NHTSA Complaint #10233193 — 2002 AUDI ALLROAD

I HAD STOPPED AT A LIGHT PREPARED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. WHEN I ACCELERATED TO TURN I HEARD AND FELT A LARGE CLUNK IN THE REAR END OF MY CAR; I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED BUT NO OTHER CAR WAS THERE. I THEN COULD FEEL AND HEAR SOMETHING DRAGGING SO I PULLED OVER. I COULD SEE THE REAR AXLE HANGING DOWN ON THE GROUND AND THE WHEEL WELL ON THE DRIVER REAR BUCKLED INWARD. IT TURNED OUT THAT ONE OF THE BOLTS THAT HELD MY REAR AXLE IN PLACE WAS MISSING AND THE OTHER ONE SHEARED OFF DUE TO STRESS. MY CAR LITERALLY DROPPED ITS REAR AXLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD WORK DONE THAT WOULD HAVE ENTAILED REMOVING THIS BOLT SO THE ONLY ASSUMPTION IS THAT IT WAS EITHER LOOSE OR MISSING WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP NOT PASSING A CAR ON THE INTERSTATE! *TR