NHTSA Complaint #10428250 — 2005 AUDI A4

THE TIMING CHAIN (NOT THE TIMING BELT, WHICH HAD BEEN CHANGED WELL BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED TIME) BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE IMMEDIATE RESULTING IN THE CAR COMING TO A RAPID AND ABRUPT STOP. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, IT OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED ON A VERY QUIET STREET. HAD IT OCCURRED ON A FREEWAY, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH LIKELY WOULD HAVE RESULTED SINCE THE CAR DECELERATED SO QUICKLY I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TIME TO COAST INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. APPARENTLY FAILURES OF THESE TIMING CHAINS OCCUR COMMONLY; AUDI APPARENTLY HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM FOR SOME CAM FOLLOWER WEAR PROBLEMS (THAT MAY OR MAY NOT INVOLVE A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE). BUT THEY DO NOT LIST THE CHAIN OR THE FOLLOWER AS MAINTENANCE OR INSPECTION ITEMS, AND GIVE OWNERS NO HINT THAT THEY SHOULD INSPECT THE FOLLOWER, OR REPLACE THE CHAIN PERIODICALLY. TIMING CHAIN FAILURES ON ZERO CLEARANCE ENGINES (VW HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND APPARENTLY THE SAME PROBLEM), WILL KILL FOLKS IF THEY OCCUR ON FREEWAYS OR OTHER ROADS WHERE AN INABILITY TO COAST TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT WILL LEAVE MOTORISTS AT INCREDIBLE RISK. *TR