NHTSA Complaint #725718 — 1993 AUDI QUATTRO

FAILURE IS OF A FACTORY ASSEMBLY OF FLEXIBLE AND RIGID FUEL LINE. A CRIMPED HOSE CONNECTION (THE HOSE IS OF STAINLESS STEEL BRAID SHEATHING OVER RUBBER, WITH A CRIMPED SLEEVE AT ONE END, AND A THREADED FITTING ON THE OTHER) HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME BUT WAS NOT TRACKED DOWN AS THE SOURCE OF FUEL VAPOR FUMES UNTIL THIS AM. I WILL NOT BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND EVENTUAL REPAIR - THE PROCEDURE IS MORE CUMBERSOME THAN PAYING THE $86 AND REPLACING IT MYSELF. COINCIDENTALLY, THE DEALER PARTS DEPT. TOLD ME HE HAD TO ORDER 2 OTHER FUEL LINES FOR CUSTOMERS THIS SAME WEEK - HE DIDN'T KNOW WHY. AS MANUFACTURED, THIS HAS THE APPEARANCE (AND COST) OF A "LIFETIME" PART. THE LEAK EVENTUALLY ENDS UP ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. FOR REFERENCE, THE AUDI REPORT REFERENCE # IS 524906, FILED 7/20 @ 9:00 AM. PS: YOUR HOTLINE WOULDN'T LET ME GET BEYOND THE MESSAGE LOOP!*AK