NHTSA Complaint #11319824 — 2018 AUDI A5

WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, FLAT SECTION OF I-95 IN FLORIDA AT 70MPH, MY 2 YEAR OLD 2018 AUDI A5 CABRIO'S DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY BROKE OFF AT ITS BASE AND LANDED WITH FORCE ON MY STEERING WHEEL. I'D MOVED THE VISOR INTO THE UP POSITION, FLUSH WITH THE FRAME, AND IN DOING SO, THE VISOR BROKE OFF AT THE BASE. I HAD NOT, NOR HAD I EVER, MOVED THE VISOR WITH A LOT OF FORCE. EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW, THE VISOR HAD ALWAYS BEEN TOO TIGHT, TOO SHORT, AND DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE RESULTANT DISTRACTION OF A HEAVY VISOR DROPPING ONTO MY STEERING WHEEL CAUSED ME TO SWERVE AT 70MPH. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT THAT DAY AND NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, THE VISOR CAN'T SWING ON ITS SUPPORT BAR AS IT SHOULD. AFTER IT BROKE OFF, I HAD TO USE VISE GRIPS TO MAKE IT SWING AT ALL. I THEN TRIED LUBRICATING THE SUPPORT BAR INSIDE THE VISOR WITH WD-40, WHICH DID NOT HELP. HAD I TRIED TO REATTACH THE VISOR WITH GLUE, THE TORQUE ON THE SUPPORT BAR CAUSED BY THE VISOR'S INABILITY TO SWING FREELY ON ITS AXIS SUGGESTS THAT IT WOULD INSTANTLY BREAK OFF AT THE BASE AGAIN. THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR HAS NOT FALLEN OFF YET, BUT THE SAME DESIGN WILL CAUSE THAT TO HAPPEN EVENTUALLY. THIS VEHICLE HAD A 4 YEAR/50K MILE WARRANTY, BUT I HAD JUST EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE LIMIT SO IT WAS NO LONGER WARRANTED. I NOTIFIED BOTH MY AUDI DEALER AND AUDI USA ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. AUDI USA SAYS THAT THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A SERVICE ADVISORY OR RECALL, AND WILL NOT COVER THE PRESENT AND FUTURE DAMAGE TO BOTH VISORS. DESPITE THE SUN VISORS BEING NECESSARY SAFETY EQUIPMENT - ESPECIALLY IN FLORIDA - AUDI DENIES ANY CULPABILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY ANECDOTES ONLINE OF THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS SAME YEAR/MAKE/MODEL/INTERIOR COLOR, AND IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE. MORE SPECIFICALLY ALL THE OTHER INCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING TO AUDIS WITH DARK GRAY VISORS LIKE MINE.