NHTSA Complaint #11121256 — 2013 AUDI A6

I AM CURRENTLY THE OWNER OF A 2013 AUDI A6. I HAVE RUN INTO SOME SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES TRYING TO SELL MY CAR BECAUSE OF TWO RECALLS, RECALL 74D5 (PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM) AND RECALL 19N4 (OVERHEATING ELECTRIC COOLANT PUMP) THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR MY CAR. WHEN I HAVE HAD THE CAR APPRAISED AT MY LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP AND AT TWO PROMINENT USED CAR DEALERSHIPS, ALL OF THE ESTIMATES WERE MUCH LOWER ($3,000-$6,000) THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR ACCORDING TO KELLEY BLUE BOOK. THE REPRESENTATIVES MENTIONED THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO SELL THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAS RECALLS FOR WHICH A REPAIR IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THUS, THE CAR MUST BE SENT DIRECTLY TO AUCTION. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT I AM NOW LOSING MONEY ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE CAR MANUFACTURER AND BECAUSE OF DEFECTS IN THEIR DESIGN. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL NOTICE CLEARLY STATES THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM MAY MALFUNCTION, AND IF THIS OCCURS, 'DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT'IN THIS SITUATION, A FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT RISKS INJURY IN A CRASH BECAUSE A MALFUNCTIONING PODS SYSTEM MAY NOT MAKE THE CORRECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DECISION FOR THE TYPE OF OCCUPANT SEATED THERE.' THE RECALL FOR THE COOLANT PUMP STATES THAT 'A SHORT CIRCUIT OR OVERHEATING WITHIN THE ELECTRIC COOLANT PUMP MAY LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.' I FEEL FEARFUL ABOUT USING THE CAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. IT IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITHOUT FEAR THAT THERE MAY BE A MALFUNCTION AND/OR TO USE THE CAR IN GENERAL BASED ON THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRIC FIRE. I AM NOT SURE OF THE PROPER COURSE OF ACTION TO RECTIFY THIS MATTER, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AT A FAIR PRICE SO I CAN SET MY MIND AT EASE ABOUT THE PERSONAL SAFETY OF THOSE WHO OCCUPY THE CAR.