DRC- Group representation to Audi UK
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Condor24
- 3rd Gear
- Posts: 487
- Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:18 pm
- Location: Rural France & London (on occasions)
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Stuart, information sent by PM ...
"Understated uber wagen speaks loudest'
2003 Avant Daytona Grey owned from new. 64k miles of September 2018. Bilstein shocks / Hotchkis AR / Brake upgrade
Audi RS6 C6 Avant MTM Stage 1 & Miltek Sold
Audi RS4 Avant B5 Sold
Audi S4 B5 Avant 6 spd Sold
Audi S2 Coupe 230 bhp 6 spd Sold
2003 Avant Daytona Grey owned from new. 64k miles of September 2018. Bilstein shocks / Hotchkis AR / Brake upgrade
Audi RS6 C6 Avant MTM Stage 1 & Miltek Sold
Audi RS4 Avant B5 Sold
Audi S4 B5 Avant 6 spd Sold
Audi S2 Coupe 230 bhp 6 spd Sold
I have a couple of things to say.
Firstly good luck!
I have just started looking at RS6's to replace my M3 because my better half thinks that another Mini Me would be a good idea. I have to say that I am utterly appalled at the number of reported DRC failures I have read about, and disgusted at Audi's apparent lack of interest in the situation.
However the total lack of interest from Audi doesnt surprise me in the least! The VAG group seem to have a total lack of interest or understanding when it comes to issues like this. I dealt with VW's Customer Care and complaints dept over problems we had with a previous car. Despite me working for Cosworth Technology at the time (then owned by Audi) their basic response was that despite everything we showed and told them they would not do anything about it. If we were unhappy with that well it was basically my word against theirs and they were VW!!!!!!!
In the nicest possible way they were a bunch of crooks who had little to no technical understanding and whose sole purpose appeared to be to make customers so fed up that they give up pursuing the problem, rather than actually helping any of them!!!
I hope that in the intervening few years that the VAG group would have improved but it sounds like that hasn't happenned.
As far as the DRC failure is concerned, when it fails does it give you a car that behaves not at its optimum or are there actual safety concerns?
I only wondered if that could be used?
If Audi are made formally aware of the potential dangers but still do nothing to remedy the problem could they not then be held accountable for future issues?
I still find it hard to believe that they havent done something about it.
Surely Audi's failure is in not acknowledging the issue, you would complain to Audi because they produce the car, but a DRC issue should then be passed on by Audi to whomever makes the DRC units for them.
Whats the difficulty?
Firstly good luck!
I have just started looking at RS6's to replace my M3 because my better half thinks that another Mini Me would be a good idea. I have to say that I am utterly appalled at the number of reported DRC failures I have read about, and disgusted at Audi's apparent lack of interest in the situation.
However the total lack of interest from Audi doesnt surprise me in the least! The VAG group seem to have a total lack of interest or understanding when it comes to issues like this. I dealt with VW's Customer Care and complaints dept over problems we had with a previous car. Despite me working for Cosworth Technology at the time (then owned by Audi) their basic response was that despite everything we showed and told them they would not do anything about it. If we were unhappy with that well it was basically my word against theirs and they were VW!!!!!!!
In the nicest possible way they were a bunch of crooks who had little to no technical understanding and whose sole purpose appeared to be to make customers so fed up that they give up pursuing the problem, rather than actually helping any of them!!!
I hope that in the intervening few years that the VAG group would have improved but it sounds like that hasn't happenned.
As far as the DRC failure is concerned, when it fails does it give you a car that behaves not at its optimum or are there actual safety concerns?
I only wondered if that could be used?
If Audi are made formally aware of the potential dangers but still do nothing to remedy the problem could they not then be held accountable for future issues?
I still find it hard to believe that they havent done something about it.
Surely Audi's failure is in not acknowledging the issue, you would complain to Audi because they produce the car, but a DRC issue should then be passed on by Audi to whomever makes the DRC units for them.
Whats the difficulty?
For those of you registered on Audisrs, have a look here http://audisrs.com/about163.html This was my attempt to pull the some of information together.
DRC problems - symptoms.
This is by no means a definitive list but:
DRC problems - symptoms.
This is by no means a definitive list but:
- Clanking from the rear shocks when going over uneven roads.
Body pitch and roll more than normal
Poor cornering - understeer
Car become unstable under high speed braking (veers from side to side)
More vibration through the pedals.
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HungryPigeon
- Neutral
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:23 pm
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posterboyj
- 4th Gear
- Posts: 652
- Joined: Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:44 pm
- Location: Suffolk
Hi,
Any attempt to make Audi responsible for the mess they have made regarding DRC issues gets my support.
My 24,000 mile Avant had a whole system replaced and then at 31,000 I had Two more shocks leaking and gave up on the DRC (and Audi) and went for a set of coilovers mostly at my own expense.
Any attempt to make Audi responsible for the mess they have made regarding DRC issues gets my support.
My 24,000 mile Avant had a whole system replaced and then at 31,000 I had Two more shocks leaking and gave up on the DRC (and Audi) and went for a set of coilovers mostly at my own expense.
03 Mugello Blue Avant, Silver Leather, Carbon Fibre, Alcantara Headlining, MFSW, Electric folding Mirrors. H&R Coilovers, Hotchkis ARB's, Res Miltek, APR R1's, ITG Filters, RNS-E, OEM Bluetooth, Digital Freeview and Headrest Monitors, Aero Wipers, Rear Aero Wiper and R/H parking Mod, Rear Fog mod, Valentine 1.
right i dunno whats going wrong here but im not getting any of your pm's guys, dunno whats up there, but if ppl would like me to put thier cases forward, and wish to send me details then try to my personal emial: StuartHurd@gmail.com
Its totally upto you if you want to send me anything, but the more the merrier i guess!
Its totally upto you if you want to send me anything, but the more the merrier i guess!
Many thanks to thoise who have forwarded thier details to me, i will be putting your individual cases forward to Audi and hopefully we can get something moving on this. 7 years is far too long for these issues to have rumbled on for without Audi even aknowledging there is a problem, time for them to face the music!
TBH Stuart I am still cheesed off that I had to fork out to replace the DRC but like many RS6 owners I had no choice if I wanted a working, reliable car to get to and from work safely. Not too much to ask is it?!? Whilst my warranty company contributed some of the cost I was still left to pay the remaining £1,200 but it was ether that or pay an extra £2k to fix the DRC. Audi goodwill, what's that? 
I'd settle for a retrofit of the adjustable C6 DRC.
Indeed!RichRS6 wrote: Any attempt to make Audi responsible for the mess they have made regarding DRC issues gets my support.
I'd settle for a retrofit of the adjustable C6 DRC.
It will all come down to money at the end of the day. There's the (in)famous case of the exploding Ford Pinto in the USA - http://www.fordpinto.com/blowup2.htm
Ford calculated the cost of the recall to fix all the vehicles; the likliehood of the sequence of events that could cause the car to burst into flames; the potential value of the ensuing lawsuits and decided the latter was the cheaper option!
Until that is, their decision was leaked and the public uproar over the value (or not!) they placed on human life forced a change of tack.
Audi will have done the math. They'll have calculated the cost of a complete recall. They'll know the failure rates and how many they get through their dealerships and knowing also that they'll have some that do nothing and some that completely replace will have concluded to ignore the issue is the cheapest option. Let the customers / warranty companies pick up the tab.
The difference between the UK / EU and the US is they have the NHTSA and a far more litigious society on their side.
In this country we have VOSA, who's code states; "It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to inform VOSA when substantial evidence of a safety defect that requires remedial action, has been confirmed. Additionally, evidence may be presented to the manufacturer by VOSA as a result of investigations into accidents, and safety defects which have been brought to their attention from other sources." Presenting VOSA with our evidence - in sufficient quantity (perhaps expressed as a percentage of vehicles sold) - might be another route? Not sure if any RS6 owner has already been down that road?
Ford calculated the cost of the recall to fix all the vehicles; the likliehood of the sequence of events that could cause the car to burst into flames; the potential value of the ensuing lawsuits and decided the latter was the cheaper option!
Until that is, their decision was leaked and the public uproar over the value (or not!) they placed on human life forced a change of tack.
Audi will have done the math. They'll have calculated the cost of a complete recall. They'll know the failure rates and how many they get through their dealerships and knowing also that they'll have some that do nothing and some that completely replace will have concluded to ignore the issue is the cheapest option. Let the customers / warranty companies pick up the tab.
The difference between the UK / EU and the US is they have the NHTSA and a far more litigious society on their side.
In this country we have VOSA, who's code states; "It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to inform VOSA when substantial evidence of a safety defect that requires remedial action, has been confirmed. Additionally, evidence may be presented to the manufacturer by VOSA as a result of investigations into accidents, and safety defects which have been brought to their attention from other sources." Presenting VOSA with our evidence - in sufficient quantity (perhaps expressed as a percentage of vehicles sold) - might be another route? Not sure if any RS6 owner has already been down that road?
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