NHTSA Complaint #10246045 — 2003 AUDI A4

THE ADHESIVE WHICH HOLDS IN THE REAR WINDOW ON MY 2003 AUDI A4 3.0 CONVERTIBLE CAME UNGLUED, RESULTING IN THE WINDOW GRADUALLY FALLING AWAY FROM THE ROOF. I HAD TO DUCT TAPE IT IN AS I DIDN'T WANT IT POPPING OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, AND TO PREVENT RAIN / MOISTURE FROM GETTING IN. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD SHOULD IT DISLODGE WHILE OPERATING. FYI, THE CAR HAD BEEN BABIED SINCE DAY ONE; GARAGE KEPT AND HAND WASHED. AUDI OF AMERICA DID FINALLY AGREE TO PAY FOR A NEW TOP (ABOUT 6K RETAIL) BUT COULD NOT TELL ME IF THE NEW TOP HAD DIFFERENT ADHESIVE (I DON'T WANT A REPEAT OF THIS CIRCUMSTANCE A FEWS YRS DOWN THE LINE). I RESEARCHED THIS, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS W/ THIS PROBLEM. MOST CARS WERE 03'S AT ABOUT 40-50K MILES. IN MY OPINION, AUDI NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS A DEFECT W/ THE ADHESIVE AND OFFER REPLACEMENT AT N/C. IF YOU HAVE AN A4 OR S4 CONVERTIBLE, MONITOR WHERE THE GLASS FITS IN THE TOP. LISTEN FOR A "FLAPPING" NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE MAIN MECHANIC SAID IN ADDITION THE ADHESIVE COMING UNDONE, THERE ALSO APPEARED TO BE SHRINKAGE OF THE TOP. I DO NOT KNOW, FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, IF THE SHRINKAGE WAS THE MAIN PROBLEM (I.E, THE "PULLING AWAY" FROM THE TOP) OR IF IT WAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH PROBLEMS THAT CULMINATED IN THE END RESULT. REGARDLESS, AUDI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM W/ THE WINDOW FLYING OUT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR