Faults:
Engine replaced due to oil sludge at approximately 35,888 miles.
Poor connection in light housing at 35,888 miles.
Replacement of throttle valve house 37,729 miles.
Leaking turbo bypass valve & pressure hose at 37,729 (car miles, less than 2000 engine miles)
Replaced power steering gear assembly at 72,852 (car miles, approx 37,000 engine miles)
Replaced coolant temperature sensor 81,078 car miles, approx 46,000 engine miles.
Replaced 4 ignition coils at 81,078 car miles, approx 46,000 engine miles.
Current sitting at dealer with $4400 worth of engine damage from broken timing belt with approx. 65,000 miles on the engine.
General Comments:
I strongly recommend against purchasing any car made by this manufacturing. The repair list doesn't even include the multiple headlight changes, normal things like brakes, etc. Not just for the ridiculously high number of repairs, and on items that tend to be known problems with these cars, but Audi's attitude regarding standing behind their product. I had to research myself and only happened upon the oil sludge problem and had to "prove" my oil changes before Audi would replace the engine. Not even the dealer/service center volunteered this information, even berating me over it happening, until I faxed them info I found on the internet and my oil change records. Now, with the timing belt issue, a known problem, Audi first told me the service manager with the dealer would decide if it would be covered by Audi, and Audi asked for, you guessed it, all my oil change records, which I produced, showing changes at about every 5000 miles. Now, everyone knows the oil changes have nothing to do with the timing belt, but... Then, after I furnished all of those, and proved I had them, they said, Oh, we want you to pay approx $300 to have the engine pulled apart so we can see what caused the timing belt to break. OK, but the three reasons the dealer gave should all be things that should never have failed at 65,000 miles on an engine, just like the ignition coils I had to replace. And, after asking for specifics on what they had to find to pay for repairs, I have received no reply whatsoever.
23rd Nov 2009, 15:08
I agree with your post above. I owned a 2003 Audi A4 Quattro, and this car has been nothing but a nightmare and cost a lot of money.
In addition, the dealer gave me the run around, and on one instance even damaged my rear deck lid and did a cheap touch-up job, and did not release the car to me until the evening when it was dark so I might not notice. They adamantly refused to accept fault and instead tried to make it sound like I was pulling some sort of insurance scan.
I have owned many Audis in the past, but this car has made me realize Audi doesn't care about their reputation and relationship with customers - all they care about is the sale and making money. While this might benefit them in the short term, in the long run, they are going to lose many loyal customers and eventually go back to their reputation of the 80's when no one would touch an Audi. You might almost think the car is manufactured in China and not Germany.