1998 AUDI A4 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 70,000 MILES SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. HOWEVER SHE NOTED THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 90,000. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE ENGINE REBUILT BY A INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

Mileage: 74,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATED TIMING BELT BROKE AT THE END OF 2001. SHE STATED THAT WHEN THE TIMING BELTS BREAK ON THESE AUDIS AND BEND THE VALVES,E THEY WILL DESTROY THE ENGINE. SHE REPORTED HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE SINCE THEN. SHE HAD THE CAR TOWED IN 2001. THE BILL WAS $4,468.00. THE TIMING BELT WENT OUT AT 80,000 MILES. AN ADVOCATE FOR AUDI IN MICHIGAN TOLD HER ON 9-26-05 THAT THEY SENT HER A LETTER CONCERNING THE TIMING BELT. THEY WERE UNSURE AS TO WHEN THEY SENT IT. THE CONTACT SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SOME INFORMATION ABOUT A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST AUDI. (9-27-05 THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME ADVOCATE AND ASKED HER TO CHECK THE REFERENCE NUMBER ON THE CAR, AND THE ADVOCATE TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS ONGOING CAMPAIGN CONCERNING THE TIMING BELT. IT WAS CALLED THE JK CAMPAIGN. THE CONTROL ARM WAS CALLED THE JE CAMPAIGN. SHE HAS NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL LETTERS AND NOTIFIED THE ADVOCATE THAT SHE HAD NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE MAINTENANCE BOOK,IT STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 90,000 MILES.*AK

Mileage: 80,650

1998 AUDI A4 QUATTRO EXPERIENCED EARLY TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILURE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM

Mileage: 76,775

TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILURE ENGINE RUNS POORLY, COULD SEIZE ENGINE AND CAUSE ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 76,000

1998 AUDI A4 QUATTRO TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. *NM

Mileage: 89,000

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE UPPER, LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS AND THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A SEVERE OIL LEAKAGE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE DURING ACCELERATION. OIL WAS FOUND IN THE SPARK PLUG CAVITIES AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRES PROTECTIVE SLEEVE WAS BRITTLE DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 109,000

I HAVE AN 1998 AUDI A4 TURBO. WHILE DRIVING IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO AUDI AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SNAPPED AND BECAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION PISTONS AND VALVES WERE DAMAGED. THE ESTIMATE OF REAPAIR WAS OVER $6200.00 THE SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IS FOR 115,000 MILES, THIS OCCURED AT 76,000 MILES. I WAS MADE AWARE THAT AUDI IS NOW RECOMMENDING REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER AT 80,000. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS, THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED NOR PLAN TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO TAKE THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 1998 AUDI 1.8 T ALONG HIGHWAY WHEN TIMING BELT FAILED, WITHOUT WARNING, WRECKING ENGINE. CAR HAD ONLY 58K MILES, AND OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT RECOMMEND REPLACING TIMING BELT UNTIL 90K MILES. THERE IS NO TSB FOR THE BELT BUT AUDI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REQUIRES ALL NEW TIMING BELTS TO BE INSTALLED IN A NEW CONFIGURATION. *AK

Mileage: 58,693

WHILE DRIVING THE TIMING BELT FAILED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 75,000

WITHOUT WARNING, THE TIMING BELT ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 FAILED, RESULTING IN SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE AND LEAVING MY FAMILY STRANDED IN THE MOUNTAINS. AUDI HAS KNOW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT PROBLEM FOR YEARS, AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR NOTIFY CUSTOMERS. MAZDA HAD A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR TIMING BELTS (SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 00V134/MAZDA RECALL NO. 92007); WHY HASN'T AUDI RECALLED THE CARS AND FIXED THIS PROBLEM??*AK

Mileage: 83,000

IN VERY COLD WEATHER, THE ENGINE STICKS AND HOLDS A SPEED OF 6,000 RPM. THIS CONDITION LASTS FOR AT LEAST 40 MINUTES DURING WHICH TIME THE CAR IS NOT CONTROLLABLE. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN FOUR TIMES. I HAVE INVOLVED THE LOCAL AUDI DEALER AS WELL AS AUDI OF AMERICA. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. AUDI OF AMERICA IS REFUSING TO EITHER ACKNOWLEDGE OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS ON JAN 16, 2003. THE LAST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED WAS JAN 16, 2004. *JB

Mileage: 65,853

SUDDEN & CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BEARING/PULLEY OF MAIN TIMING BELT, WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FEWER THAN 55K MILES ON ODOMETER AND WAS WELL MAITAINED.*AK SUCH FAILURE CAN CAUSE INSTANTANEOUS DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE, WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR SUDDEN AND RAPID DECCELERATION, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC COLLISION. THE LOSS OF THE BEARING CAUSES THE MAIN TIMING BELT TO SHIFT POSITION AND/OR TO SNAP, CAUSING THE ENGINE VALVES TO MOVE OUT-OF-SYNC WITH THE ENGINE PISTONS OR TO STOP MOVING ALTOGETHER. THE PISTONS THEN COLLIDE WITH THE VALVES, CAUSING ENGINE DESTRUCTION. FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND INSTANTANEOUSLY. THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF IMPENDING FAILURE THAT ONE CAN OBSERVE DURING A VEHICLE INSPECTION. IN MY CASE, ENGINE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR, BUT THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE DIRECTLY TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN WHO DID THE REPAIR SAID THAT, IN MY CASE, I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY AND THAT ONLY SLIPPAGE HAD OCCURED, AND THAT THE SLIPPAGE WAS JUST BELOW THE POINT AT WHICH ENGINE DESTRUCTION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THIS TECHNICIAN WAS FROM GERMANY (AS WAS THE VEHICLE), AND HE SAID THAT PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS BEARING (AND/OR ASSOCIATED WATER PUMP) IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HE ALSO SAID THAT IN GERMANY A RECALL WAS ORDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS THEY CONSIDERED THE FAILURE PREMATURE, FREQUENT, AND THAT IT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, AS THE ENGINE COULD EASILY DESTRUCT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSIG A COLLISION. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS DOZENS OF REPORTS OF PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS BELT/PULLEY/WATER-PUMP SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. (1998 AUDI A4 2.8L QUATTRO AUTOMATIC)

Mileage: 54,380

1998 AUDI A4 1.8T FULLY MAINTAINED TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. SERVICE MANUAL CALLS FOR TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AT 90,000 MILES. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 76,000 MILES. AUDI USA REFUSAL TO GATHER SERVICE INFO OR COMPENSATE FOR LOSS AND PROVIDED NO AVENUE FOR APPEAL OR ESCALATION OF THE CASE. AUDI USA HAD MADE NO EFFORT TO INFORM DRIVERS OF THIS PROBLEM. *LA

Mileage: 76,000

I DISCOVERED A SIGNIFICANT ENGINE OIL LEAK IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AT 50K MILES. *NLM

Mileage: 50,000

IN MARCH 2003, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAULTY SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED FOR $300. IN JUNE 2003, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON. THIS TIME IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY OIL PUMP THAT WAS REPLACED AT $900. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY THERMOSTAT AND SENSOR. REPLACEMENT COST $750. ALSO, WASHER FLUID CONTAINER CRACKED AND HAND BRAKE LEVER HANDLE CRACKED (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) -- BOTH MADE OF CHEAP QUALTIY PLASTIC.*AK

IN MARCH 2003, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED A FAULTY SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED FOR $300. IN JUNE 2003, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON. THIS TIME IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY OIL PUMP THAT WAS REPLACED AT $900. IN SEPTEMBER 2003 THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY THERMOSTAT AND SENSOR. REPLACEMENT COST $750. ALSO, WASHER FLUID CONTAINER CRACKED AND HAND BRAKE LEVER HANDLE CRACKED (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) -- BOTH MADE OF CHEAP QUALTIY PLASTIC.*AK

