1999 Audi A4 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I BOUGHT AN AUDI A4 1999 1.8T FWD. THE NEXT DAY I BOUGHT IT THE ABS ORANGE LIGHT CAME ON & BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING NON-STOP WITH THREE BEEPS WHEN I START THE CAR ITS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. YESTERDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST AUDI DEALER AND THEY QUOTE ME 1,200 THAT'S A LOT SINCE THIS PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS UNIT IS POOR MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V131001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT INSUFFICIENT VACUUM IS PROVIDED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. IN ADDITION, HE NOTICED THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE WAS ONLY ENTITLED TO ONE REPAIR ACCORDING TO THE RECALL LAW. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

ABS MODULE FAILURE @ 108,000 MI. UNIT REBUILT AT APPROX COST OF $1,000. *TR

ABS MODULE FAILURE @ 108,000 MI. UNIT REBUILT AT APPROX COST OF $1,000. *TR

ABS MODULE FAILED AT ONLY 70K MILES. *TR

PREMATURE ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MODULE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN BUT DOES NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD. THE CONTACT HAS HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V131001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN

AUDI A4 ABS CONTROLLER. *TR

I OWN A 1999 AUDI A4 WITH APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MILES. RECENTLY UPON START-UP THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I NO LONGER HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND THAT TO REMEDY THE SITUATION WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $1500. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A AUDI MANUFACTURING DEFECT (ANECDOTALLY, I HAVE HEARD OF HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE ABS). WHILE THE CAR IS OPERABLE USING STANDARD BRAKES I BELIEVE IT IS A SIGNIFICANT DANGER SHOULD THE ABS BE REQUIRED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *JB

I OWN A 1999 AUDI A4 2.8 30V QUATTRO AND MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE AUDI DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BY READING FORUMS ONLINE AND CONSUMER SITES, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM TO AUDI'S AND VW'S. MY QUESTION IS: SHOULDN'T AUDI OF AMERICA FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR FREE? *NM

NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WHEN MY AUDI ONLY HAD 88000 MILES. *JB

I AM AN OWNER OF A 1999 AUDI A4 QUATTRO WITH THE 2.8 ENGINE; THE VIN OF THE VEHICLE IS [XXX]; THE VEHICLE HAS 101,845 MILES. I WAS HAVING THE FOLLOWING ISSUE; AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON INDICATING AND ABS FAILURE. THIS WOULD OCCUR AFTER THE CAR IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. I DID SOME CHECKING AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS PROBLEM WITH ABS CONTROL UNIT. I FURTHER INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE AND ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1996-2001 AUDI A4S. VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS AND PASSATS OF THE SAME YEAR, THAT UTILIZE THE SAME SYSTEM, HAD/HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM; IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT VOLKSWAGEN CONDUCTED A NATIONAL RECALL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I WAS WONDERING WHY AUDI HAS NOT HANDLED THIS PROBLEM IN THE SAME MANNER. I DONT THINK AUDI OWNERS SHOULD BE EXPECTED PAY TO FIX A CLEARLY MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, AND A SAFETY COMPONENT AT THAT! I CONTACT AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE TO GET A REACTION FROM THEM; THE REFERENCE NUMBER IS [XXX]. I WROTE A DETAILED LETTER TO MR. JOHAN DENYSSCHEN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AUDI NORTH AMERICA; HE IN TURN PASSED THE LETTER TO ONE OF THE AUDI REGIONAL MANAGERS ANNETTE JOHNSON. THE REGIONAL MANAGER HAD INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD BE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED AUDI SERVICE CENTER (AUDI DEALER). HER TONE WAS VERY HELPFUL; HOWEVER SHE HAS INDICATED THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO CONSTITUTE A RECALL. FURTHERMORE, THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THE ABS FAILURE AS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THEY REGARD THE SYSTEM AS A DRIVER''S AIDE. ADDITIONALLY SHE COULD NOT FIND ANY RECORDS THAT SHOWED VOLKSWAGENS BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I EVENTUALLY GOT A PROBLEM FIXED AT A SMALLER SHOP, WHICH COST ME AROUND $600.00 DOLLARS. THE DEALER WAS GOING TO OVER CHARGE ME ON THE PART BY $400.00 AND 6.5 HOURS OF LABOR AT $105.00 PER HOUR FOR A JOB THAT ACTUALLY TOOK ONLY 1.5 HOURS. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY A MONTH AGO AND GRADUALLY GOT MORE FREQUENT. NOW THEY ARE ON ALMOST ALL THE TIME. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS TOLD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED WHICH WOULD COST ME A BUNDLE (POSSIBLY OVER $2000). MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED REALLY WELL SO I AM VERY UPSET THAT AUDI WILL NOT FIX OR PAY FOR THIS. *JB

ABS BRAKE LIGHT ON 1999) AUDI A4 1.8T. UPON RESEARCHING ON MANY FORUMS (I.E. AUDIWORLD.COM) I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER AUDI OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO A FAULTY ABS BRAKE COMPUTER?*AK

ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILS AT 68K, REAR BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP. *JB

