Other Engine Info: 50-St/Can. TLEV emission std.
Emissions Certification Test Group: 1ADXV02.7333
Other Restraint System Info: Active Seat Belt.
Plant City: Neckarsulm
Plant Country: Germany
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: quattro
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH TIE ROD ENDS AND ALL UPPER CONTROL ARMS IN FRONT SUSPENSION, RESULTING IN LOOSE STEERING, DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING LANE POSITION, AND VIBRATION IN STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING. ALL TIE ROD ENDS AND FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER CONTROL ARMS (4) REQUIRED REPLACEMENT; IF LEFT NOT REPLACED, POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF STEERING AND/OR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE IF ANY ONE OF THE 6 AFFECTED BALL JOINTS FAIL. FURTHER FAILURE OF FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING AS A RESULT OF SUSPENSION PLAY, AND EXCESSIVE ASYMMETRICAL WEAR ON FRONT TIRES. AUDI RECALLED ALL 1999 MODELS FOR THE IDENTICAL TIE ROD END RUBBER SEAL FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN 99V248000), AND ESSENTIALLY THE SAME SEAL DESIGN IS USED ON THE CONTROL ARMS. AUDI ONLY CHANGED THE TIE ROD DESIGN IN 2003 RS6, MEANING POTENTIALLY ALL 2000-2004 A6 (AND OTHER MODELS POTENTIALLY) ARE AFFECTED. IN ADDITION AUDI INCREASED WHEEL SIZE AND WEIGHT SUBSTANTIALLY ON NEWLY INTRODUCED V8 A6 IN 2000, BUT DID NOT UPRATE THE SUSPENSION; THE 2003 RS6 CHANGE (ALSO A V8) IS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF AN EXCESS LOADING PROBLEM. OLD PARTS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE.*AK
2001
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON COUPLE OF MONTHS AND I CHECKED WITH LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER SAYS THE SIDE DRIVER'S AIRBAG HAS A PROBLEM AND IT WON'T DEPLOY WHEN I HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I DIDN'T FIX IT AT THAT TIME. AFTER 6 OR 8 MONTHS, I WAS DRIVING AND STOPPED ON SIGNAL. ALL OF SUDDEN, THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT. I GOT INJURED FROM THE AIR BAG ON MY LEFT ARM. AFTER THAT, I COULD SEE SOME SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE CABIN AND SMELLS SOMETHING IS BURNING. RIGHT NOW, THE CAR IS IN AUDI DEALER TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR