1996 Audi A4

1996 Audi A4 4-DR.

Overall

Not Rated

Front Crash

Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Campaign: 06E060000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Campaign: 06E049000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AS A RESULT OF A PROBLEM IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ANCHOR POINT OF THE SPRING MAY CRACK. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Campaign: 06V403000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING CAN FRACTURE AT THE RETURN SPRING ANCHOR POINT. FRACTURE OF THE HOUSING COULD CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Campaign: 00V317000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE HORN CAN WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL GROUND CONTACT.

Campaign: 96V088000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Campaign: 97V175000

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON PENNSYLVANIA RT. 401 I DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, WHERE A DRAIN IS BURIED UNDER THE ROAD, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER A ARM SNAPPED IN HALF AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND THE CAR TO GRIND TO A HALT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE 1996 AUDI A4 AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000, WHICH IS NOT ABLE TO RETURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION CAUSING ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I SEE THE FOLLOWING RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE. BUT WHEN I CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834, THEY SAYS MY 1996 AUDI A4 IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THIS RECALL. VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): AUDI / A4 1996-1997 MANUFACTURER: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC MFR'S REPORT DATE: OCT 20, 2006 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000 N/A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 28594. *TR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE STARTED THE IGNITION. THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RETURN TO THE ENGINE RUNNING POSITION. IMMEDIATELY, THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED MANUALLY TO THE "ON" POSITION TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL, BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS KEYS WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 200,000. UPDATED 12-08-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08. *JB

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LET ME START BY SAYING I ORIGINALLY DIRECTED THIS COMPLAINT TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, WHO SENT ME A LETTER, DIRECTING ME TO SEND THIS COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT IN THE 1996 AUDI A4, AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL # 06V403000. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED , AND I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE PUSHED A FEW BLOCKS DOWN TO THE CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AND I SENT IN MY REIMBURSEMENT FORM ,INCLUDING PROPER DOCUMENTATION THAT THE RECALL NOTICE HAD ASKED FOR. THIS RECALL NOTICE WAS OF COURSE SENT TO ME BY AUDI OF AMERICA. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM AUDI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSING ME. WHEN I ASKED WHY, THEY SAID THAT THE WORK HAD TO BE COMPLETED WITH IN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME. I TOLD THEM THE RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ME MENTIONED NO SUCH TIME FRAME. THEN, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WORK COULD ONLY BE DONE AT AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. I THEN REPLIED THAT A REIMBURSEMENT FORM WAS SENT TO ME WITH THE RECALL NOTICE IN CASE THE WORK DONE ANYWHERE ELSE. WHEN I TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN AND DIDN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF TAKING THE CAR TO THE NEAREST AUDI DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD TAKE ALL THE ORIGINAL PAPERWORK FOR THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE, AND THE DEFECTIVE PART TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WOULD EXAMINE IT, BUT THEY WERE NOT PROMISING ANYTHING. THIS OF COURSE WAS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS LONG GONE, AND THE REIMBURSEMENT FORM MENTIONED NOTHING OF KEEPING IT FOR ANY PURPOSE. THE REASON I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT WAS BECAUSE I FELT I WAS BEING CHEATED OF MY REIMBURSEMENT MONEY, WHEN I HAVE CLEARLY PRODUCED ALL PAPER WORK, INCLUDING RECEIPTS, THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT FORM HAD ASKED FOR. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $398.44 FROM AUDI OF AMERICA. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1996 AUDI A4 CUSTOMER HAD REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH THAN A WEEK LATER HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. CUSTOMER SUBMITTED THE PAPER TO AUDI AND WAS GIVEN HALF PAYMENT CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE FULL REIMBURSEMENT**CC *JB

SEATS

1996 AUDI A4 QUATTRO WITH LEATHERETTE PASSENGER SEAT - HEATED SEAT WAS SET AT LEVEL 6 AND WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SITTING ON THE SEAT A HOLE THE SIZE OF TWO QUARTERS WAS BURNT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO THE HEATED SEAT STARTING A SMALL FIRE.. *NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES STARTER COMPLETELY FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPLACED THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WITH NO PROBLEMS. THAT SAME DAY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE STARTER FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE NEARBY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE, AND WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE BURNT STARTER. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE, AND NOTICED AN NHTSA RECALL #00V317000 REGARDING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH. ON 10/13/06, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE PERIOD TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED HAD EXPIRED.

AIR BAGS

THIS IS NOT RELATED TO A MANUFACTURER COMPLAINT, BUT I AM HOPING TO GET SOME INFO ON WHO TO CONTACT FOR AN ISSUE IN A PRIVATE PARTY USED VEHICLE PURCHASE. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A CAR WITH A CLEAN CARFAX REPORT AND THE SELLER SAID IT HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISIONS. UPON TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC FOR A PART FAILURE (WITHIN 24 HRS OF PURCHASE) I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN IN A MAJOR COLLISION WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIRBAG COVERS HAD BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER THE SRS LIGHT WAS EITHER REMOVED OR THE WIRES CUT SO IT WOULDN'T BE ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT REPLACED. I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE AGAINST THE SELLER WHEN THEY DO NOT DISCLOSE THE FACT THAT THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS NOT PRESENT. CALLS TO THE SELLER HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. *JB

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWN A 1996 AUDI A4. THE HORN HAS INTERMITTENTLY WORKED SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE - SINCE 1999. I'VE TRIED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO HAVE VARIOUS DEALERS FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HORN ASSEMBLY (CAMPAIGN: 96V088000) BUT I'M NOW FINALLY TOLD THAT MY VIN DOES NOT FALL INTO THE APPROPRIATE RANGE. HOWEVER, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE 1996 AUDI A4 PROBLEM MATCHES MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER YEARS AGO THAT TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE LEATHER STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1,000. MY VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL NOTICE. PLEASE ADVISE. *JB