NHTSA Complaint #10902055 — 2004 AUDI A4

REAR WINDOW OF CONVERTIBLE SOFT TOP FOR 2004 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET. AN OLD ISSUE OFTEN SUFFERED BY AUDI CABRIOLETS FROM 2003-2009. CLAIMED TO BE CAUSED BY THE ADHESIVE THAT AUDI USES. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY KEEPING THE CAR OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF IN A GARAGE AS PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT CAUSES THE ADHESIVE TO GIVE AWAY AND FAIL, CAUSING THE REAR WINDOW TO SEPARATE FROM THE OUTER LAYER OF THE TOP AND DROP. WHILE THE WINDOW IS STILL TECHNICALLY ATTACHED TO THE INNER LAYER OF THE TOP, THE WINDOW NO LONGER PROTECTS AGAINST WATER. AS A RESULT RAIN CAN SEEP INTO THE NON WATER RESISTANT INNER LAYER OF THE TOP AND THEN CAUSE WATER DAMAGE TO THE REAR SEATS. THIS IS THE CASE WITH MY OWN CAR AND WITH A LARGE ENOUGH NUMBER OF CABRIOLETS THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SETTLED FRANKLY, A GOOD 10 YEARS AGO WHEN THE FIRST CASES WERE BEING NOTICED. I HAVE AS MANY OTHERS HAVE, ATTEMPTED TO USE A TEMPORARY FIX AND AS A RESULT, THERE IS A CLEAR INDUSTRIAL ADHESIVE AROUND THE TOP AND REAR WINDOW TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS, IT FAILS WITH CONTINUED USE.