I DROVE MY CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING TO CHURCH AND, ON THE WAY HOME, STOPPED AT A SUPERMARKET. IT WAS VERY COLD, MINUS 15 DEGREES AT THE TIME IN BOZEMAN, MONTANA. WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE CAR TO START TO GO HOME, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD ALARM AND A WARNING - STEERING DEFECTIVE - UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO R…
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I DROVE MY CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING TO CHURCH AND, ON THE WAY HOME, STOPPED AT A SUPERMARKET. IT WAS VERY COLD, MINUS 15 DEGREES AT THE TIME IN BOZEMAN, MONTANA. WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE CAR TO START TO GO HOME, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD ALARM AND A WARNING - STEERING DEFECTIVE - UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AND THE SAME LOUD ALARM AND WARNING OCCURRED. I WAITED 5 MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN AND GOT THE SAME RESULT. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO MY NEARBY AUDI DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEN I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THIS STEERING ISSUE IS A REAL PROBLEM WITH AUDI Q5 AND SQ5, BUT ONLY THE SQ5 HAS HAD A RECALL. APPARENTLY THERE IS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, SOMETIMES REQUIRING A STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT AND OTHER TIMES SOFTWARE. IN ANY EVENT, AUDI KNOWS ABUT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHAT IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY BABY GRANDSON IN THE CAR? I DISCOVERED A LOT OF VERY NEGATIVE INFO ON THE AUDI WORLD FORUMS DATING BACK AS FAR AS EARLY 2016 CONCERNING THE 2015 SQ5. SAME SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM WITH THE Q5. APPARENTLY ON TRANSPORT CANADA'S WEBSITE THE SQ5 STEERING HAS BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT THE Q5. IN LIGHT OF THE EMISSIONS SCANDAL IN WHICH THE CAR COMPANY (VOLKSWAGEN) DELIBERATELY DECEIVED ON EMISSIONS, I AM THINKING THAT THEY ARE A RATHER UNTRUSTWORTHY COMPANY FROM WHICH TO BUY A CAR. I WILL GET RID OF MINE FOR SAFETY'S SAKE AS SOON AS I CAN! THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE EARLY THIS MORNING. I TRIED TO REACH THE SERVICE AREA FOR AN UPDATE, BUT AS YET HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. I HAVE 4 MONTHS LEFT ON MY WARRANTY. AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS IS SCARY.
NHTSA ODI #11184036
43,000 miles · Feb 5, 2019
Steering
IT WAS AN UNUSUALLY COLD DAY (-14 DEGREES) IN MICHIGAN. I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR EARLIER THAT DAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR LATER I WENT TO USE IT AND I WAS PRESENTED WITH LOUD WARNING BEEPS AND THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: "STEERING DEFECTIVE! DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE!" IT WAS OBVIOUS T…
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IT WAS AN UNUSUALLY COLD DAY (-14 DEGREES) IN MICHIGAN. I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR EARLIER THAT DAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR LATER I WENT TO USE IT AND I WAS PRESENTED WITH LOUD WARNING BEEPS AND THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: "STEERING DEFECTIVE! DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE!" IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE (ELECTRIC) POWER ASSIST WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I TRIED EVERY HOUR AND AFTER ABOUT 4 HOURS THE ERROR WAS GONE AND THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY. IT HAS BEEN FINE SINCE. I CALLED THE DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT DID NOT BRING IT TO THEM FOR A "DIAGNOSIS". I NOTICED A RECALL (15V-452) FOR THE 2015 SQ5 FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND WONDERED WHY AN SQ5 WOULD BE DIFFERENT FROM MY 2015 Q5 (WITH A 3.0L V6 ENGINE). THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE DURING VERY COLD DAYS AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSE. THE RECALL IS NOTHING MORE THAN A SOFTWARE UPDATE. (MAYBE TO EXPAND THE ACCEPTABLE THRESHOLD VALUES?) I AM CONCERNED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT SCOPED PROPERLY AND IS ACTUALLY AFFECTING OTHER AUDIS. I AM A FORMER VW/AUDI MECHANIC WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE.
NHTSA ODI #11174518
50,000 miles · Sep 5, 2018
Steering
STEERING DEFECTIVE. DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. THIS MESSAGE CAME UP AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR FROM A PARKING LOT. TOWED IT TO AUDI DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT ITS AN AUDI ISSUE. DEFECTIVE STEERING RACK. REPLACED IT. $2500
NHTSA ODI #11124576
8,000 miles · Sep 11, 2015
SteeringCrash
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LONG GRAVEL DRIVEWAY GOING 15-20MPH AND I WENT AROUND A SLIGHT LEFT CURVE. AFTER THE LEFT CURVE THE ROAD BECOMES STRAIT. MY CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CURVE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO HEAD RIGHT NO MATTER HOW HARD I PULLED ON THE STEER…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN A LONG GRAVEL DRIVEWAY GOING 15-20MPH AND I WENT AROUND A SLIGHT LEFT CURVE. AFTER THE LEFT CURVE THE ROAD BECOMES STRAIT. MY CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CURVE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO HEAD RIGHT NO MATTER HOW HARD I PULLED ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO GO LEFT. IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. THE CAR CONTINUED GOING RIGHT, OFF THE DRIVEWAY AND INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED AT THIS POINT. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, AND ON TO GET THE WHEEL TO RELEASE SO I COULD BACK OUT OF THE TREE, AND ONTO THE DRIVEWAY.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Audi Q5 and 2013-2017 Audi Q7 vehicles. These gasoline-powered vehicles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump flange if cracks are present. Flanges that do not have cracks will have a protective film applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20Z8. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 16V-660.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:side/window
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.
Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Audi Q5 vehicles. The sunroof drainage system may allow water to soak into the foam surrounding the side head air bag inflator canister resulting in the corrosion of the canister. If this happens, the corrosion can weaken the canister and the inflator could fracture without air bag deployment, propelling fragments into the passenger compartment, striking and causing serious injury to vehicle occupants.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator and either coat it or replace it, as necessary, after removing the surrounding foam, free of charge. The recall is expected to began March 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69P1.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver and front seat passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators that may rupture in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69M1 (for Audi) and 69L9 (for VW).
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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