NHTSA Complaint #770550 — 2002 AUDI A6

THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME A COIL FAILED ON MY CAR; THE FIRST TIME WAS LAST SPRING. AUDI ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE ALL COILS, SAYING IT WILL ONLY REPLACE THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY FAILED, LEAVING A POTENTIAL FOR SIX FAILURES. AUDI SAYS UPGRADED COILS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND ARE THEREFORE UNAVAILABLE TO MOST DEALERS. MY DEALER HAS AT LEAST TWO CARS WAITING FOR REPAIR. THIS DEFECT MAKES THE CAR TOTALLY UNRELIABLE, SINCE THE FAILURE HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AND RENDERS THE CAR VIRTUALLY IMMOBILE. DRIVING IT AFTER THE FAILURE ALSO RISKS DAMAGE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OTHER COMPONENTS. THERE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF OWNERS SO THEY CAN AT LEAST TRY TO AVOID LATE NIGHT DRIVING OR OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE THEY AND THEIR PASSENGERS MIGHT BE AT RISK IN CASE OF COIL FAILURE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS SOON AS THE COILS ARE AVAILABLE. DT