NHTSA Complaint #10369955 — 2010 AUDI S4

ON DEC 8, MY AUDI S4, MODEL YEAR 2010, BUILT END 2009, 11,000 MILES, STRANDED WITH A LEAKING COOLANT SYSTEM "OUT OF THE BLUE", DURING MODERATE HIGHWAY DRIVING. WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND CHECK COOLANT. NOT NECESSARILY SAFE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A 8 LANE HIGHWAY. AUDI SERVICE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED A DEFECT WATER PUMP WITH AN "UPDATED MODEL" (METAL BODY, REPLACING THE "PLASTIC BODY MODEL"), AND REFERS TO THIS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN TO AUDI FOR THE LATE-2009 BUILT 2010 S4S, BUT ALSO FOR Q5 AND A6 MODELS. YET AUDI DOES NOT INFORM THE OWNERS, WHILE THEY RECEIVE PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS ON A REGULAR BASIS. AUDI SERVICE WAS WELL PREPARED AND REPORTS THAT THEY CAN HARDLY MEET DEMAND OF NEW WATER PUMPS WITH INCOMING CASES. THE WATER PUMP FAILURE SEEMS TO BE PROMOTED BY COLD WEATHER (<-5C). ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE FROM THE TOWING COMPANY CONFIRMS THAT 2010 AUDI'S ARE PRONE TO BEING TOWED THIS EARLY 2010/2011 WINTER. CONSIDERING THE POTENTIAL SAFETY AND ENGINE DAMAGE IMPACT OF A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE COOLING, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE TO NOT INFORM OWNERS SO THEY CAN WATCH THEIR COOLANT LEVEL AND SEEK REPLACEMENT OF THE WATER PUMP. *TR