Known clutch failure issue for B7 RS4 ?

[richmay76]

My car is in the dealer workshop for the second time for a brand new clutch (including slave cylinder this time, I'm told). Last time (only 2000 miles ago, and the car only has approx 4500 on the clock) it was a new vacuum assist line and clutch assembly. Previously the clutch was slipping on down changes (an issue raised here and on other Audi forums numerous times) and burning.

Recently (after first replacement) it was still doing that (although it was never something I could replicate in order to test it) but also simply burning and slipping whilst tootling along at 5mph and stop-start in a 30 min traffic jam. So it's in again.

I'm thoroughly pissed off. To their credit, the dealer has insisted that Audi UK cover everything under warranty (Audi were laying on the usual "driving style" crap) and have been really great under the circumstances (Finchley Road Audi) but if it happens again I'll be officially rejecting the car. I have little confidence left in this vehicle.

I do not drive the car hard. It's done a lot of town driving in it's 4000 or so miles, so lots of clutch, but I do not ride it. Never tracked. This (literally) stinks and it stinks even more when Audi CS claim not to know anything about any RS4 clutch issues. I don't believe them. I swear the clutch isn't tough enough for this car. Design fault? Unlikely that Audi, self-proclaimed purveyors of 'style and sportiness' will admit to a DESIGN fault. Jeez.

This is an interesting thread: http://www.tt-forum.co.uk/ttforumbbs/vi ... c17fd88321

Anybody else had any further clutch issues?

Thanks in advance

[ARSEY4]

No my clutch is fine. Only issue I have with it is that it very slightly judders when I am doing very slow speed moves like putting it in the garage or parking.

[audijohn]

My clutch has been good so far, fingers crossed.

[mrdeli]

No clutch issues with my or my brothers car al all?

[GlynRS2]

No my clutch is fine. Only issue I have with it is that it very slightly judders when I am doing very slow speed moves like putting it in the garage or parking.

Mine is the same, but no slipping.

[t_urbo]

My car is in the dealer workshop for the second time for a brand new clutch (including slave cylinder this time, I'm told). Last time (only 2000 miles ago, and the car only has approx 4500 on the clock) it was a new vacuum assist line and clutch assembly. Previously the clutch was slipping on down changes (an issue raised here and on other Audi forums numerous times) and burning.

Recently (after first replacement) it was still doing that (although it was never something I could replicate in order to test it) but also simply burning and slipping whilst tootling along at 5mph and stop-start in a 30 min traffic jam. So it's in again.

I'm thoroughly pissed off. To their credit, the dealer has insisted that Audi UK cover everything under warranty (Audi were laying on the usual "driving style" crap) and have been really great under the circumstances (Finchley Road Audi) but if it happens again I'll be officially rejecting the car. I have little confidence left in this vehicle.

I do not drive the car hard. It's done a lot of town driving in it's 4000 or so miles, so lots of clutch, but I do not ride it. Never tracked. This (literally) stinks and it stinks even more when Audi CS claim not to know anything about any RS4 clutch issues. I don't believe them. I swear the clutch isn't tough enough for this car. Design fault? Unlikely that Audi, self-proclaimed purveyors of 'style and sportiness' will admit to a DESIGN fault. Jeez.

This is an interesting thread: http://www.tt-forum.co.uk/ttforumbbs/vi ... c17fd88321

Anybody else had any further clutch issues?

Thanks in advance

Do some searches on other forums as i have seen quite a few posts regarding clutch problems.

The clutch is the weak link in the system but then something has to give under loading and as its 4 wheel drive its the clutch.

I think the clutch is very weak and should have been of a better grade or size even if it meant poorer drivability.

When i was logging 0-60 and 0-100 times the clutch was what let the times down as it was slipping on almost every run. That said i have been lucky in that i have done over 20 standing starts and the clutch is still holding in there.

[pippyrips]

Although my is fine (at least for now) i have heard of this and it is a known issue. My friend had his replaced twice under warrenty due to this though i still can't help thinknig his drving style encouraged the problem!

[davers4]

Mine has been fine and the car has now covered over 20k, the only thing i would say is it is a little juddery on gear changes when cold.

[Peakz]

I was at a trackday at Donington earlier this year and a new RS4 blew its clutch on the main pit straight, the owner later had it replaced under warranty.

As t_urbo has suggested, do some research on the web and don't let them get one over on you.

Good luck.

[richmay76]

Thanks guys - in the process of gathering as much info as possible, just in case!

[55JWB]

I have a client who's clutch folded very quickly, the driving style thing is bollox, why would you create a sporty car with a built in lap timer for track driving and then expect people to drive it like their mum is sitting next to them all the time!!??

[t_urbo]

Maybe Audi stuck a crappy clutch it the B7 RS4 because none of them are pumping out the 414hp/420bhp so they dont need it.

[Love_iTT]

I started a thread a while back about the same thing:

http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... ht=#198430

This is certainly not a one off thing and has happen to a few RS4's on here let alone the many we don't hear of who are not on this forum.

It only ever happened the once to me and the dealer couldn't find anything wrong at the time, it has been logged though and will bought forward again if it does repeat itself again.

Touch wood though, all seems to be fine at the moment.

Graham

[jbtco]

It was interesting at an Audi driving experience day at Silverstone recently they were very protective of the RS4 clutches repeatedly stressing that we must be careful not to ride the clutch. They didn't make the same comments about the S5s and TTs.

Their Swedish rally driver instructor didn't seem to be so bothered, I am still recovering from a hot lap with him piloting an Rs sideways, flicking from left to right for the whole way round the short track they had laid out.

[richmay76]

I have a client who's clutch folded very quickly, the driving style thing is bollox, why would you create a sporty car with a built in lap timer for track driving and then expect people to drive it like their mum is sitting next to them all the time!!??

Exactly. I bet my left testicle that if, for example, Evo magazine's long term RS4 had suffered the same fate they'd have issued a recall faster than you could blink. Cheaper to suck up all the warranty claims time after time than come clean about a "defect" on what has been wholeheartedly embraced by the press - otherwise for very good reason - as one of the best performance cars in its class. A blot in the RS4 copy book would hit the performance Audi PR machine right in the nuts.

As previously stated, my car has emphatically not been driven hard (I have a 9 month old in the back seat most of the time!) but had I actually caned it around a track every weekend I'd *still* be fuming about two frazzled clutches within 4500 miles. I just don't buy the "we've never heard about that before" line.