Watchdog & DRC

[davidfox123]

Hi,

I've just had the usual banging etc start at 51k miles on my RS6. I'm going to post this on RS4 forum as well as I'm told b y APS that they are even worse! Went to local dealer, offered to reduce the billl by 25% to get my servicing work as a gesture. They had tried Audi who weren't interested as car is 2004. I'm going to take this further as I think it stinks. I've emailed Watchdog as my first port of call. Don't know if anybody else has tried this before. Do you all think a mass approach to them would help? If so cut ands past the following or make up your own if you can be bothered. TT Forum did the same over dodgy dash & won once it had appeared on TV.

My main thoughts are

1/Why have they started fitting rubber covers if they weren't needed in the first place?

2/Sale of Good Act states " In general, the onus is on all purchasers to prove the goods did not conform to contract (e.g. was inherently faulty) and should have reasonably lasted until this point in time (i.e. perishable goods do not last for six years)." In my opinion suspension should last more than 50k on any vehicle.

3/ If it's wear & tear then why do they replace under warranty?

4/ In a large number of cases it doesn't cure the problem as they fail again.

I would also very much like to know how many times Audi have repaired/replaced against the number of cars sold worldwide.

Comments please

Thanks, Dave

[Rupert]

Mine has been replaced or repaired 6 times in 40k miles on my 04 car, starting at just 6k miles with a very leaky central valve. To me, and anyone sensible, that says "inherently faulty".

Unfortunately, I'm way too ugly to appear on TV.

[NumberoftheBeast]

Unfortunately, I'm way too ugly to appear on TV.

I think you're quite a looker, Rupert...

[Rupert]

You caught me on a good day.

[NumberoftheBeast]

[tartan_rob]

Why not try this guy and a below are a few tips when contacting him, he is the CEO of Audi.

- Be polite
- Send mail as private and confidential
- Keep the information concise and to the point, this guy is busy and won't bother if you go into too much detail or detract from the facts
- Include customer reference numbers or invoice numbers, if applicable
- Include a brief history of the issue, if applicable
- Do not accept being passed back to "Customer Services" or elsewhere within the organisation
- Insist on a personal reply from the CEO

If you're working as part of a campaign group, send a personal, individually-created letter. Letters which are cut/pasted from a standard template will invariably receive a standard template response in reply...

rupert.stadler@audi.de

Let us know how you get on.

[Cornishmoocher]

Audi are doing mine again under warranty (on a 2003 car) with no questions. Ok the warranty is only 6 months old at present, but they could not have been more obliging. Guess I am lucky to have and audi warranty, really do not know what they can do if the car is out of warranty or 2nd or 3rd hand, I think legally they will not be obliged to do anything in that situation. In my case i have been told that when my warranty expires in 3 years 6 months time, (if I still have the car) that the failures will occur at every 11 months and 29 days!
What is worrying is that they have it on the new RS6 too, and as you have said, people withn B7 RS4s have had 1 or more failures already. I do not know what they can do, apart from change them when failed and re pressurise the valves ( there are two machines to do this in the UK at teh moment 1 in the training centre nd one in scotland for some bizarre reason). I cannot see how they can issue a general recall or continue to replace them for the life of the car as much as we would all like them to.

Good luck mate, I know the guy's who have emailed Audi boss here have had a good response, Grant I think was one !

[mattysupra]

why dont you all write seperate letter to watch dog? I would do if mine failed but seems i have been lucky! I think you guys who have changed for bilstien ect should also write in. Might be able to claim your money back for having to put another companys suspension on to solve problem!

[davidfox123]

cornishmoocher,

My point really is do you want to be taking your car back every few months to rectify this design fault even if you're not paying? Sale of Goods Act states that they do have to do something even if it is out of warranty. My biggest reason for doing this is they aren't safe, mines collapsed and is wearing it's way through a brake pipe. Good job I decided to go to the South of France in my wife's car other wise this could have failed 1000 miles from home. Not what I expect from a quality car manufacturer when paying £4000 never mind £40k for a used car. Especially when they've just declared profits of 3 billion euros. I'm in business to make money but not in this way. If I treated my clients like this they'd complin (rightly) & win.

[Duffs]

I haven't even driven my car since taking delivery and i am worried about the DRC system!!!!!!

Duffs

[Duffs]

You are lucky Rupert, here is a picture of me and my brother/father/uncle

Duffs

[Cornishmoocher]

Dave,

No you are right, It is a pain in the arse, and why I have asked them to change it for a set of bili's, or give me the cost of doing such. Interestingly, it was not thrown out out of hand!
I think that if i was worried about my warranty and it was going to cost me it would be a completely differewnt matter, I am sure I would be like a dog with a bone and wouldn't give up. The truth is that I think there are people out there better qualified than me to fight the DRC corner, but I will of course put my name to any corespondance that was put forward to highlight the issue and help others, as I said before, I just don't know what they can do about it. ( not the same as "don't want them to do anything about it"!)
If someone comes up with a plan of action that is a positive way forward, E.G as mentioned a generic letter, with all of our names/reg Nos and number of failures, i will of course support it.
Perhaps we should get a delegation up and have a meeting with the AA or RAC and ask them for advice, after all, they don't just provide breakdown service.

[davidfox123]

I've now emailed CEO of Audi and requested a personal response, wait & see or don't hold your breath - we'll see!

[tombs]

Perhaps it might be easier to go directly to the manufacturers to see what they have to say?
http://www.kayaba.co.uk/distributor/pr/2004-10.html

[ElginEdition]

no more drc probs for me, just put a set of h+r coilovers on, the best move i've done since owning the car. it still cheeses me off tho, my car has done 55k and the drc has been replaced twice. surely audi have an obligation to accept there is a design fault with this system.