Audi IS NOT HONORING OIL SLUDGE RECALL ON 2003 A4 1.8T - COMPLETELY UNETHICAL. Greenwich, Connecticut And Pompano Beach,Florida
I leased a 2003 Audi A4 1.8T from the New Country Audi in Greenwich, CT on June 23, 2003 for a term of 42 months (3.5 years) and 15k per year (52,500). When I received the car, there were approximately 1,000 miles on the vehicle.
I have kept up the maintenance on this vehicle at the AUDI dealership for all but one service that I had performed at an individual mechanic because Audi could not schedule me and I was going on vacation.
In August of this year, while driving, my three year old vehicle with 53,000 miles DIED. The check engine light came on for 30 seconds and the car SHUT OFF. I had the car towed to a mechanic who confirmed it was OIL SLUDGE in the engine.
I called Audi USA several times to question about the engine and got nowhere. I searched the A4 1.8T and learned that an ENGINE RECALL had been issued. I NEVER received the recall letter but I did download one from the internet.
I called AUDI USA AGAIN and asked them why I had not been informed about this ENGINE RECALL and they instructed me to have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. (I moved to Florida, the nearest dealership was Pompano Beach, FL).
I towed the vehicle to Pompano Beach Audi on Copans Road and spoke with the service manager, Jesse Hutcher, who told me that after reviewing my service report I would NOT be covered under the 2004 OIL SLUDGE RECALL for 1.8T engines. I asked why and he indicated that there was no record of my having the 30,000 mile service.
I explained I had it done by an outside mechanic because I was going on vacation and Audi in Greenwich could not schedule my service. Jesse Hutcher let me know his team could pull apart my engine and charge me a labor fee of about $600 to do so and the service would NOT be covered by Audi. If I wanted to have the engine and the Turbo replaced (Mr. Hutcher explained that often when the enine goes, the Turbo goes as well), the cost would be approximately $6000 for the engine and $1500 for the Turbo.
This is a LEASED VEHICLE. I have to turn in this vehicle on December 23, 2006 (in one month). I was forced to purchase another vehicle a month ago because I was paying rental car fees totally $638 per month.
I am financially UNABLE to pay for a vehicle I am not driving plus it's insurance, a new vehicle and that car's insurance, and pay $7500 to replace an engine on a LEASED vehicle that I did not cause to fail. The engine is faulty - is has been RECALLED.
It is UNETHICAL and ILLEGAL what AUDI is doing here. I am a single female who is paralyzed in fear and does not know where to turn. PLEASE HELP ME.
Kimberly
Plantation, Florida
U.S.A.
15 Updates & Rebuttals
Oilchangetech
Ann Arbor,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Comment on synthetic oil
#16Consumer Comment
Sat, February 07, 2009
Two posters said synthetic oil won't sludge up, which is wrong. Any kind of oil will turn to sludge if it aerates, is contaminated, oxidizes, or cokes. Syn. oil is more resistant to breakdown than regular, but it will turn into sludge eventually.
Oilchangetech
Ann Arbor,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Comment on synthetic oil
#16Consumer Comment
Sat, February 07, 2009
Two posters said synthetic oil won't sludge up, which is wrong. Any kind of oil will turn to sludge if it aerates, is contaminated, oxidizes, or cokes. Syn. oil is more resistant to breakdown than regular, but it will turn into sludge eventually.
Oilchangetech
Ann Arbor,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Comment on synthetic oil
#16Consumer Comment
Sat, February 07, 2009
Two posters said synthetic oil won't sludge up, which is wrong. Any kind of oil will turn to sludge if it aerates, is contaminated, oxidizes, or cokes. Syn. oil is more resistant to breakdown than regular, but it will turn into sludge eventually.
Oilchangetech
Ann Arbor,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Comment on synthetic oil
#16Consumer Comment
Sat, February 07, 2009
Two posters said synthetic oil won't sludge up, which is wrong. Any kind of oil will turn to sludge if it aerates, is contaminated, oxidizes, or cokes. Syn. oil is more resistant to breakdown than regular, but it will turn into sludge eventually.
Tech1
Laurel,Maryland,
U.S.A.
Oil Change
#16UPDATE Employee
Wed, August 27, 2008
You should have better kept records. Just one receipt and they would have to perform the TSB for oil slug. It is a TSB NOT a recall if you have a problem with slug we get your records and FIX it. Audi will honor it if we have a receipt to fax to AOA. So we will get paid by Audi. A dealer and the tech work together to
1. Fix your car.
2. Make you happy
3. get money
Audi won't honor any thing mechanical if you can't prove you take car of your car with any thing besides your words.
Your 1.8 takes Full Synthetic 5w40
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
The required oil is a Full Synthetic 5W20
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, November 16, 2006
The problem that is normally found with these engines, is the customer doesn't like spending the money on GOOD oil. They want to use the same CHEAP oil they use in their pickup.
Like Steve pointed out...Synthetic oil does not sludge up. That is why Audi/VW REQUIRE it. A REQUIREMENT is not a suggestion.
I don't use anything except synthetics in any of my vehicles(engine, tranny, brakes, power steering, differential, etc.). My cars all run like new, and have very minimal repairs done.
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
The required oil is a Full Synthetic 5W20
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, November 16, 2006
The problem that is normally found with these engines, is the customer doesn't like spending the money on GOOD oil. They want to use the same CHEAP oil they use in their pickup.
Like Steve pointed out...Synthetic oil does not sludge up. That is why Audi/VW REQUIRE it. A REQUIREMENT is not a suggestion.
I don't use anything except synthetics in any of my vehicles(engine, tranny, brakes, power steering, differential, etc.). My cars all run like new, and have very minimal repairs done.
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
The required oil is a Full Synthetic 5W20
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, November 16, 2006
The problem that is normally found with these engines, is the customer doesn't like spending the money on GOOD oil. They want to use the same CHEAP oil they use in their pickup.
Like Steve pointed out...Synthetic oil does not sludge up. That is why Audi/VW REQUIRE it. A REQUIREMENT is not a suggestion.
I don't use anything except synthetics in any of my vehicles(engine, tranny, brakes, power steering, differential, etc.). My cars all run like new, and have very minimal repairs done.
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
The required oil is a Full Synthetic 5W20
#16Consumer Comment
Thu, November 16, 2006
The problem that is normally found with these engines, is the customer doesn't like spending the money on GOOD oil. They want to use the same CHEAP oil they use in their pickup.
Like Steve pointed out...Synthetic oil does not sludge up. That is why Audi/VW REQUIRE it. A REQUIREMENT is not a suggestion.
I don't use anything except synthetics in any of my vehicles(engine, tranny, brakes, power steering, differential, etc.). My cars all run like new, and have very minimal repairs done.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
The obvious solution. Synthetic oil.
#16Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 15, 2006
You would have never had a problem if you would have used 100% synthetic oil. Synthetic Oil will not cause sludge, ONLY petroleum oil does this.
This is especially important to use on any turbo engine. For future reference, on an engine of that type, the best oil I have found is the Rotella full synthetic 5w40 for non turbo engines, you would want at least a 10w30 for most turbo applications in a full synthetic.
If the dealership put in anything but full synthetic, there could be at fault as most new car mfg of performance cars specify full synthetic only after 1999.
Good luck.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
The obvious solution. Synthetic oil.
#16Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 15, 2006
You would have never had a problem if you would have used 100% synthetic oil. Synthetic Oil will not cause sludge, ONLY petroleum oil does this.
This is especially important to use on any turbo engine. For future reference, on an engine of that type, the best oil I have found is the Rotella full synthetic 5w40 for non turbo engines, you would want at least a 10w30 for most turbo applications in a full synthetic.
If the dealership put in anything but full synthetic, there could be at fault as most new car mfg of performance cars specify full synthetic only after 1999.
Good luck.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
The obvious solution. Synthetic oil.
#16Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 15, 2006
You would have never had a problem if you would have used 100% synthetic oil. Synthetic Oil will not cause sludge, ONLY petroleum oil does this.
This is especially important to use on any turbo engine. For future reference, on an engine of that type, the best oil I have found is the Rotella full synthetic 5w40 for non turbo engines, you would want at least a 10w30 for most turbo applications in a full synthetic.
If the dealership put in anything but full synthetic, there could be at fault as most new car mfg of performance cars specify full synthetic only after 1999.
Good luck.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
The obvious solution. Synthetic oil.
#16Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 15, 2006
You would have never had a problem if you would have used 100% synthetic oil. Synthetic Oil will not cause sludge, ONLY petroleum oil does this.
This is especially important to use on any turbo engine. For future reference, on an engine of that type, the best oil I have found is the Rotella full synthetic 5w40 for non turbo engines, you would want at least a 10w30 for most turbo applications in a full synthetic.
If the dealership put in anything but full synthetic, there could be at fault as most new car mfg of performance cars specify full synthetic only after 1999.
Good luck.
Aafes
Viernheim,Europe,
U.S.A.
Do you have a written receipt for the service
#16Consumer Comment
Tue, November 14, 2006
Do you have, or can you obtain a written receipt for the 30000 mile service? If you don't have one, contact the mechanic to see if there is a record, this could be your holy grail.
Generally, it is not required that you obtain service at a specific dealer location or even a dealer as long as the mechanic is authorized to perform maintenance on the vehicle.
Check for this documentation, then take it along with your lease contract to an attorney. It may take as little as a letter from the attorney to let the dealer know you are serious about not being scammed on a recalled engine.
Thomas
Anderson,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Well, you did lease a German auto....
#16Consumer Comment
Tue, November 14, 2006
and German vehicles are very "maintanence sensitive".
It sounds like Audi just does not want to pay, even though it is likely a design defect. Now if you can document that the 30K maintanence was performed in compliance with all Audi requirements you could consider MVD or legal action. But it will be a slow process. I think you may run out of time, as it were.
Now perhaps you see why leasing a vehicle is generally a bad idea. If you were to lease another Audi they may cut you some slack, and then again maybe not.
So you leased a German auto, and now you pay for it. This is why I do not lease or even buy German autos. They are not designed for the USA.
You should find that you are better off purchasing a good Japanese auto. A Japanese auto will give you (far) less status and all that other good stuff but you will save money. I am in the process of replacing a 1991 Toyota Camry that needed 3 repairs [that cost me a total of $830] while accumulating 322,000 miles. No need to guess what new car I supposedly have on order.
PS: In the future use Mobil-1 oil.