- Volkswagen is recalling 5,992 2001-'04 Audi A6, 2003 Audi RS6 and 2002-'03 Audi S6 models because a fuel system flaw could lead to a vehicle fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The recall affects vehicles with the 4.2-liter engines.
- The recall is expected to begin in June.
WASHINGTON — Volkswagen is recalling 5,992 2001-'04 Audi A6, 2003 Audi RS6 and 2002-'03 Audi S6 models because a fuel system flaw could lead to a vehicle fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"The aging of the plastic material in the fuel tank rollover valve combined with bending stress from the aluminum ventilation line to the rollover valve nipple may lead to cracking of the nipple," said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem. "If this happens, a fuel leak may result. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could lead to a vehicle fire."
The recall is expected to begin in June. Owners can contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Inside Line says: If you own one of the aforementioned Audi vehicles, be aware that a recall is in the works.
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danwilson1 says:
07:55 AM, 05/10/2011
@ JeremyC
So you are trying to tell me that, oh, Japanese cars are perfect? Japanese cars have their problems like everyone else. There is no such thing as perfection. Furthermore, Japanese cars are overrated. The Japanese brands with a solid reputation for quality and reliability are mainly Honda and Toyota.
I have owned many European cars in my life and I honestly cannot relate to this supposed "unreliability" of these cars. I've had some problems, yes, but they were minor and they were nothing which would make me deem the car as unreliable or "low quality". I've never been left stranded anywhere. I've owned Japanese cars as well and they had their share of minor problems, to. The bottom line is that cars are complex machines and things can go wrong even on the best of them.
The component failures on 335's or Audi/VW DSG transmissions are design flaws, not electrically related. Furthermore, automobile manufacturers have always had SUPPLIERS who supply them with components, both mechanical and electrical, which are used by the manufacturer to assemble their vehicles. Before you blame the car manufacturer, think for a moment that maybe it is because of a faulty supplier product.
And since you brought up the subject of World War II and "unreliable German technology", let me tell you that many late-war Japanese airplanes were very unreliable and poorly made. Germany and Japan were both loosing the war at this stage and their latest technology was added to war machines without extensive and proper testing. Thus the weaknesses and faults of these complex devices could not be established. Add to that a lack of resources such as the raw materials needed for high quality steel or glue production or certain metals for turbine jet technology (Messerschmitt 262 engines for example) which means that certain quality levels simply cannot be reached.
Early in the war the tanks, airplanes and other machinery used by Germany and Japan was obviously extensively tested and thus up to military reliability standards. Funny how you fail to mention that (and the unreliability of Japanese late-war technology).
Oh, and did you know that the Japanese paid the Germans for their advanced jet and submarine technology to use on their own war machines? Did you? Probably, but you conveniently left it out to reinforce your anti-German car sentiments.
And by the way, I am not against Japanese cars, but they're very overrated, especially Toyota and Lexus.
4everrs says:
07:43 AM, 05/10/2011
I'm personally glad that this is being addressed. I have a 2003 RS6 in question and haven't had issues with it, and I feel this a somewhat of a proactive move.
Regarding this petty argument about reliability, many manufacturers have flaws in their product. My Audi has never left me stranded or seeing a cost I didn't expect. It's an expensive car and takes money to maintain corrrectly. My GMC Acaida HAS left me stranded, due to a bad battery - big deal. I have had to replace the transmission in the acaida, as well as several attempts to fix the leaking dual sunroofs. The traction control system has also needed service due to an electrical issue. Car has under 60k miles on it. These things never happened to my Audi with almost 100k. And I seem to remember seeing that the brand with the highest reliability is Porsche? I can't remember, where are those made?
How did this become a discussion on WWII. How childish. BTW, my dad can beat up your dad.
jeremy_c says:
06:32 AM, 05/10/2011
danwilson1, or should I address you as Reichmarshall Goering?
Opening your argument with a personal attack instantly destroys the little credibility you may have.
Counter for your flawed logic:
"I own German cars and I have no problems with them so they must be reliable" - like the Powerball lottery winner who thinks that because he won, everyone should therefore win?
Statistics is not the on side of German cars. Survery after survey shows that Mercedes, Audi, BMW and VW rank lowly in terms of reliablity and owner satisfaction.
German cars are perfect EXCEPT for design flaws which could happen to anyone? really. I think the problem is that German car company are too arrogant to listen and improve. Design flaws that are not corrected are indication of deeper problem. German car owner forums are full of complaints about DSG tranny failure, BMW fuel pump problems, Audi/VW ignition module failure. I guess these people are all imagining things.
And reading your comment, I couldn't help to wonder if you secretly hope the German would previal when you watched Saving Private Ryan?
rks838 says:
03:20 AM, 05/10/2011
2003 version. IL... http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/4093/PreviewComp/SuperStock_4093-12447.jpg)
danwilson1 says:
04:08 PM, 05/09/2011
@ jeremy_c
What a MORONIC RESPONSE. You, sir, are a moron. Your post reeks of stupidity.
First of all, the reputation for quality for a product doesn't come out of nowhere. The Germans have always built high quality cars and they still do. I'd say the biggest problem with German cars occured in the mid-1990s when cost cutting affected R&D and quality control. Prior to this, their cars were solid and very reliable. And their modern cars are some of the best cars they've ever built. I own two of them and have no problems. In fact I've owned many European cars and I've never had any major issues with them that would make me deem them "unreliable".
Second, the History Channel you are watching must the "Consumer Reports paid by Toyota" version. the Tiger and Panther tanks were unreliable because they were rushed to the front lines without proper testing. The German Army needed heavy tanks at the front badly.
The later models of these tanks proved to be quite reliable except for the transmissions which were simply overworked given the weight of the tanks and their underpowered engines. I believe the average transmission life of a Tiger/Panther tank in the later stages was 400 hours before it needed an overhaul.
The Germans were defeated by the combined strength of the Allies and Hitler's tactical mistakes as well as a lack of resources. Oh, and a lack of resources also affected the reliability of certain machinal components (inferior steel etc.).
And lastly, the problem here with these Audi's seems more like a DESIGN FLAW. It can happen to anyone.
jeremy_c says:
01:44 PM, 05/09/2011
Don't know why the Germans get this (underserved) reputation of build quality. While they are good at coming up with complex and sophiscated designs, they have a horrid history when it comes to reliability. In the end, the products don't work if they constantly fail. Albeit there are no end of people (and strangely even North Americans) waiting in line to kiss their butt. If you watch the History Channel or the Military Channel you will learn that even the Russian built machineery that are more reliable and rugged. The Germans and their super Tiger and Panzer tanks had all sort of problems and they got creamed by the Russian's "inferior" machines. Unreliable machinery is a key to Germany's downfall in WW2. You got to feel sorry for the guys who sat in the Tiger tank stuck with the failed transmission (ZF) or engine (Porsche) as they see the big gun of the other side slowly turn and take aim at them. Bet you that they didn't have much pride in German engineering at that moment.
tonkatoytruck says:
12:37 PM, 05/09/2011
So what can you say about Audi that has not already been said. Just sign over your bank account and resign yourself to a life of unreliability should you make the uninformed decision to buy one of these poorly designed vehicles. Oh, don't forget to have your water pump replaced while you have it in for recall work.
rks838 says:
09:42 AM, 05/09/2011
That's the 2008 RS6 in the photo