NHTSA Complaint #10188943 — 2002 AUDI A6

MY ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON ROUTE 375 IN WOODSTOCK, NY. THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF ASSEMBLY BOLTS ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE EXHAUST CAM SHAFT VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SPROCKET LOOSENING AND FALLING OUT AGAINST THE CYLINDER HEAD, STALLING THE THE CAMSHAFT AND BREAKING THE TIMING BELT. INSPECTION OF BOLTS SHOW NEITHER A LOCK WASHER OR THREAD LOCK ADHESIVE WERE PRESENT TO PREVENT THE LOOSENING DUE TO HEATING AND COOLING OR VIBRATION. FURTHER SERVICE OF BOLTS CANNOT BE PERFORMED AS THERE ARE NO TIGHTENING SPECIFICATION FOR THESE BOLTS. AN EASY FIX FOR THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE WOULD BE TO REMOVE BOTH VALVE COVERS AND REPLACE THE BOLTS ON THE TIMING GEAR SPROCKETS WITH NEW BOLTS WITH ADHESIVE ON THE THREADS. THIS IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTS IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE BENDING OF VALVES AND TOTAL ENGINE DESTRUCTION. *TR