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Sensor failure of ESP system resulting in 23 consecutive days of repair.
Relay Switch clicking which can be heard over radio at volume level of 13. I know of other documented cases however Audi has no solution to the problem.
Blown fuse on windshield wipers.
Electronic issues with radio functions.
Currently at the dealership with second air bag system malfunction. Not yet rectified.
Recent recall notice of cylinder failure in the engine. Audi will only repair if car dies or fails.
The electrical system has had many issues in these cars.
I would warn consumers to study the warranty and repair issues on these cars prior to any purchase.
Audi does not stand behind these problems and does not have the knowledge base both internally and at the dealership level to handle these problems.
I hope I can make consumers really review this car before purchasing and hopefully saving them the headaches I have had.
I agree with these comments 100%. My Audi A4 has been nothing but problems.
Problems started two days after purchase and have continued. Included: major issues with Engine coil, stereo, engine light, windshield wipers, tire...etc.
I've seen other postings about these problems, but none quite like mine -- I have an A4 2002 CVT 1.8T with 35k miles.
Scenario A:
On a 1/4 hot engine (about 10 minutes in morning traffic) the ESP light comes on and stays on continuously while driving. As the car comes to a stop the engine stutters and dies completely; the ESP and Battery lights both come on and stay on. After a few tries (it sounds as if the engine is choking) the engine eventually restarts. On several occasions the engine light came on and stayed on.
Scenario B:
Freeway driving at about 70mph - the ESP light comes on and stays on.
My Audi has been plagued with problems as well and problems began within 2 days of purchase!! First, CEL (check engine light) light came on and dealer told me gas cap was loose. 2 days later same thing happened and then they told me the purge pump had to be fixed; thent he trunk lock didn't work and had to be replaced; and 5 ignition coils have failed (4 originals plus 1 replacement coil) and I have finally begun a Lemon Law action against them. My biggest concern is whether or not Audi leveled with us in the first place... is it really defective ignition coils or is there an engine problem causing the ignition coils to fail??!!! Of course Audi is now claiming car is fixed after they recalled the coils...funny but I blew a replacement coil so car is apparently not fixed!!
I have an 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro and have about 20,000 miles. I have not had one problem with the car yet. This has been the most reliable and most enjoyable car I have ever owned. It's a flawless car (except for a view scratches in the bumper).
Finally I've found some others who are experiencing problems similar to mine. I have a 2002 A4 which I bought new. Last night was the 8th time I've been stranded in the car because of a variety of malfunctions, mostly electrical and ignition coils. Had to be towed 200 miles last night using two different tow companies. I'm ready to take action - something more serious than hollering and complaining to my dealer and service manager. Any suggestions on where to start would be greatly appreciated.
Mlamick.
To remedy problems with Audi A4 you must call Volkswagen of America. It helps if you have owned more than one Audi. They will open a problem record. Keep after them. They will tell the dealer what to do.
My 2002 Audi A4 has tons of problems. It has been in the shop for more at least 15 times since I first bought I in Feb 2002. List of problems include:
EPC, Airbag, seatbelt, exhaust, you name them!
It's a nice car except for the PROBLEMS. Do think carefully before making the decision.
With big illusion I purchased a brand new Audi A4 1.8 T Q. By now I have approx. 36,000 miles on it. So far I was stranded twice and had it at the dealer additional times (toe hook cover, gasoline cap, windshield wiper fluid pump and fuse...). It all started with the bizarre fact that every once in a while the windshield wiper or the blinker go off once (without activation!!!). I started composing a spreadsheet to ID whether this occurred under certain circumstances, but this is so irregular that there is no way to determine what is happening (it can happen 3 times within 25 miles and then again after several hundred miles; it happens when standing or driving at different speeds). Needless to say that the dealer claims that they cannot find anything wrong. Of course, I was stranded due to the ignition coil problem and today due to the appearance of the oil pressure warning light. The car handles beautifully on the road, but at this point I am wondering if all the problems are worth it.
I am the owner of a 2004 Audi A4 Avant 1.8 Quattro with 2750 miles on it, and you guessed it, it is already in the shop. I do wish I had found this website prior to my purchase. I think I may have chosen a different car had I read your comments sooner. Certainly the driving experience is much more refined than my Subaru Outback, although the 1.8 is somewhat underpowered.
