NHTSA Complaint #710832 — 1990 AUDI QUATTRO

FAILURE OF RECALLED THROTTLE PART. KD RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #96V084000 WAS PERFORMED ON 08/01/96. ON 08/10/98 THIS NEW "IMPROVED" CRUISE CONTROL BUSHING FAILED, WHILE THE ENGINE THROTTLE WAS IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION. THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD, ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE QUADRANT AND NOW BROKEN BUSHING, BECAME JAMBED BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND THE THROTTLE CABLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY. THE AUTO REMAINED IN THE FULL THROTTLE POSITION, WITH THE SPEED APROACHING 80 MPH, IN 3 LANES OF MODERATE 35 MPH TRAFFIC. THE BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION WERE USED TO BRING THE AUTO TO A STOP, NOT RESULTING IN ANY ACCIDENT BUT, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACURER WERE CONTACTED ON THE DAY OF THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE NEW BUSHING DOES BEGIN TO CRACK WITHIN 2 YEARS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS ISSUE. UNDER LESS FAVORABLE CONDITIONS THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE AUTOMOBILES SPEED BEING CONTROLLED BY A FIXED OR OTHER MOVING OBJECT(IE AUTO). WARNING! THIS THROTTLE ARRANGEMENT MAY BE COMMON ON NEWER MODELS MANY HAVING MUCH MORE POWERFUL/FASTER ENGINES. PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT OR INVESTIGATE FOR OTHERS. *AK