2010 Audi A3 Fuel System

TL8 THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLOW PLUG SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 11V490000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 09V377000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWEDTO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP SUFFERED AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 04/29/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AUDI PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 06/03/14

IN 30-35 MPH TRAFFIC, GLOW-PLUG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED THE MANUAL, AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, AND WAS GIVEN A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, I NOTICED NOT ONLY THE FLASHING GLOW-PLUG LIGHT, BUT THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT, WHICH HAD COME ON AS WELL. ALSO, WHEN I PULLED OUT, POWER SEEMED LIMITED AND ACCELERATION DIFFICULT. NOW ON A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND WAS TOLD TO STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE IT TOWED IN. SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, AND UNABLE TO FIND A GOOD PLACE TO STOP, I DROVE HOME. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE CAR WOULD NOT START, AND AUDI SENT A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WAS NOT LOOKED AT FOR 24 HOURS (TDI-TRAINED MECHANICS IN A MEETING OR SOME SUCH), BUT ON THURSDAY I GOT A REPORT. THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY, SENDING METAL DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED, INCLUDING THE FUEL TANK. THE FIRST-SUSPECTED CAUSE -CONTAMINATED FUEL- HAD BEEN RULED OUT. I WAS TOLD THE FAILURE WAS A 1-IN-100,000 FLUKE, BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE HAD BEEN OVER 100 COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA AS OF EARLY 2011, PROMPTING AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT