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Audi A4 Reliability

148 messages,  Last post on Feb 21, 2013 at 1:49 AM

You are in the Audi A4 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A4, Auto Repair, Sedan

Messages Page 7 of 15

#61 of 148 Re: *Yawn* [utahjake] by rascal99

May 09, 2008 (6:31 am)

Replying to: utahjake (May 09, 2008 4:55 am)
Every car maker delivers lemons once in a while. What's interesting is how one car can have every single seemingly unrelated problem while others are bulletproof. How does that happen?
 
Anyway, it is how the manufacturer stands behind their product that matters. I have a 2007 A4 that thankfully falls into the bulletproof category, thus far; however, I fear the day I would have to pursue Audi for any warranty related problems. My theory is the weak dollar is hurting them so much they are pretty tight about their warranty claims and just overall cost containment. Interestingly, I have owned two BMW's in my life and I find BMW does a much better job at satisfying "damaged" owners and keeping them in the co. fold.

#62 of 148 Re: *Yawn* [utahjake] by me1522

May 11, 2008 (6:05 pm)

Replying to: utahjake (May 09, 2008 4:55 am)
Oh yeah I see where you are coming from. I guess it all depends on what your experience is as to how you like the company in the end. I had a good one so i am satisfied, you obviously had a bad one so I feel you are right in searching for a company that better suits you. I guess in a way we are both right, but I really don't have to much experience with dealing with Audi because I have never had to so I cant say anything about how they are.

#63 of 148 Re: Audi A4 AWD 100K [gertrudeaudi] by me1522

May 11, 2008 (6:24 pm)

Replying to: gertrudeaudi (Dec 05, 2007 3:42 am)
I'm going to tell you the same thing I told the other guy. "you cant judge a company from some crapy dealership, or some guys bad experience." I have owned and own a few Audi's, and they have been incredible cars. I haven't had to do any major repairs on any of them. Now I have heard that Audi is a hard company to deal with but so far all my experiences have been good, at least with my dealerships. And the company itself has treated me well, the few times I have talked with them, so what are you warning me of? My Audi's are the best cars I have owned.

#64 of 148 not a great experience by cneff

May 24, 2008 (7:47 pm)

I occasionally come back to these forums to see if Audi has improved, being a previous owner and having a terrible experience I find myself still curious as to if I was just unlucky. I may get slammed for this but I do not think I was. What I have noticed is that if your Audi works it will work very well, however, if it is giving you issues, and those Audi issues are severe, you are all by yourself.
 
Dealers seem incapable to fix the problem or just flat out tell you to take it somewhere else. Sure Audi of America folks are friendly, but only until they actually have to do something. Too many apologies, too little action and too many smoke screens - those of you who have experienced it know what I mean. Of course I know German cars can be problematic, I will not go into detail on what my issues were, but the Hubble telescope, on a bad day, was far more reliable. Here is just one example - each time I used my headlamp washers fuses blew, winter or summer. 4 dealers and a real Audi tech produced shrugged shoulders - Audi's final answer; I'm having a unique experience - ever fixed; no
 
I've had reliability issues with another brand of German car but that company supported me and my issues were not nearly as severe and I did not even have to ask.
 
How did it end up, well we ended up in court and Audi's lawyer convinced them to pay me, yes their own lawyer. What does that tell you?
 
Anyway - I'll continue to read the Audi forums to see if Audi ever 'gets' it. Bitter, maybe...disappointed, most definitly

#65 of 148 Audi A4 1.9 tdi (130) by richuk

Jun 03, 2008 (8:09 pm)

HELP!!!!!!!... ok im wondering if any audi owners can help me with some problems with mine!!.... First all 4 Front speakers are crackling but when you turn the sound up it stops!!.... second, the traction control light comes on - then the glow plug warning light flashes, then the car goes into a "safe mode" (1500 rpm limited).. but this seems to slear itself after about 30 mins stopped its happened 5 times now in two months............ THEN!! theres an unusual "squeak" whenever i go over a speedbump, NO garage can fix it!!............ THEN!! theres my front o/s headlight im assumin its a loose connection but i just wanna moan!!.... LAST!!! theres my door, The bloody rattling window!........ i know im moaning but the traction control light issue is my main concern, i know its going to cost me a FORTUNE in audi to have it diagnosed, if anyone has had simular problems PLEASE PLEASE get intouch, (rc3982hotmail.com).... my summary is, LOVELY looking / driving / powerful car but dear god dont buy one unless its got one hell of a warrenty!! my car is 4 years old (52) with 52k on the clock and look at the problems, i had before this a vauxhall cavalier 15 years old 1.6 petrol 89k on when she got stolen... i NEVER opened the bonnet other than regular servicing... take advise, audis are lovely, but any problems NOT minor... thanks ya'll!! Richard Clayton (sheffield-England)

#66 of 148 Won't Buy an Audi by roblaw

Jun 14, 2008 (3:05 pm)

The new A4 seems to be a great vehicle from a driving standpoint. I was strongly considering it for the all around driving appeal and practicality. I won't. I have read too many horror stories on these websites. However, I may have considered one if I believed Audi of America or the dealers will stand behind the cars. Most postings indicated that in addition to poor reliability, neither the manufacturer nor the dealer understand that when someone pays big $ for a vehicle they are entitled to be treated a certain way. My 07' Lexus is far from exciting and does not have the ride/handling balance of an Audi (although it would seem Audi could make the ride a bit more comfortable without ruining the handling). However, the vehicle is basically trouble free and the dealer gives me a free Lexus loaner and picks up and drops off the vehicle for free for service. When I mentioned a very slight pulsing in the brake pedal on a 5000 mile service the car was returned to me with 4 new rotors and sets of pads, far more than I expected. This is why Lexus, despite having somewhat boring vehicles sells very well. Audi should take a lesson since the entire ownership experience matters.

#67 of 148 Re: Won't Buy an Audi [roblaw] by rjlaero

Jun 16, 2008 (7:23 am)

Replying to: roblaw (Jun 14, 2008 3:05 pm)
Lexus was created for the US market. Audi has a lot bigger picture to look at world wide. It's incredibly expensive to build cars in Germany and ship to the US.
 
Lexus gives it's dealerships a huge profit margin and wads of cash to give customers everythign they want. They don't have to worry about the rest of the world.
 
Lexus sells service more than cars, and people buy into it. It's not wright or wrong, it's just what they do.

#68 of 148 Re: Won't Buy an Audi [roblaw] by rascal99

Jun 16, 2008 (7:29 am)

Replying to: roblaw (Jun 14, 2008 3:05 pm)
That's funny since I have had absolutely NO problems with my A4. Every time I take the A4 in for scheduled service I also get a loaner, the last one being a fairly new A4. The local Audi dealership treats me very well. So, I am nervously waiting for the engine to self destruct and Audi to turn their back on me. After all a couple people posting on an internet message board told me so.
 
I understand your point; however, there ARE a few satisfied Audi owners (i.e. happy with the car AND happy with the service). Yes, if my engine inexplicably blew I would rather be driving the Lexus if given the choice; but, I would not base my buying decision on that.

#69 of 148 Re: Won't Buy an Audi [rjlaero] by rascal99

Jun 16, 2008 (7:41 am)

Replying to: rjlaero (Jun 16, 2008 7:23 am)
I think it also may be a cultural issue. The Germans do not approach customer service in the same manner as the Japanese and North Americans. Their philosophy is the producer is always right, as in "We build cars for a living, you do not. You will accept what we deliver and you will like it". I provide BMW I-Drive as an example. After owning four German cars and spending time in Germany I can attest to this. They have always produced great quality products, but reliability has always taken a back seat. I think the market has been changing their attitude regarding reliability and service for the better.

#70 of 148 Re: *Yawn* [carfan65] by huntzinger

Jun 17, 2008 (2:32 pm)

Replying to: carfan65 (Dec 02, 2007 2:29 pm)
It is never surprising on these post sites to hear horror stories. Our family is on our 4th Audi, and getting ready to look at a new A5 once they are available
 
Your 4th Audi? Must have had something horrible with some of the earlier ones.
 
My wife has been driving an Audi since 1990. She's still on just her second one.
 
Her job takes her to downtown Newark NJ (#22 on the Morgan Quit no Press's list of most dangerous cities in the USA) on a daily basis, so she does not tolerate any vehicle that's an inch less than rock solid reliable.
 
She is shopping for a new vehicle right now, as her 8.5 year old 2000 A4 1.8T Quattro will need a new set snow tires for this winter. Currently, she's trying to decide between picking up a leftover 2008 Audi A3 within the next month, or to custom-order a 2009 A3 and probably having to wait until January for it, because the color she wants is on 'delayed introduction', which mucks up the idea of replacing the car before it needs $500 for new tires. If she doesn't get what she wants, I expect that she'll keep the A4 for another year or three, which may be a disappointment to three friends who are interested in buying it from us.
 
-hh

Messages Page 7 of 15

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