NHTSA Complaint #10096176 — 1999 AUDI A4

(1) IN MAY 2002 I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED AUDI A4 FROM THE LEITH AUDI IN CARY, NC. MY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 8TH 2004 FOR A COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION PRICED AT $450. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A FEW REPAIRS AND I DID THEM ALL AT A COST OF ANOTHER ~$1200. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE AUDI REP IF I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY TIMING BELT. THE VERBAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT, SINCE THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS A TIMING BELT CHANGE AT 90,000 MILES, MINE HAS ONLY 65,000. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A WRITTEN SUMMARY OF THE INSPECTION RESULTS AND THE UPCOMING RECOMMENDED REPAIRS. (2) A WEEK AFTER THIS COSTLY COMPREHENSIVE INSPECTION MY CAR BREAKS DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO TIMING BELT FAILURE. THE DEALER QUOTES A REPAIR COST OF $4000 AND CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED A TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. (3) THE DEALER REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR THE CAR AT THEIR EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DAMAGE IS A RESULT OF THEIR FAILURE TO INSPECT THE TIMING BELT AND RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT ONLY A WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.