One year after a failed recall and a class action suit filed by two
Pennsylvania law firms, Audi of America, Inc. has issued a second recall
campaign to fix fuel gauge malfunctions in certain 1998, 1999, and 2000 Audi A-6
Quattro models. More than 68,000 vehicles are affected.
The Ambler-based law firm of Kimmel & Silverman, P.C., which specializes
in automobile 'lemon law', and the Philadelphia-based firm of Berger and
Montague filed papers last year in the Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County.
According to court papers, Audi Quattro owners found their cars running out
of petrol despite the fact that their fuel gauge read at least half full. Last
year, an Audi corporate representative and certified mechanic admitted tank
sensors are the culprit and revealed in deposition testimony that a repair has
yet been devised to effectively repair the problem. Less than two weeks after
the case was filed, Audi issued an initial recall and replaced fuel gauge
components in 32,000 vehicles.
Audi's Director of Technical Service, Kip Kriigel, has now admitted that in
some states, the recall proved to be unsuccessful. "Audi has found the
rate of malfunction of the Recall parts in the United States has varied from
region to region. In some states, the rate was found to be higher than in other
states." Kriigel attributed the problem to elemental sulfur, "a
highly reactive substance which was not detected by tests currently employed in
the petroleum industry." Kriigel wrote that "tests conducted by
Audi have confirmed that the operation of the vehicle with fuel containing even
as little as one part elemental sulfur could cause recall Parts to malfunction."
Kriigel said Audi will correct the problem with a second recall by installing
fuel sensors composed of gold, silver and a small amount of nickel.
Audi is planning to install this alloy in the 32,000 cars originally
recalled; plus 11,000 vehicles which never received the recalled part; and
25,084 vehicles manufactured with the recalled part.
Audi has suggested drivers measure the distance driven in their Quattros
between fill-ups, rather than rely on their petrol gauge!
