1998 AUDI A6 Steering Problems

TIE RODS IN THE STEERING SYSTEMS ARE DAMAGED. AUDI CLAIMS THEY HAD A RECALL ON THESE RODS AND THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE CAR HAD THE SERVICE COMPLETED BACK IN 2000. YET, I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS NOW IN 2006. I WONDER IF THE FIX AUDI IMPLEMENTED IS REALLY EFFECTIVE OR NOT. *JB

Mileage: 85,000

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI. THE CONTACT NOTICED NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION, PLAY STEERING, LOOSENESS IN STEERING, TIRE WEAR, AND RECALL ON LOWER CONTROL ARM. DURING THAT RECALL REALIZED ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC, WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS ALL RELATED .HE TOLD CONSUMER THAT A RECALL WAS ON THE TIE ROD END. AUDI CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AUDI WOULD NOT DO THE REPAIRS. NO CRASHES. NO POLICE REPORT. NO CRASHES. NO INJURIES. *AK

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED - DIAGNOSTICS CONDUCTED AT A AUDI DEALERSHIP. CUSTOMER INFORMED BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE AIRBAG UNIT IS FAULTY AND WHOLE UNIT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED (COST QUOSTED $800) - ALSO INFORMED "NEED" LEFT TIE ROD END (PREVIOUS SIMILAR COMPLAINT REGARDING TIE ROD ON NHTSA WEB SITE)

Mileage: 79,000

AFTER RECALL 99V248000 CONCERNING TIE ROD FAILURE. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WOULD NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE AGAIN. *AK

Mileage: 90,000

COMPLAINT 1) HEATED STEERING WHEEL WOULD BURN HANDS IN SELECTED LOCATIOS BEFORE TURNING OFF. DEALER INDICATED TO ME THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS AND IF I WANTED IT FIXED WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW STEERING WHEEL AS MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY AUDI WITH REPLACEMENT. COMPLAINT 2) REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED THREE TIMES ON CAR WITH 50,000 MILES. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE AS FRONT BRAKES TAKE MOST OF WEAR. AT MY LAST REPAIR ON 9/22/03, IT COST ME $418 DOLLARS TO REPLACE REAR PADS AND ROTORS. IT APPEARS SOMETHING MAY BE OF BAD DESIGN WITH REPLACEMENT 3 TIMES IN 50,000 MILES FOR REAR BRAKES. FRONT REPLACED ONLY ONCE AND NOT DUE TO WEAR, BUT HEAT SPOTTING CREATING NOISE.

Mileage: 12,000

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HEAT UP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD GET TOO HOT ON HIS HANDS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE STEERING WHEEL HAD GOTTEN EXTREMELY HOT EVERY TIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 71,552

THE HEATED STEERING WHEEL HAD MELTED, AND THE CONSUMER'S CHILD WAS BURNED. *JB THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART. *SCC

Mileage: 50,000

TIE RODS ARE LOOSE AND WORN OUT, ALLOWING DUST TO ENTER INTO MECHANISM. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.

Mileage: 61,000

TIE RODS ARE LOOSE AND WORN OUT, ALLOWING DUST TO ENTER INTO MECHANISM. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH STEERING WHEEL HEAT SENSORS CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES SHOT OUT TOWARDS DRIVER'S FACE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED BY DRIVER'S HANDS. MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE OVER. CONTACTED AUDI DEALERSHIP. TURNED HEAT SENSORS OFF ON STEERING WHEEL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC REPLACED STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT THE HEAT SENSORS. *AK

RECALL 99V248000, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE RECALL PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER FILLS UP THE FUEL TANK, FUEL GAUGE WON'T INDICATE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL. ALSO, VEHICLE HA S HAD ALREADY TWO RECALLS ON THE TIE RODS. *AK

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL # KU BRAKE BOOSTER AND NHTSA RECALL( 99V248000),TIE RODS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER ON OCTOBER 12TH. DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR BRAKE BOOSTER AND TIE ROD RECALLS. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO DEALER'S MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT TO SCHEDULE SERVICE, CONSUMER COULD NOT BE TOLD WHEN PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN TEMPERATURES MENTIONED IN RECALL. *AK *YC