NHTSA Complaint #10560465 — 2008 AUDI TT

MY 2008 AUDI TT WOULD CONSTANTLY BEEP WITH "RIGHT REAR LIGHT" OR "LEFT REAR LIGHT" WITH AN X THROUGH A LIGHT BULB SYMBOL POPPING UP ON THE SCREEN IN BETWEEN THE TACHOMETER AND THE SPEEDOMETER. IF I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE X THROUGH A LIGHT BULB SYMBOL WOULD GO AWAY. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE LIGHT THAT IS FARTHEST OUTBOARD IN THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING (ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES) WAS THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH CORROSION WITHIN THE CONNECTORS THAT GO DIRECTLY TO THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING. IT APPEARS THAT THE GROUND WIRE IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE OTHER WIRES, BUT THE SIZE OF THE CONNECTOR IS THE SAME. THE WIRE HAS TOO MUCH CURRENT FOR THE CONNECTOR TO HANDLE. IT MELTS THE PLASTIC AROUND IT AND BECOMES CORRODED AS A RESULT. IF YOU GOOGLE "AUDI TT TAIL LIGHT PROBLEMS" YOU WILL SEE THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE THIS ISSUES, WITH SOME EVEN REPORTING FIRES IN THEIR TAIL LIGHTS. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AS WELL AS AUDI CORPORATE. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE WIRES, AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $90 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, AND UP TO $900 TO REPLACE THE TAIL LIGHTS. THIS IS ABSURD, SINCE IT IS A POORLY ENGINEERED DESIGN THAT RESULTS IN A VERY SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. *TR