Other Engine Info: 50-St/Can., Emissions Certification Test Group: YADXV01.8332
Other Restraint System Info: Active Seat Belt., Head Airbag (Front - Dr/Pass)
Plant City: Ingolstadt
Plant Country: Germany
Seat Belts All: Manual
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2003
AIR BAGS
OUR BRAND NEW 2003 AUDI A4 WAS REAR-ENDED BY A FORD F-550 TRAVELING AT APPROX. 55 MPH. THE FORD F-550 DID NOT BRAKE BEFORE IMPACT AND HIT THE AUDI WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT IMPACTED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT WHICH HIT THAT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. ALL WERE STOPPED FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. MY WIFE, THE ONLY OCCUPANT AND DRIVER, HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE AUDI. SHE SUFFERED PERMANENT BRAIN INJURY AS A RESULT OF HITTING THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND WINDSHIELD. SHE ALSO SUFFERED NUMEROUS OTHER INJURIES. SHE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH SUCH FORCE AS TO BEND THE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL INWARD. MY COMPLAINT...THE DRIVER AIR-BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAG DID DEPLOY. HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR-BAG DEPLOYED, SHE MAY HAVE NOT SUFFERED BRAIN INJURY FROM THIS EVENT. I'VE CONTACTED AUDI SEVERAL TIMES FOR AN EXPLANATION WITH "BS" ANSWERS. I FINALLY TOLD THEM THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST GIVEN HER A NEW CAR. PERHAPS I'M A BIT NAIVE. IN ANY EVENT, I'M CERTAIN THAT THE AIR-BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED HAD IT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. *NM
2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK
BRAKING IS POOR IN WET CONDITIONS. TAKES 1 TO 2 SECONDS BEFORE BRAKES RESPOND. *AK