2013 Audi A4 Allroad

The rear carrier frame has rusted through. There are trim pieces that are attached to the frame , they trap and hold moisture and salt like a cup under the frame, not visible during a regular inspection. My car only has 95k has been garage kept and taken through car washes in the winter with undercarriage wash (to no avail). After some investigation it seems that Volkwagon /Audi corp. has known about this issue since 2009 , but has kept it internally and not made owners aware of this. It would have been so simple to just remove these trim pieces and I wouldn’t have this hole in my car frame, which has basically made it unsafe as this frame holds my suspension and rear differential. There has been a class action lawsuit filed in The NJ District Court by an owner but it is only for Q5 and S5 thus far. In looking for a frame it seems that A4 shares this same frame. One of the guys in service told me, Audi knows about this, they stopped using the trim because of it and they might help you out. The bill from Audi to repair my car is $7417.00 they offered to give me $500 off( gee thanks) My car hasn’t been driven much the last three winters ( RV travel) and had someone notified me my car would have been in the 12 year unlimited mileage corrosion warranty period, now it is just outside of that. There is an article that I read about the Lawsuit and it says that it’s not so much the rust issue as it is the fact that they’ve been handling it internally for over a decade to avoid a recall. I’m really bummed out, I love this car that looks amazing but basically has cancer. No warning lamps, I’ve been told not to drive it by the dealer (Audi Stratham) because it’s a Safety issue. My son found it when the trim piece fell off ( because the bolt rusted out of the frame, resulting in a hole the size of my fist) No other symptoms, this rust didn’t just start it’s been brewing for years . I had an independent shop tell me that it’s a known problem and to take it to the dealer.

Audi installed plastic covers over sections of the subframe on allroad, Q5 models, and other models. These covers held in water and salt causing severe rusting and corrosion of the rear subframe. Subframes of these models are seriously structurally compromised and also hidden from view due to these plastic covers. It’s seems Audi is repairing some under their 12 year rust/corrosion/penetration warranty, but the response varies based on dealership (some people are being told this warranty only applies to body panels, others are told that they are ineligible due to not regularly servicing their vehicles at the dealer). Many others are past the warranty timeline. This issue requires immediate attention and a full recall. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)