1997 Audi A4 Power Train

DT: PERIODICALLY CLUTCH WILL NOT REALEASE AND THIS DISABLES CONSUMER FROM DRIVING. SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND OTHER TIMES WHEN I SHIFT ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY FAILED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DUE TO A PIECE OF METAL INSIDE TRANSMISSION THAT SHREADED OFF.*AK *SLC

OPERATION OF THIS A4 CONFIGURATION AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 8 M.P.H. REQUIRES EITHER THAT THE OPERATOR LUG THE ENGINE (I.E., RUN AT LESS THAN THE RECOMMENDED 1500 R.P.M. IN FIRST GEAR) OR NOT CLOSE THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY. THIS DESIGN DEFECT HAS LEAD TO EXCESSIVE CLUTCH WEAR, REQUIRING TWO REPLACEMENTS IN LESS THAN 52,000 MILES AND TWO INCIDENTS OF CLUTCH OVERHEATING, WITH SMOKE. A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD EXISTS IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AT LESS THAN 4 M.P.H. FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD (E.G., MORE THAN 30 MINUTES) AS MAY BE EXPECTED IN CERTAIN METROPOLITAN TRAFFIC JAMS. THE CLUTCH DESIGN IS ALSO UNSUITABLE FOR DYNAMIC BRAKING, SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO PREMATURE FAILURE AND THE FIRE HAZARD. THE A4 IS OTHERWISE A VERY FINE AUTOMOBILE. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFECT ASAP THROUGH PROVISION OF A LOW GEAR, SIX-SPEED OPTION, ADJUSTMENT OF RATIOS OR SIMILAR REMEDY. *AK