My problem is with the engineering of the car itself. A week ago, I blew a tire at freeway speeds, never having the sensation of hitting a thing. As a result, by the time I was able to reach the safety of the shoulder of the road, the "low profile" high performance Goodyear tire had completely severed its tread from the wheel. Unbeknownst to me, it had also:
-Punctured the filler hose to the gas tank, requiring the replacement of the entire gas tank, a $700 part,
-destroyed the wiring of the fuel system to the central computer,
-punctured the sheath around the shock absorber on that wheel, requiring replacement of the entire shock absorber, a $200 part,
-and destroyed the wheel liner on that wheel, requiring its replacement, at $150.00. This entails 6-8 hours of labor, at$100 per hour, in addition to replacement of the tire, at $180.00. That comes to a $2030.00 flat tire, not counting the tip I gave the guy from AAA who fixed the flat.
The dealer and Audi of America have been completely unresponsive, stating that this is "outside influence".
My check engine light didn't go on for 5 days, so I drove around with a bad shock and a leaky gas tank during that time.
I am concerned about the safety of this vehicle and plan to sell the car.
Owner of 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro...
My A4, at 58,000 miles suddenly stopped at a highway. There was a clicking noise from the engine and the car just stopped!!!
The dealer came up with the 'cylinder failure' diagnosis, and told me the top part of the engine needs to be replaced... the part alone costs 6,000 bucks!!!
I am in a process of talking with Audi USA...
I was wondering, was there ever a recall notice of cylinder failure in the engine for this car? Because the Audi USA told me there was no open record for this matter...
If there are any suggestions or comments... please tell me at jjung72 at hot mail dot com... Thank you...
A very frustrated Audi owner.
Hi everyone.
Thank you for sharing this info, it appears that we are not alone at all. I myself am very tired with this Audi A4 1.8T 2002 experience. Its simply unreliable, to the point that I'm expecting something to happen everyday. That's not good at all, in fact I think the folks at Hyundai have better engineering talent than these Audi folks.
I bought the car second hand for a hefty price, one of the biggest mistakes I've done, even with the assurance of the Audi warranty, it simply ain't worth it. I've been at the dealer approximately 8 times in less than a year. Engine vibration issues, stalling problems, defective wiper motor (which by the way presents itself as a serious hazard since it just stopped functioning while on the highway in rain... not good at all, they should have issued a service bulletin advising owners for a potential problem as it was plainly a defect which the dealer was aware of, but not the consumer), gas sensor problems, and now a repeating fuse blowout for the wiper washers.
There are serious issues with this car, make and year. I don't know about other models and/or years, but it is presenting a serious risk for motorists, as its simply unreliable.
Someone pointed out that dealers don't have the proper knowledge on how to repair these cars are have a program to build awareness on potential hazards, I agree.
One thing I find funny, is that the service dealer requested that I give good grades on a survey call requesting how satisfied I was with the service, I found this downright insulting. I can appreciate the dealer's effort trying to handle all these defects, but fact of the matter is, they should be asking how satisfied you are with the car instead. Consumers, paid a lot of money for these cars, which don't give justice to the shape, design and look of the car, which I think, is the only thing going for the car. The rest; mechanics, stability, electronics, and reliability are simply not there.
I'm hoping more people share their experience since I feel that the Audi people have pulled a fast one from the dealer level all the way up to the top execs at Audi headquarters.
Should have stuck with Japanese cars, I've owned a Nissan for 15 years (the last 5 years required a lot of repairing, but the truth of the matter is, that 8 times of that I've been to Audi for 1 year was the same 8 times in the whole "last" 5 years with Nissan).
Audi, you need to do something about this, since its not the consumers trying to get a free ride on your cars, its more like you are getting a free ride from your consumers.
Well, I don't necessarily agree with all your comments, my family is on our 3rd audi A4 we always opted for the normal aspirated v6's (4 bangers give everybody in my family headaches - and we all have lead feet)...the 1996 had terrible electricals... windows opening, and the sunroof opening on its own... rainy days...This is now my older sisters car, and shes invested about 5grand to repair this 140K lemon.
The 1997, and the 1999.5 A4 2.8's...those have been great cars (they were both manuals) and have served us well mine (1999.5) has not broken in nearly 25,000 miles, not even brakes! I'm almost worried! we recently traded in the 1997, no major problems.
These cars are assembled in Hungary, and then finally finished in Germany, Early A4 1.8T's, and 2.8's have had many many problems (1 of our 3 A4's has been a lemon) my sister has been given 2 k from me and my mom to buy a NEW car...
My point basically is that Audi does not have the brand loyalty of a Lexus, or even Mercedes's But, I refuse to buy a Lexus, and BMW's are not snow-worthy. So I love my Audi A4!
