NHTSA Complaint #10234847 — 2003 AUDI A4

ENGINE BOX FLOODS AFTER DRIVING THROUGH LONG DISTANCES IN HEAVY RAIN. RESULTS IN CAR THAT WILL NOT RUN AT ALL (NEEDED TO BE TOWED) DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE ENGINE BOX FLOODS FROM INSUFFICIENT DRAINAGE FROM THE COWL WHICH THEN SHORTS OUT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (BASICALLY THE CAR'S COMPUTER CENTER) THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED (BOTH AFTER DRIVING THROUGH DIFFICULT RAIN STORMS) THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN OCTOBER OF 2005, AND IT TOOK NEARLY 6 WEEKS TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR. REPAIR WAS DONE BY AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALER THAT ORIGINALLY SOLD ME THE CAR. THE FINAL BILL WAS NEARLY $5000. THEY INSISTED IT WAS A FLUKE AND HAD ME MAKE AN INSURANCE CLAIM TO COVER THE REPAIRS AS FLOOD DAMAGE. I MADE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO AUDI AT THAT TIME SINCE IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. (SOMEONE THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED TO ME THAT THEY HAD WITNESSED THIS BEFORE, EACH TIME TELLING THE CUSTOMER TO GO THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE TO COVER THE COST). HERE I AM LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND. I DROVE THROUGH AN INTENSE RAINSTORM AND I HAVE A FLOODED ENGINE BOX. THE BILL IS ONCE AGAIN GOING TO EXCEED $4000, NOT TO MENTION THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT I WILL NEED TO RENT A CAR (AGAIN) TO CONDUCT MY BUSINESS. I SELL REAL ESTATE AND DEPEND ON MY VEHICLE. ONCE AGAIN I PHONED AUDI CUSTOMER CARE AND LODGED ANOTHER FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DESIGN FLAW. I AM CURRENTLY SEEKING LEGAL COUNCIL IN ORDER TO RECOUP THESE COSTS. I HAVE BOTH COMPLAINTS WHICH ARE EXACTLY THE SAME FILED WITH AUDI. I DO NOT HAVE THE FIRST SET OF PARTS, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY KEEP THE ONES THAT HAVE RECENTLY FAILED. AT THIS POINT I DO NOT HAVE A CAR, I AM WAITING TO SEE IF MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL AGAIN PAY FOR THIS CLAIM. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AUDI NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE FLAW. *TR