NHTSA Complaint #10544822 — 2008 AUDI A6

THE WIRING HARNESS OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT - THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WITHIN THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT HOUSING GOING DIRECTLY TO THE BULBS ARE LOSING THEIR PROTECTIVE WIRE INSULATION. THE INSULATION HAS BECOME EXCESSIVELY BRITTLE AND IS CRACKING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WIRE LENGTH AND IN SOME AREAS WIRE INSULATION HAS FALLEN OFF THE WIRE EXPOSING BARE WIRES. THIS CAN ONLY BE FOUND WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE THE LIGHT BULB SINCE TO ACCESS THE DEFECT AREA, THE LIGHT BULB HOUSING PROTECTIVE COVER HIDING THE DEFECT MUST BE REMOVED. THE EXPOSED BARE WIRES CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN MY CAR, I HAVE FOUND THAT WHILE CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB AND MANEUVERING THE HARNESS TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BULB, THIS HAS EXCESSIVELY CAUSED THE BRITTLE WIRE INSULATION TO FALL OFF EXPOSING ALL THE HEAD LIGHT WIRES, IN SOME INSTANCES SEVERAL INCHES LONG, LEAVING THEM WITHOUT THE PROTECTIVE SHEATHING. AUDI HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS DUE TO THE HIGH CURRENT THAT GOES THROUGH AND THE WIRES CANNOT HANDLE THE LOAD (AUDI SERVICE MANAGER AT BRAMAN AUDI IN WEST PALM BEACH, FL TOLD ME THIS) BUT AUDI WILL NOT ADDRESS THE FACTORY DEFECT.