MULTITUDE OF PROBS. W/ ALMOST EVERY ASPECT (BRAKES, ENGINE VALVES, OIL LIGHT STAYS ON, RAIN LEAKS, BAD WHEEL BEARINGS, ETC.) OF THIS CAR. MOST FRUSTRATING HAS BEEN RUDE AND INCOMPETENT SERVICE BY AUDI DEALER. AFTER AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THE DEALER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH NOT ALL THE NOISE WAS GONE, THE CAR WAS SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE TO CALIF.,(WE LIVE IN NJ). WE DID NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER BECAUSE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE REMAINED AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHERE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE FOUND TO BE DAMAGED. WE WERE ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DO SO . *AK

MULTITUDE OF PROBS. W/ ALMOST EVERY ASPECT (BRAKES, ENGINE VALVES, OIL LIGHT STAYS ON, RAIN LEAKS, BAD WHEEL BEARINGS, ETC.) OF THIS CAR. MOST FRUSTRATING HAS BEEN RUDE AND INCOMPETENT SERVICE BY AUDI DEALER. AFTER AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS THE DEALER SAID THAT ALTHOUGH NOT ALL THE NOISE WAS GONE, THE CAR WAS SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE TO CALIF.,(WE LIVE IN NJ). WE DID NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER BECAUSE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE REMAINED AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP WHERE BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE FOUND TO BE DAMAGED. WE WERE ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DO SO . *AK

AUDI A4 1.8T Q TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED AT 75,000 CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. SERVICE INTERVAL PUBLISHED BY AUDI IS NO EARLIER THAN 90,000MI. TENSIONER FAILURE IS KNOWN DEFECT AND HAS BEEN REDESIGNED BY AUDI, YET AUDI WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT. AUDI CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY NOR HAVE THEY PUBLISHED ANY TSB ALERTING PEOPLE TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED EARLY. *AK

Mileage: 75,000

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 AUDI A4 1.8T CAR. MY COMPLAINT IS MY TIMING BELT GAVE OUT ON THE VEHICLE AT 48,643 MLS. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT THE BELT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR 90,000 MLS. MY SECOND COMLAINT IS THAT THE TIE RODS ON THE FRONT END. *AK OF THE VEHICLE NEED TO BE REPLACED. THESE ITEMS SHOULD NOT BE GIVING OUT ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES ABOUT ANY RECALLS.

TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING REPLACEMENT OF TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER AT 40000. KNOWN ISSUE WITH AUDI THAT TENSIONER FAILS AS THEY HAVE A REPLACEMENT KIT WITH NEW TYPE OF TENSIONER. YET, WILL NOT COVER COST OF REPLACEMENT OF FAILED TENSIONER OR TIMING BELT.*JB

Mileage: 42,000

ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND WIRE HARNESS, CAUSING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF DAMAGE

Mileage: 50,000

CAR WAS SERVICED FOR AN OIL LEAK AND WHAT THE MECHANIC FOUND WAS THE BALL BEARINGS OIL PASSAGE SEALS WERE LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CYLINDER HEADS. REPAIR WOULD BE $4,000 FOR PARTS ALONE. LABOR WOULD BE ADDITIONAL. CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH VEHICLE TIMING BELT BROKE, CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED OWNERS MANUAL RECOMMENDED TIMING CHAIN BE REPLACED AT 90,000 MILES HOWEVER TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 72,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED BROKEN TIMING CHAN, TENSIONER AND BENT VALVES. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WAS STUCK ON DANGEROUS FREEWAY OVERPASS. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD BROKEN, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. AUDI DEALER QUOTE ON PARTS ALONE IS OVER $6900. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK STARTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

DEALER SAYS VIRTUALLY ALL THEIR 6CYL CARS HAVE THIS FAIL - REPAIR WAS $850. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD BROKEN, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TIMING BELT BROKE & CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. *AK

OIL PUMP FAILED TWICE, NOVEMBER 17 1999 AND DECEMBER 1, 1999. HBL, INC OF TYSONS CORNER, VA PRESUMABLY FIXED IT FIRST TIME. UPON RECURRENCE, I HAVE CONTACTED HBL THREE TIMES BY FAX, BUT HAVE NOT RETURNED MY MESSAGES. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A MAJOR FAILURE, AS THE MANUFACTURER ASKS FRO THE CAR NOT BE DRIVEN WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR IS PREMANENTLY LIT.