THE ABS MODULE IS CAUSING THE PANEL BRAKE LIGHT TO BLINK AND THE ABS LIGHT TO BE ON STEADY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE CHARGE TO REPAIR THIS IS ESTIMATED AT $750 INCLUDING $250 LABOR FROM OUR LOCAL AUDI DEALER. THERE IS NO GOOD REASON FOR THIS FAULT TO OCCUR, AND THE REPAIR IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. I AM WAITING FOR AUDI TO ORDER A NEW BOARD, SO I AM DRIVING WITH BAD ABS BRAKES, AND IT IS ALMOST DECEMBER. *JB

FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER-BEGAN AS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT FLASHING OCCASIONALLY-NOW LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME-HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE ON AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN-REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER-PART IS $2200.*AK

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED ON A 1999 AUDI A4; THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND I MUST PAY $1662.39 PLUS TAX TO REPAIR. *AK

THE ABS SYSTEM OF MY 1999 AUDI A4 INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. I INTEND TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. REPAIR SHOP, LUSTI MOTORS IN SAN DIEGO, INDICATED THAT THEY'VE REPAIRED OTHER AUDI'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE RECENTLY. THE COST OF REPAIRS IS APPROXIMATELY $2,000. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1998 AUDI A 4 WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THERE WAS A COMMUNICATION ERROR BETWEEN THE ABS UNIT AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. THE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT ORDERED ANY PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD A WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT WAS THE WARNING LIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THE CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VOLKSWAGEN.*AK

1999 AUDI A4 ABS CONTROL MODULE SYMPTOMS. ABS LIGHT ON CONTINUOUSLY. BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING. UPON THE FIRST INSPECTION THE AUDI DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE WAS LATER DIAGNOSED CORRECTLY BY THE DEALERSHIP. TESTING THE ABS SYSTEM AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS, I FOUND THAT THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE. I LEARN OF MANY CASES OF THIS EXACT FAILURE IN AUDI??S AND VW??S WITH THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROL MODULE: ONE PROMINENT SITE BEING HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM. THE DEALERSHIP MAY HAVE MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CONTROL MODULE MAY BE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CAR??S COMPUTER UPON FAILURE. ALSO, IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT FOR SOME PERIOD BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. THE WARNING LIGHTS MAY DISAPPEAR PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE. IT SEEMS THE FAILURE IS OCCURRING AT SOME POINT BEYOND 60,000 MILES. THIS WOULD ACCOUNT FOR THE RELATIVELY LOW OCCURRENCE, BUT WOULD PORTENT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A MUCH GREAT NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES WITH TIME. AN UNWARY DRIVER MAY NOT BE COGNIZANT OF THE FAILURE AND THEREFORE NOT EXERCISE THE CAUTION NECESSARY TO AVERT A COLLISION. ONE FUTURE ISSUE EXACERBATES THAT CONCERN: THE ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WARNING SIGNALS DISAPPEAR UNDER 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR THEREABOUT. SO, AS WE NEAR WINTER AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CHANCES OF A TRAGEDY INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI WITH MY FINDINGS. AUDI STATED THEY HAVE NOT SEEN EVIDENCE OF MASS FAILURES. THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT ACT ON THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE OBTAINED. THERE ARE COPIOUS POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CONTACTED AUDI. SURPRISINGLY, SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS PROFESS THAT AUDI PAID FOR THE REPAIR IN CASES OF OUT-OF-WARRANTY, HIGH-MILEAGE VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THAT AN AUDIT OF THE NUMBER OF THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROL MODULES BEING ORDER AS REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL ILLUMINATE THE GRAVITY OF THIS PROBLEM. *NM

AUDI A4 ABS CONTROLLER FAILED, CAUSING ABS LIGHT AND SYSTEM LIGHT TO STAY ILLUMINATED. REPLACEMENT PART IS $1,000. LOOKING FOR USED. BASED ON RESEARCH APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI'S ACROSS MODELS. SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY MANUFACTURER.*AK

AUDI A4 THE ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND WARNING BUZZER STAY ON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ABS MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. AUDI SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE BRAKES STILL FUNCTION THOUGH NOT THE WAY THEY WERE DESIGNED TO WORK. I PRAY THAT I DO NOT HURT ANYONE WHILE I'M RELEARNING TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE ABS SYSTEM FUNCTIONING. *NM

OUR 1999.5 AUDI AVANT QUATTRO VIN[XXX] HAS PASSED 80,000 MILES. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) CONTROLLER HAS FAILED CAUSING INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THE RESULT IS INCONSISTENT AND DANGEROUS HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE IN LOW TRACTION CONDITIONS -- THE VERY CONDITIONS AUDI QUITTER'S ARE PURCHASED FOR! REPAIR OF THE SYSTEM IS IN EXCESS OF 25% OF THE VALUE OF THE MARKET CAR. A SEARCH OF SEVERAL INTERNET AUDI SITES REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY CURRENT AUDI MODELS. AUDI OF AMERICA REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM UNDER RECALL. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER-BEGAN AS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT FLASHING-NOW LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME-HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE ON AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN-REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER-PART IS $2000. *JB