANUFACTURER: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC MFR'S REPORT DATE: OCT 20, 2006 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000 N/A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 28594. *TR

Mileage: 210,000

I HAVE 1996 AUDI A4 AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000, WHICH IS NOT ABLE TO RETURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION CAUSING ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I SEE THE FOLLOWING RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE. BUT WHEN I CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834, THEY SAYS MY 1996 AUDI A4 IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THIS RECALL. VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): AUDI / A4 1996-1997 MANUFACTURER: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC MFR'S REPORT DATE: OCT 20, 2006 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000 N/A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 28594. *TR

Mileage: 210,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE STARTED THE IGNITION. THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RETURN TO THE ENGINE RUNNING POSITION. IMMEDIATELY, THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED MANUALLY TO THE "ON" POSITION TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL, BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

Mileage: 130,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE STARTED THE IGNITION. THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RETURN TO THE ENGINE RUNNING POSITION. IMMEDIATELY, THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED MANUALLY TO THE "ON" POSITION TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL, BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

Mileage: 130,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE STARTED THE IGNITION. THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RETURN TO THE ENGINE RUNNING POSITION. IMMEDIATELY, THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED MANUALLY TO THE "ON" POSITION TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL, BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

Mileage: 130,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS KEYS WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 200,000. UPDATED 12-08-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08. *JB

Mileage: 200,000

1996 AUDI A4 CUSTOMER HAD REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH THAN A WEEK LATER HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. CUSTOMER SUBMITTED THE PAPER TO AUDI AND WAS GIVEN HALF PAYMENT CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE FULL REIMBURSEMENT**CC *JB

1996 AUDI A4 QUATTRO WITH LEATHERETTE PASSENGER SEAT - HEATED SEAT WAS SET AT LEVEL 6 AND WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SITTING ON THE SEAT A HOLE THE SIZE OF TWO QUARTERS WAS BURNT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO THE HEATED SEAT STARTING A SMALL FIRE.. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES STARTER COMPLETELY FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPLACED THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WITH NO PROBLEMS. THAT SAME DAY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE STARTER FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE NEARBY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE, AND WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE BURNT STARTER. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE, AND NOTICED AN NHTSA RECALL #00V317000 REGARDING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH. ON 10/13/06, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE PERIOD TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED HAD EXPIRED.

Mileage: 120,000

THIS IS NOT RELATED TO A MANUFACTURER COMPLAINT, BUT I AM HOPING TO GET SOME INFO ON WHO TO CONTACT FOR AN ISSUE IN A PRIVATE PARTY USED VEHICLE PURCHASE. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A CAR WITH A CLEAN CARFAX REPORT AND THE SELLER SAID IT HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISIONS. UPON TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC FOR A PART FAILURE (WITHIN 24 HRS OF PURCHASE) I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN IN A MAJOR COLLISION WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIRBAG COVERS HAD BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER THE SRS LIGHT WAS EITHER REMOVED OR THE WIRES CUT SO IT WOULDN'T BE ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT REPLACED. I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE AGAINST THE SELLER WHEN THEY DO NOT DISCLOSE THE FACT THAT THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS NOT PRESENT. CALLS TO THE SELLER HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. *JB

I OWN A 1996 AUDI A4. THE HORN HAS INTERMITTENTLY WORKED SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE - SINCE 1999. I'VE TRIED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO HAVE VARIOUS DEALERS FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HORN ASSEMBLY (CAMPAIGN: 96V088000) BUT I'M NOW FINALLY TOLD THAT MY VIN DOES NOT FALL INTO THE APPROPRIATE RANGE. HOWEVER, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE 1996 AUDI A4 PROBLEM MATCHES MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER YEARS AGO THAT TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE LEATHER STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,000. MY VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL NOTICE. PLEASE ADVISE. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

(1) I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (LE RECALL) FROM AUDI OF AMERICA ON THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1996 A4 SEDAN. THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED ON 10/10/02. AT THAT POINT IN TIME THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN PERFORMING CORRECTLY FOR 69 MONTHS BUT I HAD IT REPLACED BECAUSE OF AUDI'S RECOMMENDATION; NOT BECAUSE IT HAD A MALFUNCTION. (2)IN OCTOBER OF 2005 THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AFTER EXACTLY 36 MONTHS OF SERVICE. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPER BLADES AND THE A/C. BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE I EXPERIENCED PREVIOUSLY ON THE 1997 AUDI I TURNED THE MOTOR OFF THEN OPENED THE CAR DOOR AND RESTARTED THE MOTOR. I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE STARTER MOTOR STILL ENGAGED SO I TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO REEVES AUDI. (3)REEVES AUDI REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND BILLED ME ABOUT $661 BUT AFTER I COMPLAINED THEY GAVE ME A 15% DISCOUNT SO I ENDED UP PAYING ABOUT $571 (4)I CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA. THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL UP MY EARLIER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE 1997 A4 A

