This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My Audi, along with thousands of others have had their ABS control unit malfunction because of design. This malfunction causes the ABS to not work on the affected vehicle. Volkswagen, the company that produces Audi and vws actually recalled this exact part on their VW vehicles, but for some reason refuses to correct the problem for their Audi customers. The cost to replace this control unit is $1,400 - $1,700, and as such I have been driving my vehicle without its ABS functioning. Below is a description of the recall for this exact part, but on the VW jetta: "2002 Volkswagen jetta gls NHTSA recall id number: 02V031000 recall date: Jan 31, 2002 component: Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock potential units affected: 55000 summary: On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Consequence: This can result in a fire. Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS control unit. Owner notification began March 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Notes: Volkswagen of America, Inc, " please look into this issue and help VW to make the right choice for the safety of their customers and others on the road. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter!
I own a 1999 Audi A4 2.8 30V quattro and my ABS and brake lights are on and the Audi dealer told me that my ABS control module needs to be replaced. By reading forums online and consumer sites, I have found out that this is a very common problem to Audi's and VW's. my question is: Shouldn't Audi of America fix this problem for free?
ABS brake light on 1999) Audi A4 1.8T. Upon researching on many forums (I.e. audiworld.com) I have noticed several other Audi owners have experienced the same problem. Apparently, this is attributed to a faulty ABS brake computer?
I own a 1999 Audi A4 with approximately 74,000 miles. Recently upon start-up the ABS indicator light comes on and the brake indicator light flashes. I have taken the car in for service and have been informed that I no longer have anti-lock brakes and that to remedy the situation will cost in excess of $1500. This is completely unacceptable and appears to be due to a Audi manufacturing defect (anecdotally, I have heard of hundreds of similar issues with the ABS). While the car is operable using standard brakes I believe it is a significant danger should the ABS be required. Please look into this issue.
- Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
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My ABS and brake light came on intermittently a month ago and gradually got more frequent. Now they are on almost all the time. When I took it into the shop right after the first incident I was told the instrument cluster would need to be changed which would cost me a bundle (possibly over $2000). My vehicle actually has relatively low miles on it and has been maintained really well so I am very upset that Audi will not fix or pay for this.
1999 Audi A4 ABS control module symptoms. ABS light on continuously. Brake light flashing. Upon the first inspection the Audi dealership was unable to ascertain the problem. The failure was later diagnosed correctly by the dealership. Testing the ABS system after the diagnosis, I found that the ABS system did not engage. I learn of many cases of this exact failure in Audi"?S and VW??S with the Bosch 5.3 ABS control module: One prominent site being tech.bentleypublishers.com. the dealership may have misdiagnosed the problem because the control module may be unable to communicate with the car?"S computer upon failure. Also, it seems that the problem is intermittent for some period before complete failure. The warning lights may disappear prior to complete failure. It seems the failure is occurring at some point beyond 60,000 miles. This would account for the relatively low occurrence, but would portent to the possibility of a much great number of occurrences with time. An unwary driver may not be cognizant of the failure and therefore not exercise the caution necessary to avert a collision. One future issue exacerbates that concern: The ABS light and the brake light warning signals disappear under 32 degrees Fahrenheit or thereabout. So, as we near winter and the possibility of inclement weather, the chances of a tragedy increase substantially. I have contacted Audi with my findings. Audi stated they have not seen evidence of mass failures. They stated that they will not act on the information that I have obtained. There are copious postings on the internet identifying individuals who have contacted Audi. Surprisingly, some of these individuals profess that Audi paid for the repair in cases of out-of-warranty, high-mileage vehicles. I believe that an audit of the number of the Bosch 5.3 ABS control modules being order as replacement parts will illuminate the gravity of this problem.
The ABS module is causing the panel brake light to blink and the ABS light to be on steady. My complaint is that the charge to repair this is estimated at $750 including $250 labor from our local Audi dealer. There is no good reason for this fault to occur, and the repair is quite expensive. I am waiting for Audi to order a new board, so I am driving with bad ABS brakes, and it is almost December.
The ABS system of my 1999 Audi A4 intermittently fails. I intend to have it repaired as this is a safety issue. Repair shop, lusti motors in san diego, indicated that they've repaired other Audi's with the same issue recently. The cost of repairs is approximately $2,000.
The consumer stated that the 1998 Audi a 4 was having a problem with the ABS control unit. The diagnosis was that there was a communication error between the ABS unit and the instrument cluster. The consumer has not had the problem corrected. The parts needed to fix the problem was on back order. The consumer has not ordered any parts to fix the vehicle at this time. The vehicle had a warning light on the instrument panel. It was the warning light and the ABS light. The consumer took the vehicle to a repair shop to have it checked. The manufacturer has been contacted and the consumer filed a complaint with Volkswagen.
Failure of ABS brake controller-began as brake warning light and ABS light flashing-now lights are on all the time-have been advised that this is common failure on Audi and Volkswagen-repair requires replacement of ABS brake controller-part is $2000.
The ABS and brake light came on at about 86000 miles eventhough the unit has been very seldom have been actuated. It cost me $2000 for an item that has been rarely used or actuated in my car.
The ABS system in my vehicle failed out of the blue without any trigger for it. The ABS warning light is blinking in the instrument panel. As a result, the ABS system is not functioning. I contacted the dealer and the quote to fix the part was about $1500.
Nar 1/15/2003. The vehicle often failed to stop during wet conditions. When the consumer applied the brakes, there was a delay before the brakes engaged, which has happened twice. It always seems to be a problem with the left rear brake.
The consumer states that the vehicles left rear brakes failed. Also states that the vehicle often failed to stop during wet conditions, the consumer will press the brakes and there is a delay before they would engage. This happened twice, and almost ran into an intersection, the left rear brakes squeak constantly upon application. The vehicle was taken to the dealer once to fix and it still squeaks. Scc
There has always been a problem with the braking performance of this vehicle during wet conditions. This is only during highway or country driving where the brakes are not frequently applied. When brake pedal pressure is applied during these conditions, there is approximately a 1 to 2 second delay before the brakes start to retard speed. It feels or seems like there is a film of water between the discs and pads and this hesitation is occurring while squeezing or drying out this film of water.
Whenever roads are wet and brake rotors fail vehicle is very difficult to stop. Brakes fail to respond, causing extended stopping distance. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer unable to determine cause of problem. Dealer replaced brakes, consumer states problem has somewhat improved.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Crystal, MN, USA