NHTSA Complaint #10978643 — 2006 AUDI A4

AUDI USA HAS A KNOW MECHANICAL DEFAULT WITH CAM SHAFT AND CAM FOLLOWERS. AS PER MY MECHANIC ANY DAMAGE TO THE CAM SHAFT COULD BE DANGEROUS. ACKNOWLEDGING THIS DEFECT 6 YEARS AFTER PRODUCTION AUDI EXTENDED THE WARRANTIES FOR THIS PARTS TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES SO THAT THEY ARE REPLACED AT FIRST INDICATIONS OF TROUBLE RATHER THEN ACTUAL MECHANICAL BREAKAGE WHICH COULD BE HARMFUL. AUDI ONLY NOTIFIED ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE ON RECORD. SINCE I HAD BOUGHT THE ARE USED I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY AUDI OR MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP OF THE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THESE PARTS AND EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON THEM. WITHOUT KNOWING ABOUT THE WARRANTY I HAD SERVICE DONE ON THE CAM FOLLOWER TWICE COSTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. NOW THE PROBLEM IS THE CAM SHAFT WHICH IS GOING TO COST ABOUT $4500 TO REPAIR. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAS ONLY 91000 MILES (LESS THAN THE 120000 MILES REQUIRED BY AUDI) IT IS OVER THE 10 YEAR PERIOD. I AM SOMEWHAT DISMAYED THAT THIS WAS NOT ESCALATED TO BE A SAFETY RECALL BY AUDI SO THAT ALL OWNERS COULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE PART REPLACED IN A TIMELY FASHION. I AM IN A QUANDARY - PAY $4500 IN REPAIRS WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD OR RISK DRIVING WITH A PART THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I THINK AUDI HAS BEEN DISINGENUOUS 1. INSTEAD OF ISSUING A RECALL THEY DISGUISE IT AS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. 2. THEY ISSUE THE WARRANTY IN STEALTH MODE 6 YEARS AFTER MANUFACTURER - NO PUBLIC RELEASE OR WIDESPREAD COMMUNICATION 3. THEY FAIL TO NOTIFY OWNERS LIKE MYSELF ABOUT 6 PENDING KNOW ISSUES SOME OF WHICH ARE CRITICAL. 4. WHEN THE CUSTOMER CONTACT THEM THEY ARE FAILING TO HONOR THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR RELEASING AN UNSAFE AUTOMOTIVE PART AND THEN WHEN A CLEAR MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS ESTABLISHED NOT ISSUING A RECALL AND FAILING TO HONOR WARRANTY CLAIMS ON TECHNICALITY.