Mileage: 90,500

I OWN AN 1996 AUDI A4. RECENTLY, MY HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALL TOGETHER AT VARIOUS TIMES. SOMETIMES THEY WORK FINE THE NEXT MINUTE THEY WOULDN'T. ONE NIGHT I ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MY REAR TAILLIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI TO GET THE PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF. WHEN I WENT TO AUDI, THEY TOLD ME I HAVE A BAD IGNITION SWITCH AND SAID THE PROBLEM WOULD PROBABLY BE TAKEN CARE OF WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH. I GOT THE WORK DONE AND THEN WENT ON THE INTERNET TO CHECK ANY RECALLS FROM THE NHTSA. A RECALL #00V317000 CAME UP AND DESCRIBED THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAD WITH MY AUDI. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER AND AUDI THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN #. I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS HAZARD WAS TAKEN CARE OF FOR A SELECT NUMBER OF CARS BUT THERE ARE STILL CARS OUT ON THE ROADWAY THAT HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I THINK AUDI WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE LIKELY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IF THAT FORD F250

Mileage: 87,000

PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, ALSO CAUSING ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND RUNNING DOWN THE BATTERY. THERE WAS A RECALL CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE EXACT SAME YEAR (1996) AND MODEL (AUDI A4) AND REGARDING THE EXACT SAME IGNITION PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MANUFACTURER CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THE RECALL THEY CLAIM DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER. HOWEVER, MY CAR IS A 1996 AUDI A4 AND MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME SAFETY PROBLEM COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE RECALL #00V317000. *JB

ALTHOUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH OF MY 1996 AUDI A4 WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN AUGUST 2001, IT HAS THE SAME FAILURE ALMOST EXACTLY 4 YEARS LATER. THE SWITCH NEITHER ALLOWS THE CAR TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF NOR ALLOWS THE WIPERS, LIGHTS AND INDICATORS TO FUNCTION. *NM

Mileage: 115,000

1996 AUDI A4 - AUDI A4 FRONT CONTROL ARMS ALL FAIL AT AROUND 100,000 MILES. ALL 8 OF MINE WERE REPLACED. AUDI SENT OUT A TSB FOR 2 OF THE 8 CONTROL ARMS AND ARE JERKING PEOPLE AROUND WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT. THEY WANT PEOPLE TO PROVE THAT ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE, YET THE PARTS IN QUESTION ARE NOT REPAIRABLE OR SERVICEABLE. ACCORDING TO MY AUDI DEALER, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HASN'T GOTTEN ANY BETTER, EVEN WITH THE LATEST MODELS. THESE COST BETWEEN $300 - $500 EACH TO REPLACE FOR A TOTAL OF $3000 FOR ALL 8. THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM COLLECTING ON THIS AND THIS SHOULD COVER ALL 8, SINCE ALL 8 FAIL INSTEAD OF ONLY 2. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LETTER AND PAPERWORK THAT I PROVIDED TO THEM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OVER 6 MONTHS AGO. EVERY AUDI A4 HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. AUDI SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THE POOR DESIGN AND THE BOGUS TSB LETTER THAT THEY SENT TO OWNERS.

Mileage: 100,000

1996 AUDI A4 - AUDI A4 FRONT CONTROL ARMS ALL FAIL AT AROUND 100,000 MILES. ALL 8 OF MINE WERE REPLACED. AUDI SENT OUT A TSB FOR 2 OF THE 8 CONTROL ARMS AND ARE JERKING PEOPLE AROUND WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT. THEY WANT PEOPLE TO PROVE THAT ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE, YET THE PARTS IN QUESTION ARE NOT REPAIRABLE OR SERVICEABLE. ACCORDING TO MY AUDI DEALER, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HASN'T GOTTEN ANY BETTER, EVEN WITH THE LATEST MODELS. THESE COST BETWEEN $300 - $500 EACH TO REPLACE FOR A TOTAL OF $3000 FOR ALL 8. THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM COLLECTING ON THIS AND THIS SHOULD COVER ALL 8, SINCE ALL 8 FAIL INSTEAD OF ONLY 2. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LETTER AND PAPERWORK THAT I PROVIDED TO THEM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OVER 6 MONTHS AGO. EVERY AUDI A4 HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. AUDI SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THE POOR DESIGN AND THE BOGUS TSB LETTER THAT THEY SENT TO OWNERS.

Mileage: 100,000

00 V 317 000/IGNITION SWITCH: THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT RETURN TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN THE SWITCH BACK AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND NOTIFIED HER DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 64,000

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE BALL JOINTS SEPERATED.*AK

Mileage: 95,000