NHTSA Complaint #11391037 — 2013 AUDI S8

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP APPROPRIATE SPEED WHEN ACCELERATING. THERE WAS NO PRIOR NOTICE OR ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANY ABNORMALITIES WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS. I DECIDED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AT A REST AREA AND AS THE CAR WAS SLOWED DOWN AROUND 15-20 MPH, I LOST TOTAL POWER OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER OR USE THE BRAKES. LUCKILY THE CAR WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITHOUT INJURY BUT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER TOW TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TURBOS IN THE ENGINE. I DID EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND FIND OUT THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND BOILS DOWN TO A DESIGN FLAW WHERE A SMALL OIL SCREEN ESSENTIALLY STARVES THE TURBOS OF OIL. SOMETIME THESE SCREENS HAVE CLOGGED BUT IN MANY CASES ARE JUST FINE BUT IN ALL CASES HAVE LEAD TO TURBO FAILURE. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND ALL VEHICLES I HAVE REVIEWED HAVE BEEN FACTORY MAINTAINED WITH SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE SUCH AS IN THE CASE OF MY VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED BY AN AUDI EXTENDED WARRANTY AND REPAIRS ARE VERY COSTLY AVERAGING AROUND 12-13K FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. I CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA AND FILED A COMPLAINT (AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE) AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW AND COSTLY REPAIR BUT HAVE NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE HAD I LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY I MOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. AUDI HAD RECENTLY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE ON A FAULTY ENGINE OIL PCV VALVE AND THAT REPAIR WAS AROUND 2-3K. CLEARLY THERE IS A TREND HERE WITH THESE ENGINES. I AM HOPEFUL THAT WITH THIS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS, THAT THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WILL LEAD TO WARRANTY EXTENSION AND/OR RECALL FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.