2004 AUDI A4 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION AND AN INTERNAL COMPRESSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCES THE FAILURE WITH THE SPORADIC ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED HE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AS A MULTI-CYLINDER MISFIRE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH HIS SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF UPDATED 04/27/11

Mileage: 99,000

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2004 AUDI A4 AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR JERKED, SHE THEN PULLED UP TO THE STOP LIGHT AND STOPPED. THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. WE PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAFFIC. A FEW HOURS LATER WE WENT BACK TO THE CAR AND IT STARTED UP WITH NO PROBLEM, WE DROVE THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT APPEARS THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION PE08027 OPENED ON THIS ISSUE IN 2008 AND CLOSED IN 2008 WITHOUT A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

2004 AUDI A4 1.8T ENGINE SLUDGE--COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. AUDI ABSURDLY REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR OWN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE BASIS THE CAR WAS RUN WITHOUT OIL. THE ENGINE FAILED INTERNALLY BECAUSE THERE WAS AND IS SLUDGE BLOCKING LUBRICATION PORTS TO THE MOVING PARTS, I.E., FAILURE. THIS IS MY EXECUTIVE SYNOPSIS, BUT I HAVE VOLUMES OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, UNBELIEVABLE AS IT IS TO THINK THIS COULD HAPPEN IN AMERICA. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

2004 AUDI A4 1.8T ENGINE SLUDGE--COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. AUDI ABSURDLY REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR OWN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE BASIS THE CAR WAS RUN WITHOUT OIL. THE ENGINE FAILED INTERNALLY BECAUSE THERE WAS AND IS SLUDGE BLOCKING LUBRICATION PORTS TO THE MOVING PARTS, I.E., FAILURE. THIS IS MY EXECUTIVE SYNOPSIS, BUT I HAVE VOLUMES OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, UNBELIEVABLE AS IT IS TO THINK THIS COULD HAPPEN IN AMERICA. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

ONE DAY THE LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON, BROUGHT IT TO CAROUSOL AUDI IN GOLDEN VALLEY MN AND THEY INFORMED ME ABOUT THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO GET MY OIL RECEIPTS READY. I CHANGED MY OWN OIL AND DON'T HAVE MY OIL RECEIPTS AND AM NOW BEING DENIED A WARRANTY COVERAGE. WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE A NEW ENGINE PUT IN IF I HAD OIL RECEIPTS BUT WILL COST AT LEAST 9000 WITHOUT THE WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

MY 2004 AUDI A4 IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2003'S. QUITE A FEW OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING IT AS WELL: HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2004/AUDI/A4/FUEL+SYSTEM THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE 04'S HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 03'S. NOTE IGNITION COIL PROBLEM IN 04'S SAME AS 03'S YET AUDI IS ACTING TO PREVENT A RECALL BY HAVING A "CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE". *TR

Mileage: 63,500

AUDI A4 WITH 68,000 MILES HAD MAIN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO NO OIL PRESSURE. OIL WAS CHANGED AT 8,000 MILE INTERVALS. AUDI WILL NOT STAND BEHIND NAME. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $8700. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO FOR FOUR YEARS. THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING IS A MASSIVE ISSUE THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER B6 PLATFORM OWNERS ALSO HAVE, THE WATER PUMP IN OUR VEHICLES IS VERY PRONE TO FAILURE. THE WATER PUMP FOUND IN OUR US MARKET VEHICLES HAS A PLASTIC IMPELLER THAT IS KNOWN TO SNAP, CRACK, OR LEAK CAUSING THE PART TO FAIL. I HAVE HAD TWO OF THESE PUMPS FAIL IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE FIRST ONE FAILED AT AROUND 74K IN JULY OF 2008 WHEN THE PART WAS NEARING IT'S REPLACEMENT DATE. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2010 AT ROUGHLY 98K MILES. SO I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES IN A VERY SHORT TIME PERIOD. NOW AUDI IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS BUT HAS NEVER HAD A RECALL OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS THEIR FAULT FOR RELEASING A POORLY DESIGNED PART. WHEN A PUMP FAILS IT USUALLY GOES VERY QUICKLY. IN MY CASE IT LEAKED AND THEN I LOST AC COMPRESSION. I AM LUCKY THAT I KNOW CARS AND KNEW TO IMMEDIATELY PARK THE CAR AND GET IT INTO THE SHOP. I KNOW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE BECAUSE THE FAILED PUMP CAUSED OVERHEATING. THE PUMP IS ALSO PART OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM THAT DRIVES THE TIMING BELT SO A FAILURE COULD ALSO CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF THAT BELT SEIZES UP. OVERALL IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND EACH TIME A PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED THE ENTIRE TIMING BELT SERVICE NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED WHICH RUNS ABOUT $1700.00 AT A DEALERSHIP AND AROUND $800-$1500 AT INDEPENDENT SHOPS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY UNFAIR TO US AS OWNERS, BUT THAT IT ALSO PUTS THE PUBLIC AT GREAT RISK IF A FAILURE OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR IN TRAFFIC. LIVES ARE ALREADY AT RISK ENOUGH ON OUR HIGHWAYS AND THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS CAUSE BODILY HARM OR PROPERTY DAMAGE BECAUSE A COMPANY RELEASED A POORLY DESIGNED PART AND DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE IT. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. IF YOU SEARCH SITES LIKE AUDIWORLD.COM AND AUDIZINE.COM YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF INFORMATION AND FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

I HAVE OWNED MY 2004 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO FOR FOUR YEARS. THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING IS A MASSIVE ISSUE THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER B6 PLATFORM OWNERS ALSO HAVE, THE WATER PUMP IN OUR VEHICLES IS VERY PRONE TO FAILURE. THE WATER PUMP FOUND IN OUR US MARKET VEHICLES HAS A PLASTIC IMPELLER THAT IS KNOWN TO SNAP, CRACK, OR LEAK CAUSING THE PART TO FAIL. I HAVE HAD TWO OF THESE PUMPS FAIL IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE FIRST ONE FAILED AT AROUND 74K IN JULY OF 2008 WHEN THE PART WAS NEARING IT'S REPLACEMENT DATE. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2010 AT ROUGHLY 98K MILES. SO I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES IN A VERY SHORT TIME PERIOD. NOW AUDI IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS BUT HAS NEVER HAD A RECALL OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS THEIR FAULT FOR RELEASING A POORLY DESIGNED PART. WHEN A PUMP FAILS IT USUALLY GOES VERY QUICKLY. IN MY CASE IT LEAKED AND THEN I LOST AC COMPRESSION. I AM LUCKY THAT I KNOW CARS AND KNEW TO IMMEDIATELY PARK THE CAR AND GET IT INTO THE SHOP. I KNOW THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE BECAUSE THE FAILED PUMP CAUSED OVERHEATING. THE PUMP IS ALSO PART OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM THAT DRIVES THE TIMING BELT SO A FAILURE COULD ALSO CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF THAT BELT SEIZES UP. OVERALL IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND EACH TIME A PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED THE ENTIRE TIMING BELT SERVICE NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED WHICH RUNS ABOUT $1700.00 AT A DEALERSHIP AND AROUND $800-$1500 AT INDEPENDENT SHOPS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY UNFAIR TO US AS OWNERS, BUT THAT IT ALSO PUTS THE PUBLIC AT GREAT RISK IF A FAILURE OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR IN TRAFFIC. LIVES ARE ALREADY AT RISK ENOUGH ON OUR HIGHWAYS AND THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS CAUSE BODILY HARM OR PROPERTY DAMAGE BECAUSE A COMPANY RELEASED A POORLY DESIGNED PART AND DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE IT. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. IF YOU SEARCH SITES LIKE AUDIWORLD.COM AND AUDIZINE.COM YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF INFORMATION AND FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

2004 AUDI A4 W. APPROX 38,000 MILES. FAILURES INVOLVE PLUG & LEAKING WATER PUMP WHICH RUINED TIMING BELT. TOTAL CHARGE FOR REPAIR: APPROX $1700. *TR

Mileage: 38,365

I HAVE A 2004 AUDI A4 1.8T. THIS EXACT MODEL IS WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE AUDI MANUFACTURER'S 8 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ENGINES. I AM CURRENTLY BEING DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE ENGINE SLUDGE THAT HAS BUILT UP IN THE ENGINE. THE REASON BEING ACCORDING TO UNIVERSITY AUDI IN SEATTLE, IS THAT: MY CAR IS "TOO NEW." BUT IT IS A 2004, THE CUT OFF YEAR FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 54,800

IGNITION COIL FAILED IN ONE CYLINDER ON 2004 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO. THIS PART ON AUDIS REPEATEDLY FAILS. LOSS OF POWER, VERY SHAKY AT IDLE AND ACCELERATION. $400 TO REPAIR, BUT NOW CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS RUINED DUE TO THE CYLINDER MISFIRING. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

IGNITION COIL FAILED IN ONE CYLINDER ON 2004 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO. THIS PART ON AUDIS REPEATEDLY FAILS. LOSS OF POWER, VERY SHAKY AT IDLE AND ACCELERATION. $400 TO REPAIR, BUT NOW CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS RUINED DUE TO THE CYLINDER MISFIRING. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WILL NOT START AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.

Mileage: 49,500

TWO OF THE ORIGINAL "COILS" IN MY 2004 AUDI HAVE FAILED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THESE SHOULD NOT BE FAILING. MY DEALERSHIP STATED THERE IS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. A RECALL OF AUDI COILS WAS LAST MADE IN 2003. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE COILS IN ANTICIPATION OF MORE FAILURES AND UNDER THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT STATED I SHOULD EXPECT ALL COILS TO FAIL. AN INTERNET SEARCH INDICATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF A4 AUDI'S SO THE COILS CAN BE REPLACED AND A REIMBURSEMENT TO PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAD TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THIS ORIGINAL DEFECT. *TR

2004 AUDI A4 HAS HAD SEVERAL REPAIR PROBLEMS. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE PROBLEMS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS A BULB. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT GO DOWN. AN ELECTRICAL PART ON THE CONVERTIBLE WAS REPLACED, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAD BURNED OUT AND THE CRANK PULLEY WAS REPLACED.. *JB THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP REPLACEMENT CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE HEADLINER AS WELL THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAD A LEAK. UPDATED 02/07/11

Mileage: 19,102

ENGINE HAS AN REPEATED BUT INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER. USUALLY OCCURS SHORTLY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND BEFORE THE TEMPERATURE GAGE SHOWS THE ENGINE RUNNING AT NORMAL TEMP. ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN, BUT WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT POWER TO MOVE THE CAR. ALSO, WHEN IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, RPM BARELY GOES ABOVE 1500 WHEN PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED. AFTER WAITING A FEW SECONDS FOR SOMETIMES AS LONG AS A MINUTE, ENGINE WILL REGAIN POWER AND WILL THEN OPERATE NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES FROM OCT07 (WHEN PURCHASED CAR USED) THROUGH 22 APRIL. MANUFACTURER TECHNICIAN IS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 34,125

CAR IS 2004 AUDI A4 WITH 1.8 ENGINE AND CVT TRANSMISSION. CAR'S ENGINE WILL UPON ACCELERATION FROM STANDSTILL, OFTEN HESITATE AND STUMBLE. AT TIMES WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC FROM STANDSTILL, IT WILL AT TIMES NOT ONLY HESITATE, BUT ACTUALLY STALL OR HAVE A NO POWER SITUATION FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THIS HAS LED TO SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. I HAVE REPORTED TO OUR AUDI DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT A NUMBER OF TIME. EACH TIME, THEY MERELY SAY THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND RETURN AUTO TO US. A COUPLE OF TIMES THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY HAVE DOWNLOADED SOFTWARE FIXES TO THE AUTOMOBILES ECM(COMPUTER). *TR (EXCERPT FROM E-MAIL 4-1-08) I WAS THEN TOLD BY ONE SERVICE REP THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON THOSE AUDI'S THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE SO CALLED "CVT" TRANSMISSION BEFORE BUT THAT AUDI HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ADDRESS. HE SAID THAT HE APPLIED A SOFTWARE FIX TO THE AUTO'S ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT COMPUTER, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP. *SMCH

Mileage: 100

I AM HAVING ONGOING MAJOR ISSUES (EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY) WITH MY AUDI A4 CABRIOLET WITH NO RESOLUTION FROM MY LOCAL DEALER OR AUDI CUSTOMER CARE AGENTS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED THREE TIMES IN THREE MONTHS. MOST RECENTLY(JULY 21) MY CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE, LEAVING ME STRANDED 2.5 HOURS FROM HOME. THE ENGINE STARTED TO "SKIP" AND "MISS" THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CHECK OIL INDICATOR CAME ON. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A PARKING LOT. THE PERSON WITH ME CAN VERIFY THAT THE ENGINE/CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS BOUNCING OR VIBRATING. PRIOR TO THAT, MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 264 IN NORFOLK, VA. IT WAS A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THAT HIGHWAY. THE CAR STALLED WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK. I DECIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT HOME ONCE IT RESTARTED. ONCE I STARTED TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE CAR WOULD SPORADICALLY ACCELERATE. IT FELT LIKE A "STOP AND GO" SITUATION. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE OVER A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 300 YARDS, FINALLY STALLING. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AUDI REFUSED ANY FURTHER ACTION ON MY CAR AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS. THE FIRST TIME MY CAR WAS TOWED WAS FROM MY OWN LOCAL STREET: THE SAFEST PLACE OF THREE LOCATIONS WHERE I'VE BEEN TOWED. THE DEALER MAINTAINS THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD TOWS. I FEAR FOR MY OWN SAFETY TO RIDE IN THIS AUDI CAR. FAMILY MEMBERS NOW REFUSE TO RIDE IN THIS PRODUCT. FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS HAVE WITNESSED THE PROBLEMS FIRST HAND AS WELL. I HAVE MADE REPEATED REQUESTS TO AUDIO CUSTOMER CARE TO: 1. GET THE CAR REPAIRED PROPERLY 2. REPLACE THE ENGINE 3. EXTEND THE WARRANTY 4. OFFER A REASONABLE TRADE-IN 5. BUY BACK THE CAR I HAVE BEEN REJECTED ALL ALONG THE WAY. I AM AGAIN BEGGING AND PLEADING FOR SOMEONE AT AUDI TO OFFER REASONABLE HELP HERE. I'M NOT ASKING FOR MUCH. I'M SIMPLY ASKING FOR A CAR THAT RUNS TO ANY ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS WHERE I CAN BELIEVE I AM SAFE. PLEASE HELP. *NM

Mileage: 45,000

WHEN THE CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE STALLED. *JB

VEHICLE HEATED UP UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH OR GREATER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR EIGHT DAYS AND FOUND THE SAME FLAW AS THE CONSUMER. MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING UNDER NORMAL RANGE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK *NM

Mileage: 8