I have a 2002 A4 3.0 Quattro. I have had many of the same problems described above -- failed coil (replaced), blown fuses on windshield spray pump and now the radio won't turn on. Audi has stood behind the product so far, but all these other potential issues -- such as the engine cylinder issue -- are scary. The car drives great, the sound system is excellent. Would hate to get rid of it, but now I'm thinking about it.
I owned a 2002 A4 3.0 Quattro Tiptronic for a little over two years from new purchase. I had one service call in the first 18 months I owned the car, the horn quit working and had to be replaced. Warranty covered this. At a year and a half, though, more significant problems occurred regularly. The ECU
black box failed and had to be replaced. This presented one morning with a non-starting car which had to be towed. A week of downtime with a rental.
Warranty covered this. Then a recall for the coils, covered, and a report that the fuel gage system, which had been giving me fluctuating readings was OK. It wasn't. Another towing revealed an empty tank when the gage read half full. Four more visits for this problem which never resulted in fixing the readings, and which required continuous monitoring of the travel range between fills, an accommodation I had never had to make with any other car I ever owned. Spurious warning lights for burned-out lamps that were fine. Xenon headlight aiming system warnings that revealed no problems on investigation.
When the car ran well, it was very nice: solid, comfortable, safe-feeling, excellent wet and cold-weather handling (although the sport suspension I would not get again). The interior was beautiful, no faults there. But the electricals were a continuous problem that I thought would become expensive
once the warranty expired. I traded the car at 27 months, something I have never done with any other car I ever owned.
I recommend this car with the following reservations: better to lease one of these rather than buy and keep the term short, less than three years, two preferably. I would never buy one of these used, no matter the history.
My Audi 2002 Audi A4 3.0 Quattro has been a nightmare of electrical problems.
I have had windshield motors replaces twice (they died on the highway during a rainstorm and a snowstorm, leaving me will little visibility).
My Audi dealer never solved the problem of the radio cutting out, even though they said they changed the wiring in the door.
I had to have the car towed to the dealership. The car would not start. We tried for several hours (even recharging the battery). The tow truck driver could not get the engine to turn over, either. When we pushed the car to the street, he (the tow truck driver) tried again and the car turned over. We still towed it, as I had no faith that it would make it to the dealership. The dealer said the battery must have been low, as they found no problems.
The brake lights would come on when no one was in the car - After the third incident, they replaced a sensor. I only drove the car for a few months before the entire electrical system caved (at 59,000 miles) so have no idea whether replacing the sensor was the cause of just an attempt to mollify me.
The air conditioning causes outside condensation on the windows - you have to use the wipers on a sunny day. I was told by the dealership this is normal, However my 2000 Audio A4 did not have this problem.
The car would die out periodically on the expressway - slow down like it was out of gas, and then drive normally if I shifted gears several times. I was basically told they couldn't get it to reproduce this effect and the testing did not show anything wrong.
My latest event started with the alarm sounding at 5:00 am. I could not turn the alarm off and ended up driving the car around the block to see if anything would work. Eventually the alarm stopped. An hour later, a neighbor called to say my lights were on - it was those infamous brake lights again. Once again I drove the car around the block and succeeded in getting the brake lights off. When I turned off the engine, the head lights came on. There was not way to turn them off, as the switch was never turned on. Shortly after that, the horn (not the alarm) started sounding without anyone in the car. When I opened the driver side door, the horn stopped. The car was still doing these things when I drove into the dealership. I have been told this problem had no relationship to the porblems I experienced while under warranty. They claim a seal broke and the rain came in and destroyed the system and an additional component. I was told by an Audi mechanic (not affiliated with the dealership) that the only way this could happen was for someone to pull the cover off the fuse box and put it back correctly. When I mentioned this fact to the Audi Dealership, and told him that the wiper assembly had been replaced & how difficult it is to remove it from underneath the cowl (metal body panel between hood & windshield). He agreed & immediately said that it must have been something that the Beechmont dealership did. I then showed him that his dealership had also replaced the wiper assembly. He then claimed that would have nothing to do with my problem.
When I contacted Audi, they said they had never heard of any problems such as these. They researched and called me back in three days, saying that the dealership said the current problem had no relation to those that happened while the car was under warranty. I asked if I could get an independent evaluation. Audi said they would only listen to their authorized Audi representatives. Audi said they would give me a 25% discount on the repairs as a gesture of good faith since I was a prior Audi customer. Big Deal!
If I hadn't had a prior Audi which I loved, I would think all Audi's were worthless. I am exploring my rights under the "lemon law" and still fighting with the dealership.