1998 Audi A4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED A BURNING WIRE ODOR UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND VARIOUS OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V317000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000.

ON A 1998 A4 QUATTRO AUDI, IT IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH FAILS, THE FIRST TIME WAS 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN SWITCH PACKAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, AND THIS TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AROUND 11:00 PM WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL, IN THIS CAR IF THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK, ALSO THE FOG LIGHTS DON'T WORK TOO, SO SUDDENLY YOU END AT THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A HIGHWAY WITH NO LIGHTS AT ALL. THIS DEFINITELY IS A HIGH RISK SITUATION BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT DRIVE WITH OUT HEADLIGHTS IT IS LIKE BLIND DRIVING. I BEEN SEARCHING ON THE WEB AND IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY COMMON FAILURE ON THIS CAR BUT THERE IS NO RECALL AT ALL FOR THIS YET. *KB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT FURTHER STATED THE FAILURE CAUSED THE STARTER TO SHORT OUT AND BURN UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V403000, REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

I HAVE HAD A RECENT DISCUSSION WITH AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE, FILE #40182122. THIS IS REGARDING A DEFECT IN MY MODEL YEAR 1998 AUDI A4 2.8. OR AUDI A4 2.8 MANUFACTURED JULY OF 1997. I RESEARCHED THE WEB AND SAW HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. MY IGNITION SWITCH GOT STUCK IN BOTH THE RUN AND LATER START POSITION. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. ALSO IT CAUSED THE CLIMATE CONTROL NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY BY NOT TURNING ON, THE SCREEN WAS BLACK. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I SAW MANY OTHER 1998 AUDI OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN MORE SIMILIAR WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAD A 1998 MODEL YEAR CAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1997. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN # LE (00V-317) IS A LITTLE AMBIGOUS STATING MODEL YEARS AND MANUFACTURE DATES. MY CAR FALLS WITHIN THE MANUFACTURE DATE BUT NOT THE RECALL DATE. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ANY PRUDENT AND REASONABLE PERSON THAT CARS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO AUGUST OF 1997 EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MODEL YEAR 1998 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I SAW SOME RESPONES TO OTHER OWNERS REGARDING THIS SITUATION AND A RESOLVEMENT IN THE MATTER WITH AUDI INCLUDING US POOR OWNERS WHO BOUGHT A CAR IN THE SWITCH OF MODEL YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I CAN RESOLVE THIS MATTER AS WELL. HOW CAN MY CAR GET INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO PROCEED. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRE AT TOM WILLIAMS AUDI IN BIRMINGHAM, AL (205) 397-2700. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILS TO RETURN TO RUN FROM START AFTER STARTING CAR. IF THE THE KEY IS NOT RETURNED FROM START MANUALLY, THE ACCESSORIES (I.E WINDOWS, LIGHTS, RADIO, FAN, ETC) WILL NOT RUN AND THE STARTER WILL CONTIUE TO RUN POTENTIATING THE FAILURE OF THAT PART. RECALL NOTICE #00V31700 COVERS MODEL YEAR 1997 FOR CARS MANUFACTURED THROUGH 8/97. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED 8/97 BUT IS MODEL YEAR 1998. AUDI USED THE MODEL YEAR LIMITATION TO DENY REPAIRNG THE FAULTY PART AND SHOULD INCLUDE ALL CARS MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE TIME FRAME.*AK