NHTSA Complaint #10494775 — 2013 AUDI A4 ALLROAD

AFTER 3500 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A "NOTCHY" SENSATION IN THE STEERING FEEL THAT VARIED IN INTENSITY AND WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS NOTCHY SENSATION WOULD OCCUR ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH, AS IF SWITCHED ON. WHEN SYMPTOMS WOULD OCCUR THERE WOULD BE A HEAVY, NOTCHY FEELING ON EITHER SIDE OF STRAIGHT STEER THAT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF FORCE TO OVERCOME AND THEN ONCE FEELING LIKE THE WHEEL IS OVER THE NOTCH, IT WOULD OVER CORRECT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A LANE. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE PLACED IN THOSE NOTCH POSITIONS, AS IF TRYING TO DRIVE USING A CLICK WHEEL. THE NOTCHINESS IS ALSO FELT THROUGHOUT ALL WHEEL TRAVEL, NOT JUST ON CENTER, STRAIGHT WHEEL. THIS MAKES STAYING ON A GIVEN PATH DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE. AT RANDOM TIMES STEERING FELT SO HEAVY THAT IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING IN MANEUVERS. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STEERING RACK BUT THE VERY NEXT DAY THE NOTCHY STEERING SYMPTOMS REAPPEARED RANDOMLY. THERE IS NO SET OF CONDITIONS TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON OR TURNING THE WHEEL LOCK TO LOCK ALLEVIATES THE SYMPTOMS. THE SYMPTOMS HAVE SLOWLY INCREASED IN FREQUENCY SINCE THE REPLACEMENT AND OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES, ESPECIALLY DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR AUDI HAS INTRODUCED ELECTROMECHANICAL STEERING INTO THEIR CARS IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A NEW DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS GOTTEN THROUGH TESTING OR A NEW PRODUCTION DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED QUICKLY. MANY OTHER 2013 AUDI (VARYING MODELS) OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR