2000 AUDI S4 Electrical System Problems

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON ALL THE AUDI S4S AND ALSO ON VW LOOSE PIXELS ON THE DASH AND IT GOES OUT, IT IS A HAZARD BECAUSE THIS IS A GAUGE THAT DOES A SYSTEM CHECK EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, THE CAR TELLS THE DRIVER IF THERE ARE BRAKE PROBLEMS, ENGINE PROBLEMS, ALSO IF LIGHTS ARE OUT I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS TURN SIGNALS, AND ALSO FLUID STATUS OF THE CAR. WHEN THIS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES OUT OR AS AUDI CALLS IT LOSES PIXELS, THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE CAR WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY AND HARM TO THE OPERATOR. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPLACED ON MY CAR OVER 4 TIMES AND IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OTHER AUDI OWNERS. ALSO THE WINDOW REGULATOR CLIP THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW BREAKS AS WELL, AUDI AND VW DID A RECALL VIN SPECIFIC MODELS OF THE BEETLE JETTA AND A4 BUT NOT THE S4, THE CLIP IS THE SAME DESIGN THAT IS USED IN MY VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES OF FAILING AND CAUSES ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE, IF THE CLIP BREAKS THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, I.E. CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BREAK WHICH THROWS GLASS ALL OVER THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR AND ALSO EXPOSES LIMBS TO OBJECTS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES WITH AUDI MULTIPLE TIMES AND PHONE CALLS AND MULTIPLE EMAILS, REGARDLESS OF THE AGE AND MILES ON MY CAR, IT IS THE SAME THINGS THAT KEEP BREAKING, CAUSING THESE SAFETY ISSUES. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE WHEN THESE DESIGNS WERE PUT ON THE MARKET. AND REPLACING THESE ITEMS IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY OCCUPANTS AND MYSELF. THEY NEED TO BE REDESIGNED AND REVAMPED TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES. REPLACING THEM EVERY SINGLE YEAR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN SOMEONE'S LIFE IS AT RISK, DUE TO A BAD AND CARELESS DESIGN. *TR

Mileage: 19,955

ABS SENSOR FAILURE ON 2000 AUDI S4 QUATTRO. LIGHT CAME ON AT 114,213. LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FLASH ALONG SIDE OF IT AND BEEP EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT COST 1,700. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ON VW'S AS WELL AS THE AUDI IN YEARS FROM 1996-2001. *TR

Mileage: 114,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK IN HIS VEHICLE. OCCASIONALLY, HE IS UNABLE TO READ THE DISPLAY PANEL. THE DEALER QUOTED HIM A COST FOR THE REPAIR, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

I OWN A 2000 AUDI S4. MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS AN LCD DISPLAY THAT DISPLAYS INFORMATION LIKE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, POSSIBILITY OF ICY CONDITIONS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS LOW ENOUGH TO WARRANT THESE CONDITIONS, AVERAGE MPG AND OTHER INFORMATION OF THIS NATURE. THIS SCREEN ALSO GIVE SAFETY WARNINGS LIKE BAD HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, WORN BREAK PADS, LOW WASHER FLUID, LOW ENGINE OIL AS WELL AS OTHERS. THIS SCREEN, AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, DOES INDEED PROVIDE CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTOMOBILE. *TR

CENTER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY DOES NOT FUNCTION. PIXELS WHICH DISPLAY CRITICAL VEHICLE WARNING INFORMATION ARE OUT AND ILLEGIBLE. PROBLEM IS PERMANENT AND ENTIRE CLUSTER HAS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

THE 2000-2002 AUDI S4S HAVE A VERY LARGE PROBLEM WITH THE INFORMATIONAL GAUGE CLUSTER SCREEN FAILING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. IT FAILS TO ALERT YOU OF THINGS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE LIKE BRAKE PAD WEAR, TAILLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, ENGINE ISSUES, VEHICLE SPEED, TEMPERATE (ISSUE WHEN ITS GETS FREEZING). THIS IS MOSTLY DUE TO RELYING ON THIS SCREEN FOR SO MANY YEARS. MANUAL CHECKS CAN BE DONE OBVIOUSLY BUT IT FAILS WITHOUT WARNING AND THAT CAN BE TO LATE IN MANY CASES. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE LED INDICATORS DIMMED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM TO PURCHASE A NEW CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THE TIME, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LED INDICATORS WERE TOO DIM TO ASSIST WITH THE WARNING INDICATORS NOTIFYING HIM OF A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF UPDATED 03/10/09. *JB

Mileage: 45,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS PIXEL LINES NOT SHOWING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION DISPLAYED BY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

THE PIXELS IN THE CLUSTER ARE GONE. THE CLUSTER DISPLAYS VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION AND I CAN'T SEE THEM BECAUSE THE PIXELS ARE DEAD. I SEE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

SCREEN IN GAUGE CLUSTER IS GOING BAD AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I CAN NOT READ IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. I HAVE NO WAY TO VIEW THE IMPORTANT VEHICLE INFORMATION ON MY CLUSTER AS THE PIXELS IN THE DISPLAY HAVE FAILED AND ARE NOW UNREADABLE, TEMP, ENGINE ISSUES ETC ALL APPEAR ON THIS SCREEN AND ARE UNREADABLE. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

MY INFORMATION DISPLAY IN MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAVE TOTALLY BLACKED OUT. IT USE TO WARNING ME IF BRAKES ARE WORN, IF ANY LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. FLUIDS NEED REFILL AND SO ON... *TR

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEM IN 2000 AUDI S4 THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIGITAL SCREEN HAS ALL OF ITS PIXELS MISSING OR MESSED UP. IT IS ESPECIALLY WORSE WHEN THE HEAT INCREASES. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS TO ME BECAUSE THIS SCREEN TELLS ME WHAT PROBLEMS MY CAR IS HAVING, WEATHER MY COOLANT IS LOW, HEADLIGHTS WORKING, ETC. IT WARNS ME OF NOTHING IF I CANNOT SEE IT. I FIND THIS DANGEROUS TO ME AND COULD ALSO CAUSE MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE CAR. *TR

PIXELS ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO GET SCRAMBLED THE CAR WAS SERVICED LAST MONTH AND BECAUSE I COULD NOT READ THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING LOW OIL MY MOTOR WAS NEARLY BLOWN. ALL WARNING LIGHTS COME ACROSS THAT PART OF THE CLUSTER AND NO WARNING IS VIEWABLE. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I DRIVE A 2000 AUDI S4. TODAY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. DUE TO THIS I WAS UNABLE TO KNOW HOW FAST I WAS GOING OR READ ANY OF THE VEHICLE SAFETY WARNINGS, WHICH MY VEHICLE'S DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM DISPLAYS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WHILE SPEAKING WITH THE AUDI DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FLAW THAT MUST BE CORRECTED. *TR

Mileage: 122,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING SYSTEM IS MISSING PIXELS AND I CAN'T SEE CERTAIN WARNINGS TO TELL ME IF MY CAR IS HAVING A SERIOUS PROBLEM OR NOT. *TR

2000 AUDI S4 PURCHASED USED AND CENTER TRIP ODOMETER IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. TRIP ODOMETER IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOU VEHICLE INFORMATION SO WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK YOU MAY NOT GET VALUABLE INFO THAT COULD HELP YOU AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR JUST A MAJOR CAR PROBLEM WHICH COULD COST A LOT TO FIX. *TR

Mileage: 87,285

INFORMATION DISPLAY IS ILLEGIBLE...DEAD PIXELS. *TR

Mileage: 513,000

DASHBOARD/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INFORMATION SCREEN HAS MORE THEN HALF OF IT PIXELS MISSING. I CAN NOT READ ANY INFORMATION FORM THE CAR, FOR EXAMPLE( CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE PADS ARE LOW, TEMP WARNINGS, DOOR AJAR. PUSH IN CLUTCH TO START, ETC. IT STARTED AS JUST A COUPLE OF PIXELS MISSING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE TO THE POINT THERE WILL BE NOTHING JUST A BEEP AND I WON'T KNOW WHY THE CAR IS BEEPING AT ME. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

MY 2000 AUDI S4 HAS MANY BAD PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT WARNS ME ABOUT SAFETY RELATED ITEMS. AUDI WILL NOT FIX THE ITEM WITHOUT CHARGE. *TR UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO 70% OF THE REPAIR WHICH COST $ 1,894.99 AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FOR FREE. UPDATED IVOQ 02/23/11

Mileage: 111,000

MY GAUGE CLUSTER, THE CENTER DISPLAY IS MISSING A THOUSAND PIXELS AND YOU CANT READ THE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ON THE CENTER DISPLAY AND MY RADIO KEEPS CUTTING IN AND OUT AND I FEEL IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

MY GAUGE CLUSTER, THE CENTER DISPLAY IS MISSING A THOUSAND PIXELS AND YOU CANT READ THE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ON THE CENTER DISPLAY AND MY RADIO KEEPS CUTTING IN AND OUT AND I FEEL IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYING THE DASHBOARD IS UNREADABLE PREVENTING THE OWNER FROM READING VITAL SAFETY ALERTS OR POSSIBLE HAZARDOUS FAILURES OF THE VEHICLE AND/OR ENGINE PARTS/COMPONENTS. ALSO REARVIEW MIRROR HAS TINTING DEFECTS CAUSING OBSTRUCTION OF VIEW. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENTAL PANEL DISPLAY HAS LINES ACROSS IT, WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM READING THE SCREEN. THIS IS A PERSISTENT FAILURE. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, HE WAS INFORMED THAT HE NEEDED TO PURCHASE A NEW CLUSTER FOR THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

DRIVERS INFORMATION DISPLAY FAILURE. NO WAY TO DISPLAY SAFETY INFORMATION, VEHICLE MONITORING ETC. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

2000 AUDI S4 INSTRUMENT DISPLAY FAILURE. DEAD PIXELS OR LINES DO NOT SHOW UP MAKING IN HARD TO READ DISPLAY INFORMATION. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LCD SCREEN THAT DISPLAYS SAFETY INFORMATION (BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT NOTIFICATION, LOW COOLANT, ETC.) HAS BEEN GRADUALLY LOSING FUNCTIONALITY MAKING IT HARDER AND HARDER TO READ. *TR

CENTER DISPLAY ON CAR IS BADLY FADED WITH SEVERAL PIXELS MISSING. MOST OF THE TIME THERE ARE SO MANY PIXELS MISSING IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ INFORMATION. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS THE DISPLAY SHOWS VITAL INFO ABOUT THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

2000 AUDI S4 WITH UNREADABLE GAUGE AND WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND THEY ARE NOT READABLE AT ALL. HIS BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS UNREADABLE. *KB WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD BEEP FOLLOWED BY A CONSTANT FLASHING OF A BLURRY DISPLAY WHICH THE CONSUMER COULD NOT READ. THE CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED THE FLASHING LIGHT WAS SUPPOSE TO SHOW THE BRAKE LEVEL SIGNAL/PAD SIGNAL LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS PUMP HAD FAILED.

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WERE NORMAL DAY TO DAY CONDITIONS THAT GO HAND AND HAND WITH NORMAL CAR USE. THE DISPLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER NOW HAS MISSING OR DEAD PIXEL ROWS PREVENTING THE DISPLAY OF MESSAGES SUCH AS, COOLANT LEVEL, BRAKE LAMP MALFUNCTION, AND ENGINE OIL LEVEL. *TR

Mileage: 147,986

THE DISPLAY CLUSTER IN MY 2000 AUDI S4 IS LOSING VISIBLE LINES: AS TIME GOES ON, LESS AND LESS OF MY DISPLAY IS READABLE AS MORE PIXELS STOP FUNCTIONING. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

(1)EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: A.TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT CONTINUES TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME AS PIXELS FAIL ON THE LCD DRIVERS INFORMATION DISPLAY IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER. (2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: A. PRESENTLY, THE CLUSTER IS UNREADABLE AND THUS INFORMATION VITAL TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ME. (3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE) A.NOTHING YET. TO REPAIR THE ITEM A COMPLETELY NEW GAUGE CLUSTER MUST BE PURCHASED. *TR

THE CENTER DISPLAY ON MY 2000 AUDI S4 STARTED HAVING MISSING PIXELS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. NOW IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I CANT EVEN READ THE AUTO-CHECK SYSTEM. 9 OUT OF THE 10 PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WITH THIS EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I REALLY THINK THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *JB

Mileage: 45,000

BAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY GOING BAD..CAN'T SEE ANY WARNING SYMBOLS IF THEY WERE TO SHOW. *JB

Mileage: 78,000

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON MAY OF 2007. THE CARS INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS WORKING FINE WHEN PURCHASED. ALL THE CARS CRITICAL INFORMATION IS DISPLAYED ON THE PANEL. A MONTH AFTER PURCHASED I NOTICED THAT THE PANEL INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. THE CAR WAS RUNNING LOW ON COOLANT BUT SINCE I COULD NOT READ THE DEPLOY I HAD NO IDEA UNTIL THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THE WATER PUMP BLEW. THE REPAIR ALONE COST ME $800.00. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHOULD HAVE DISPLAYED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW. SO I ALSO BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE ALL WARNING INFORMATION IS DISPLAYED ON THE CLUSTER; BRAKES, TEMPERATURE AND OIL. *TR

Mileage: 66,250

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO VIEW THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEAT FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Mileage: 92,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. THE CENTER PIXEL DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT PROPERLY DISPLAY ALL OF ITS FEATURES. THE DISPLAY BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CONTACT NEVER NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Mileage: 46,000

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. FAILURE IS CENTER DISPLAY IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LOST LINES, AND GOES SO DIM AT TIMES THAT I CAN'T READ ANYTHING ON IT. THE DISPLAY GIVES IMPORTANT INFO FOR FAILURES IN SYSTEM, LIKE BRAKES, HEADLIGHTS, OIL PRESSURE LOSS, ETC. AND IF I CANNOT READ/SEE IT I WONT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. *JB

2000 AUDI S4 CUSTOMER STATES THAT AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS HE DEVELOPED GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEMS*CC THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE FUEL, TEMPERATURE OR ENGINE SPEED. *JB

2000 AUDI S4 WITH GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEMS**NAR**CC THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED IN 2003 JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AUDI HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AUDI UK CHOSE TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT AUDI REPLACED THE CLUSTER IN HIS VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. *NM

2000 AUDI S4 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE GAUGE CLUSTER .**NAR*CC THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. *NM

POSTED COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT BATTERY ACID LEAKING ONTO CLUTCH LINE AND BRAKE LINE CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO BOTH LINES... SPOKE WITH AUDI AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REMOVED FOR THE BRAKE LINE TO BE FIXED... THE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT OF THIS LEAK IS DUE AN OVERCHARGED BATTERY DUE TO A JUMP OR MANUAL RE-CHARGE (NOTE: ACCORDING TO AUDI, NEVER REPLACE THE S4 BATTERY WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN WITH AN AUDI BATTERY... OF COURSE THEY WOULD SAY THIS, BUT HE WAS PRETTY CONVINCING... 2ND NOTE: I DO HAVE AN AUDI BATTERY IN MY S4, AND I'M STILL HAVING THE ISSUE... AUDI MAY HELP PAY FOR THIS B/C OF THAT FACT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COMMITTED TO IT UNTIL FURTHER INVESTIGATION). THE TOTAL, ACCORDING TO OVER-THE-PHONE DIAGNOSING, WAS GOING TO BE B/N 1 AND 2 THOUSAND BUCKS AT THE DEALER.*AK

Mileage: 59,000

LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN AN AUDI S4 WITH 50,000 MILES, I AM HAVING BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES. ONLY MINE ARE MUCH MORE SEVERE THAT WHAT I HAVE READ THUS FAR. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR IT'S 60000, AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHT. LEADING UP TO THE REPAIR, I HAD BEEN *LOSING BRAKE FLUID* ALMOST MONTHLY. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN, FOR ANY REASON. BUT, MY MECHANIC TOOK THREE HOURS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING SULFURIC ACID ONTO MY BRAKE LINE, MY POWER STEERING LINE, AND MY CLUTCH LINE. HE STATED, "ONLY A MECHANICAL MORON WOULD HOUSE THE METAL AND STEAL CABLES UNDERNEATH SULFURIC ACID." CONSEQUENTLY, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR ANY MORE AND THE REPAIRS INLCUDE THE TAKING OUT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO GET TO THE SOURCE, WHICH MAY/MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE FIXED. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE, AND THAT THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS TYPE OF DESIGN-FLAW IS OBVIOUS AND CERTAIN. I EXPECT AUDI WILL NOT COVER THIS DEFECT, CAUSING ME TO SHELL OUT, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS, 2-3,000 BUCKS TO GET IT REPLACED. [XXX] THE MAN. I'LL POST MORE WHEN I KNOW MORE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 56,000

MY AUDI S4 WAS ALMOST STOLEN IN NJ RIGHT BY ROUTE 9 IN FORT LEE. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS DRILLED OUT TO TRY AND CIRCUMVENT THE ALARM. LUCKILY, SOMETHING SPPOKED THEM OR THE CLUB WAS A DETERRENT. STILL, IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS EASY TO STEAL THIS CAR LIKE THIS. I'VE HEARD OF MANY STOLEN THIS WAY. AUDI PUT IN A CRAPPY ALARM THAT DOES NOT WORK UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS...

THE ALARM SYSTEM ON THE 1999-2002 AUDI S$ IS DEFECTIVE AND USELESS WHEN THE DOOR LOCK IS SIMPLY PUNCHED OUT WITH A SCREWDRIVER.*AK

