2002 Audi S4 Avant problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWN A 2002 AUDI S4. THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED HALF OF THE DISPLAY WAS WELL LIT WHILE THE OTHER HALF WAS NOT. OCCASIONALLY THERE WAS ALSO AN ODOR SIMILAR TO ELECTRICAL SMOKE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SINCE THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DO NOT REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT A CABLE MAY BE DISCONNECTED WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH MAY BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ONE YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”

“THE BRAKES BOOST/VACUUM ASSIST LINE CHECK VALVE CRACKS APART INTO TWO PIECES. THIS CAUSES THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE POWER ASSISTED BRAKE SYSTEM IN THE CAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARNING ABOUT THE PENDING LOSS OF BRAKES. ONE SECOND YOU HAVE BRAKES THE NEXT IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO PUSH A BRICK THRU THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE TRYING TO GET IT TO STOP. *NM”

“THE DRIVER'S SEAT EXPERIENCED A ROCKING MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED POSSIBLE SEAT FRAME DAMAGE. *AK THE SEAT WOULD ROCK FORWARD AND BACKWARD UPON ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANY FURTHER REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE. THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHERE THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WAS LOCATED.*SCC *JB”

“I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 36,XXX MILES ON IT. THE CENTER LCD SCREEN DOES NOT WORK. THE CAR IS PRACTICALLY BRAND NEW AND THE CENTER CLUSTER INFORMATION CENTER IS BUSTED. ITS BARELY READABLE, BUT DISPLAY IMPORTANT USER DIAGNOSTIC/INFO ABOUT THE CAR (SERVICE LIGHTS, ETC). THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROMPT A RECALL. IT'S A 2002 AUDI S4, 2.7T THE PREVIOUS OWNER COMPLAINED TO ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT IT NEVER WORKED FOR HIM EITHER. (HE OWNED CAR FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS+). *TR”

“CAM COVER OIL LEAKS DISCOVERED AFTER 50,000 MILE SERVICE AT APPROX 48,500 MILES 11/7/05. AUDI TSB 05-03, NOV. 2, 2005 COVERING 2000-2006 MODELS A4, CABRIOLET, TT, A6, S4, ALLROAD, A8, S8, AND RS6 WITH ENGINES 1.8T, 2.8 V6, 2.7 V6T, AND 4.2 V8 STATES THAT IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS AND THE AREA IS WET WITH FLUID RESIDUE OR DROPLETS THAT ARE NOT COMING OFF, TO CLEAN THE OIL STAINED AREA AND TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT IT COULD BE THE RESULT OF SPILLAGE WHEN TOPPING OFF OR NORMAL GASKET "SWEATING" AND IS NOT INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION. IF FOUND AND NO CUSTOMER COMPLAINT, NO ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN. IF FOUND AND ONLY IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS, THEN REPLACE GASKETS AND LEAK TEST THE ENGINE. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE POLICY OF HIDING BY LACK OF DISCLOSURE, THE LEAK AND UNFAIRLY SHIFTING THE COST OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT TO THE CUSTOMER. AUDI NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FORCED TO COVER THESE LEAKS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND NOTIFY OWNERS TO BRING THEIR CARS IN FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. *JB”