25th Mar 2006, 21:10
I bought an 2000 Audi A4 1.8T New in NOV99.
At about 80-90kmi the timing belt went and caused fatal engine damage. My pleas with the dealership (Wagner Audi, West Boylston, MA) and Audi corporate were dead ends. They refused to even partially cover costs. The engine had to be replaced and after everything was said and done it cost me over $4,000USD. I traded the car as soon as it was repaired.
It was my second Audi since I really enjoyed the first; an Audi 90 Quattro 20V. As a result of my experience wit Audi, I will never own another Audi or even a VW for as long as I live.
25th Mar 2006, 23:45
The 80-90k guy: Did you get a new timing belt at all? If not, you were pushing the life of it, so it snapped.
6th Dec 2007, 06:41
Found this site a little too late. My '99 Audi A4 turbo has recently broken a timing belt. Repairs cost around $A4000 from my trusted private and relatively inexpensive mechanic. Parts alone were in excess of $3500. We have our cars serviced according to the log book and watch out for cam belt s. Broke one in a Volvo some years back with no engine damage. Perhaps Audi could take a lesson.
Might approach Audi Australia and see what they say about some recompense.
19th Dec 2007, 22:47
I have a 1999 Audi A-4 1.8 turbo, Avant quattro. I bought it used five years ago from my local Audi dealer with 42,000 miles on it, and have to say, they made a big point of encouraging me to have the timing belt service done before what was originally recommended in the owner's manual. And this was well before the 2005 NJ suit. I ended up having it done at 80,000, which was probably waaaay later then I should have had it done, but never experienced any belt failure. It was fine, luckily for me.
I am now approaching 135,000 miles and the mechanic I take my car to, a private garage specializing in Audi's, is urging me to get the timing belt done every 60,000 miles. And so, in the next five thousand miles, I will take it in and have the service done. I think it is unfortunate that this service is so pricey, but as others have said, you buy this car for the drive and for now, I am willing to continue to pay for this addiction I have to these cars. If you keep up on the TB service, these cars will go forever. I fully expect to get at least 200,000 miles out of this car and I should if I keep up the TB service!!
2nd Mar 2008, 23:49
Our daughter bought a 98 A4 with 97,000 miles.
Belt had broken at 96,000 miles, and had to have the engine rebuilt with new head and 1 piston.
The tensioner broke a few weeks ago at 114,000 miles. Short block is OK, but the head is toast.
Would I have any recourse against Audi?
7th Jul 2008, 16:08
Can anyone please advise me of the officially recommended interval between changing the timing belt on a 1999 A4 1.8T Sport Avant. My service manual says 80,000 miles (UK miles if that matters). It was changed at 80,000 but I am now up to 145,000 and the vehicle is in for service. The mechanic is advising I get it changed now, total cost £350. I'm hoping for another years use to take it close to 160,000. I'm getting conflicting information, if you know the correct interval please point me in the direction of your information source.
By the way, this is still a great car to drive, I've had it six years and don't plan on trading it in anytime soon.
jgrooney@talktalk.net
8th Aug 2008, 00:11
I also got the same problem!
I bought a 2000 A4 on 7/26/2008, and the timing belt broke, thus led to the death of my engine --- 6 days after I bought the car!
I don't know what options I have right here, but my mechanic suggested me to replace it with a used engine. I am not sure if I want to do that, after seeing all the posts here.
Can anyone provide me with some more info on the lawsuit against Audi, and what exactly is the "8 year unlimited mile goodwill warranty"? I am so desperate right now. Even for an used engine replacement it's gonna cost 6k!
Help!!
1827planes@live.com
12th Aug 2008, 12:06
Hey, get it fixed at a dealership (shell out the 5k) and call Audi Corp, you have a valid case for at least 30 days after the engine fails. Or call Audi first, but it's valid. I just talked to them, trying to get reimbursed for the same repair back in 05, but they wouldn't budge. The 2000-2003 Audis are covered by the settlement that just happened in CA this month, but 99's are on our own. I was wishing so bad that I called Audi right after the repair. Could have got a cool 5 grand. Anyway good luck.
12th Aug 2008, 12:07
Oh yeah http://timingbeltsettlement.com/ has all the info you need. Didn't see you have a 2000; you should be all set up.
20th Aug 2008, 16:59
I recently purchased a 2002 A4T (non-quattro) with 50,000 babied miles on it. Shortly after the purchase, we received the settlement agreement and promptly took the car to the dealer for our "free" inspection. Of course they found cracked tensioners, and recommended replacement, otherwise the extended warranty would be null & void.
So, I'm not too sure what this settlement agreement does for the consumer, since all it does is force us to pay for the repair. Sounds like a money making scheme for the dealers to me!
24th Aug 2008, 10:36
I bought a brand new 2000 Audi A4 in 1999. In 2003, just after the 50,000 mark, my turbo engine blew and the repair was going to cost $6,500 to fix at the dealership. I had taken the car in for service at the dealer at every single increment, but for some reason the engine still went. I didn't have 6,500 sitting around, as I had just purchased a house and was recently married. I still owed money on a non-driveable car. The dealership "made me a deal" and got me into a new Audi lease for $30 more a month for 3 years! It sickens me to look back, but I was stuck... I couldn't take my car anywhere else as it was inoperable and I owed money on an inoperable car! So, I took their deal on the 2003. That car also had an engine failure!!! I was livid. At least it was a lease and it was under warranty. I quickly traded the lease away and washed my hands, only to get notice of the class action lawsuit and the recall on the engine sludge buildup! I called Audi of America and they said because I didn't have the repair done, they were under no obligation to me at all. Needless to say, I ended up spending more than the repair would have cost me in the new lease, but I will never ever buy an Audi again.
25th Feb 2006, 22:07
Our 1999 Audi A6, bought second hand at 89k miles, now with 93k miles, just had a timing belt and/or tensioner failure while we were on a road trip. The failure occurred in high speed freeway driving so it was very dangerous. This resulted in major valve damage and a piston penetration from one of the valves. We've incurred substantial towing and rental expense so far. The out of town dealer offered to have the engine rebuilt for $7900 or put in a new engine for $12k. Our local Audi dealer had inspected the car at 89k miles and said there was not any need to change the timing belt. I am pursuing with Audi Corporate because our dealer has said there is nothing they can do and it should be taken up with corporate. It would seem prudent for Audi Corporate to simply make these changes mandatory through their dealers due to the huge danger/irreversible in engine failure at most normal driving speeds.