ALL AUDI S4'S PRODUCED FROM MID 1999 TO 2002 SUFFER FROM AN INEFFECTIVE ALARM SYSTEM. THE MODEL YEARS ARE 2000, 2001, AND 2002. DUE THIS DEFECT THESE VEHICLES ARE BEING STOLEN AT AN ALARMING RATE OFF OF EVERY STREET CORNER IN THE NYC METRO AREA. THE AUDI S4 WAS A LIMITED PRODUCTION RUN VEHICLE. LESS THEN 15000 WERE IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES FOR SALE BY AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA. FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE NUMBER 25 OF THE TOP 25 CARS STOLEN IN NEW JERSEY SHOWS COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF AUDI. (NICB-- HTTP://WWW.NICB.ORG/PUBLIC/NEWSROOM/WHEREISMYCAR/TOP25BYSTATE.CFM#NJ ) THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THAT LIST HAVE YEARLY PRODUCTION NUMBERS THAT GO WELL OVER 25000 UNITS PER YEAR. THE AUDI A8 RECEIVED AN IMMOBILIZER FOR 2000+ MODELS. TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS AUDI SKIPPED FITTING S4'S WITH IMMOBILIZERS. FOR THIS REASON I CANNOT PARK MY CAR ANYWHERE IN NEW JERSEY BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL NOT BE THERE WHEN I COME BACK. AUDI NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND ADD IMMOBILIZER SYSTEMS OR ELSE NONE WILL EXIST IN THE NYC METRO AREA. THEY ALSO NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE DOOR AREA AROUND THE DOORS LOCK CYLINDER. ALMOST ALL S4S THAT WERE STOLEN IN NEW JERSEY, HAD A SCREW DRIVER TAKEN TO THE DOOR NEAR THE HANDLE. THEY PUNCH AND HOLE LIFT/PUSH THE LOCK PLUNGER BAR UP AND THE ALARM IS DISABLED!!!!! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ANY CAR LET ALONE ONE THAT IS THIS EXPENSIVE. THIEVES WILL OFTEN DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 140 MPH ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS JOY RIDING, AND CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE. *JB

THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON MY 2000 AUDI S4 HAS NO ENGINE IMMOBILIZER, THEREFORE MAKING IT NOT NEARLY AS EFFECTIVE AS IT COULD BE. THERE ARE MANY MANY THEFTS (ESPECIALLY IN THE NY,NJ AREA) OF S4S, AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT A LOT OF THESE THEFTS WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF AUDI HAD MADE THE ALARM IN THE S4 WORTHWHILE (AFTER ALL, WE DID PAY FOR AN ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN THE CAR). I KNOW THAT I WOULD WORRY A LOT LESS ABOUT MY INVESTMENT IF I HAD A PROPER FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM IN THE CAR. *JB

THE AUDI S4 FROM 2000-2002 LACKS AN ALARM CAPABLE OF PREVENTING EASY THEFT. THERE IS NO IMMOBILIZER AND THE CARS ALARM CAN BE EASILY BYPASSED AND STARTED WITH A SIMPLE SCREWDRIVER. S4 THEFTS ARE HIGH, COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF THESE CARS ACTUALLY MADE THE THEFTS ARE GROSSLY UNPROPORTIONAL. PERSONALLY I HAVE HAD TO GET AN AFTERMARKET ALARM OUT OF THE FEAR THAT MY HIGH-PERFORMANCE AUTOMOBILE CAN BE STOLEN BY SOME KID WITH A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER. *JB

AUDI S4 AUTO ALARM/IMMOBILIZER CAN BE EASILY DEACTIVATED. DEACTIVATION THROUGH PUNCHING A SCREWDRIVER THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR KEY LOCK, WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE THE BOTH THE CAR'S ALARM AND ITS IMMOBILIZER. SO FAR, I PERSONALLY KNOW OF MORE THAN 30 VEHICLES BEING STOLEN WHILST USING THIS METHOD IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ALONE IN THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD TO TAKE ACTION THROUGH INSTALLING ADDITIONAL SECURITY MODIFICATIONS, RISKING NULLIFICATION OF THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY, IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND AVOID VEHICLE THEFT. *JB

TOO MANY AUDI S4S ARE BEING STOLEN AROUND THE BOSTON, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PHILLY AREA. THERE WAS A SPECIAL ON THE NEWS IN BOSTON ABOUT JUST HOW EASY IT IS TO STEAL THE XENON HEADLIGHTS (1 MINUTE). NO IMMOBILIZER WAS ADDED TO THE S4 ALTHOUGH OTHER AUDI MODELS RECEIVED ONE AS WELL AS LOWER PRICED SISTER COMPANY VOLKSWAGEN'S JETTA STARTING IN 1999. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SECURITY FOR A 40,000 PLUS DOLLAR CAR. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVING THEIR S4S STOLEN OR BEING ROBBED OF THEIR ALMOST 1000 DOLLAR XENON HEADLIGHTS-NOT TO MENTION PEOPLE HURTING THE CAR (1000S OF DOLLARS DAMAGE) TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS. AUDI NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND RETROFIT THE VEHICLE WITH MORE SECURITY. *JB