NHTSA Complaint #10159130 — 2001 AUDI A6

SUBSTANTIAL AND PROLONGED RAIN FLOODED THE COWLING (HOLDING RESERVOIR OF 4 GALLONS )LOCATED BELOW THE WINDSHIELD OF MY AUDI A6 2001 WAGON. THE DRAIN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COWLING HAD BECOME CLOGGED FROM BITS OF LEAVES, ETC OVER THE YEARS. THE COWLING HAS NO OVERFLOW DRAIN AND WHEN THE DRAIN HOLE IS CLOGGED THE WATER FLOODS INTO THE AIR VENT AND PROCEEDS INTO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FLOOR WAS FLOODED WITH 2 TO 3 INCHES OF WATER WHICH PROCEED TO DAMAGE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL BOX FOR THE ENTIRE CAR AND THE ELECTRONIC "HARNESS" WHICH CONNECTS THE CONTROL BOX TO ALL OF THE DEVICES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THERE WERE MORE THAN 12 CARS IN THIS ONE DEALERSHIP SUFFERING FROM THIS WATER DAMAGE ISSUE. AUDI HAS KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS, BUT HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE A RECALL AND INSTALL AN OVERFLOW HOLE HIGHER UP ON THE COWLING TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF. REPAIR BILL WAS $3,500. INSTALLATION OF AN OVERFLOW HOLE WOULD BE AN EASY SOLUTION. FLOODING SHUTS DOWN ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND DISABLES CAR. *NM