NHTSA Complaint #11132266 — 2018 AUDI Q5

WHEN DRIVING, THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATING TO ALERT US OF LOW TIRE PRESSURE OR A FLAT TIRE. AFTER DRIVING FOR 2-3 MILES, WITH NO FLAT TIRE INDICATION, WE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND HEARD LOUD NOISES. WE STOPPED TO SEE A FLAT TIRE DOWN TO THE RIM. THERE WAS NEVER A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD ABOUT A TIRE PROBLEM. AUDI SAYS THAT THE LIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATES AT THE FIRST TIME THE TIRE PRESSURE GOES LOW AND NEVER ILLUMINATES AGAIN. WE NEVER SAW THIS FIRST INDICATOR LIGHT AND WHEN WE DROVE ON A DARK RURAL ROAD - WE HAD THE FLAT TIRE DESCRIBED ABOVE, WITHOUT ANY INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IF WE HAD EVER SEEN ANY INDICATION ( VISUALLY, OR IN THE HANDLING OF THE CAR)WE NEVER WOULD HAVE DRIVEN ON A DARK EVENING. WE WERE LEFT TO WAIT ALONE ON THIS DARK ROAD UNTIL 1 HOUR WHEN AAA ARRIVED. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP IN ALBANY, NY AND AUDI CORPORATE STATES THAT NO LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED - WE HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR WITHOUT THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT STAYING ON UNTIL YOU GET THE TIRE FIXED. THE LIGHT ALWAYS STAYED ON AND THIS IS A NEW DESIGN IN THE 2018 AUDI Q5. I THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND CAN CAUSE THE POSSIBLITY OF A DANGEROUS TIRE BLOWOUT THAT COULD CAUSE SWERVING INTO ANOTHER LANE, AND/OR A WORSE MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE WERE DRIVING ON A RURAL UPSTATE NY ROAD GOING STRAIGHT. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION TO US THAT OUR TIRE WAS LOOSING PRESSURE AND WOULD GO COMPLETELY FLAT.THIS WAS A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR US AS WE ARE EXPERIENCED AND COMPETENT DRIVERS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS LACK OF ALERT ON A CAR IN MANY YEARS OF DRIVING.