NHTSA Complaint #10239923 — 2003 AUDI A4

ON 8/1/07 I PURCHASED A 2003 AUDI A4 WITH A 1.8T ENGINE FROM A LOCAL USED CAR DEALERSHIP. IN MAY, 2008, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, WE HAD A QUALIFIED MECHANIC CHECK THE VEHICLE THOROUGHLY AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. 2 DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INOPERABLE SINCE THAT TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI IN REGARD TO THIS SINCE IT IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSES SLUDGE IN THE OIL PAN TO RECIRCULATE THROUGH THE ENGINE, WHICH IS WHAT LED TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE OIL RETURN PORTS WERE NOT MADE LARGE ENOUGH TO RECIRCULATE THE OIL PROPERLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SINCE I PURCHASED IT AS A USED VEHICLE, "AS IS", THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY WILL DO TO ASSIST ME IN THIS SITUATION. I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHATSOEVER PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE AND REPLACING THE ENGINE WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $5000. THEY HAVE NEVER ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY OFF AN "EXTENDED WARRANTY", BUT TO QUALIFY THE VEHICLE OWNER MUST PROVE THAT ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMED BY AUDI CERTIFIED MECHANICS. AS A 2ND OWNER, I HAVE NO PRIOR RECORDS FROM 8/1/07 AND PREVIOUS. THE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" COVERS 200-2004 A4 MODELS WITH THE 1.8T ENGINES, SO OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER RECALLED THEM. DO I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE OTHER THAN TO FILE SUIT AGAINST THEM? *TR