NHTSA Complaint #709121 — 1991 AUDI 100

THE CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ON JUNE 25TH I DROVE THE CAR FOR 40 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I EXITED THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE WOULD RACE WHEN I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD RACE SO THAT THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERED 50 MILES PER HOURS. WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKES TO PROCEED THROUGH THE LIGHT, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SPED OFF AT NEARLY FIFTY MILES PER HOUR. I DID NOT APPLY THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. IT WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO LOWER GEAR. IT WAS RACING, EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO PARK. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE TRIED TO START UP THE CAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. EVERY TIME THE ENGINE RACES AS SOON AS THE CAR IS TURNED ON. WHEN IN PARK THE SPEEDOMETER REGISTERS UP TO 60 MILES PER HOUR AND MUST BE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR. I CALLED AUDI TO COMPLAIN, BUT THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON MY MODEL. OTHER AUDI OWNERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AND THAT DRIVERS HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR, I BROUGHT IT IN BECAUSE OF A SLIGHT SHIFTING PROBLEM. THE CAR WOULD STUTTER A BIT BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT HAS ONLY BECOME MORE SEVERE. I HAVE ONLY PUT ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR IN THE 2 YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.