NHTSA Complaint #11113153 — 2015 AUDI A3 CABRIOLET

WHILE THE RADIATOR WAS BEING REPLACED DUE TO CRACKS AND LEAKING AT 57,000 MILES, MY MECHANIC NOTICED THE WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS MELTING. THE TOP OF THE ASSEMBLY WAS MELTING AWAY AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER (MISSION VIEJO AUDI) WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ISSUE. I SHOWED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THE PHOTOS, AND HE INDICATED THEY COULD LOOK AT IT BUT IT WOULD COST ME A DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $160. IT IS EVIDENT THE WATER PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SO NOT SURE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DIAGNOSED. SINCE THERE WERE NO REPORTED ISSUES, HE SAID I WOULD ULTIMATELY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT. I LATER TALKED TO AUDI CORPORATE AND WAS BASICALLY TOLD THE SAME THING AND I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT FIXED. THEY DID INDICATE THERE MAY BE SOME 'MINIMAL GOOD WILL' FEE ADJUSTMENT BASED ON THE DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTED PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH THEM. SINCE THE DIAGNOSIS FEE AND COST OF REPLACEMENT FROM THE DEALER IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN MY MECHANIC CHARGES, I MAY HAVE TO HAVE HIM DO THE WORK AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. THE DEALER WAS NOT INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING ANY POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. I AM CONTACTING YOU TO SEE IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE RECEIVED AND TO DOCUMENT WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING IN CASE OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES ARISE IN THE FUTURE. PHOTOS ARE ATTACHED FOR REFERENCE AND ANY ASSISTANCE IS APPRECIATED. THANK YOU