NHTSA Complaint #10183255 — 2000 AUDI A6

DURING A COLD SNAP, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED IN THE MORNING. THE AIR BAG CONTROLLER WAS QUERIED FOR A FAULT CODE, AND THE CODE 65535, INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE MEMORY ERROR, WAS RETURNED. THE FACTORY MANUAL WAS CONSULTED AND THE REMEDY OFFERED WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CONTROLLER, WITH THE INSTRUCTION THAT THE CONTROLLER COULD NOT BE RESET USING THE SCAN TOOL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR THE PART, APPROXIMATELY $900, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED. TOTAL COST (FROM A POSTING ON AUDI WORLD WEB SITE) FOR REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $1500. OF CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT ON THE AUDI WORLD WEB SITE, VERY HEAVILY TILTED TOWARD DIY OWNERS, I SEARCHED FOR THE 65535 FAULT CODE AND IT RETURNED 229 CASES WHERE THEY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THE CODE, I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY MORE MENTIONED THE PROBLEM WITHOUT MENTIONING THE CODE. I DID NOT LOOK AT ALL OF THEM, BUT, MANY DESCRIBED THE SAME COLD WEATHER COINCIDENCE WITH THE PROBLEM. IF THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY CONTROLLER WHERE COLD INDUCES THE FAULT, EVERY VW PRODUCT, THAT SPENDS ANY TIME IN THE COLD, WITH THAT CONTROL, OR A VARIANT WITH THE SAME FLAW, R IS AT RISK. SEE MY EMAIL FOR THE REST OF THIS. YOUR SYSTEM WOULD NOT LET ME SEND IT AND WHEN I CALLED THEY COULD ONLY OFFER THAT I SEND AN EMAIL. *NM