Audi Death Trap

I've gone over the same points with them again and again but when it comes to the perilous position I was put in they won't comment at all. Obviously they don't want to admit any kind of liability but how is it possible for a luxury car to break down in 2024 with literally no power at all with the driver sealed inside awaiting his fate. I also believe it is against the law to recover a vehicle with the driver still inside but there I was still at the steering wheel when my car was finally loaded up onto the transporter. The whole thing would be laughable if it wasn't for the potential element of death. The steering arm was wrecked by the Highways Agency recovery team as the wheels could not be straightened before my car was pulled up the trailer. Audi Executive Office suddenly wanted to re-evaluate my complaint the minute the DVSA became involved and I was told it had been escalated to Audi AG.

They asked me what kind of settlement I was looking for and I told them with all honesty that I did not know. My life was put in jeopardy as I was unable to get my car or myself out of the way of heavy docks traffic on a UK Strategic Road Network dual carriageway. Even with a guarantee or warranty in place I live in dread of any kind of recurrence. I could have easily been rear-ended by a 40mph juggernaut and I didn't even have hazard lights.

I was advised the part had an extended warranty as if it had been in situ from the date of registration in early 2019. This would therefore run out early 2026 if it ran for seven years but nobody can explain the duration. The replacement I just paid for myself plus £800 for a knackered steering arm wrecked during recovery has its own two year guarantee that will theoretically run longer than the warranty.

Audi Executive Office have asked to speak to me to try and negotiate a better outcome. They are keen to do this before the DVSA come back to me. I've refused to engage.

The three year Audi warranty would have run out early 2022. The replacement part is guaranteed for two years until June 2026. The extended warranty would supposedly run for seven years from first registration which would actually end before that date rendering it useless. I did go back to the Ombudsman once I was told about the extended warranty but it remains out of their remit on a technicality. Because the warranty applies to a specific part only and not the entire vehicle there's nothing they can do for me. How convenient!

Audi Executive Office pointed the finger of blame at Hull Audi for not identifying the extended warranty on the part and said I should not have been asked to pay. When the dealership looked into this further the warranty had been put in place the day before, weeks after my car had the work done! They will not address the issue of risk to life or the duff advice I was given that led to me buying a second car.

I intend to push for Total Recall. I have already made initial enquiries with AA Motor Legal Services and intend pursuing a claim for endangerment of life once Audi admit there is an inherent design fault and they are forced to bring in every affected vehicle.

This is the response from the Motor Ombudsman. Thank you for submitting your enquiry to The Motor Ombudsman. Having looked through your complaint, it looks like you have complained to the manufacturer of your vehicle but the vehicle is no longer within its manufacturer's warranty period. Under the New Car Code, accredited manufacturers must ensure that they keep to the terms of the warranty provided with the vehicle - however, as soon as the warranty period is over, the manufacturer has no obligation towards your vehicle and doesn't have to pay towards repairs, even if you think the problem is a manufacturing defect or you experienced the same issue during the warranty period. As such, this isn't something we can consider further for you as the manufacturer doesn't have to contribute and the New Car Code does not apply. You can ask the manufacturer to consider making a contribution as a gesture of goodwill - any contribution they make is at their discretion. This will depend on a number of factors including the age and mileage of the vehicle, where the vehicle was purchased and whether it has been serviced within the network. It's unlikely a manufacturer will contribute if you have had the car repaired at an independent garage and are looking to claim the cost back. If your vehicle was sold to you within the last six years, you could approach the seller of the vehicle to see if they would be willing to help. Please bear in mind that, if it has been more than six months since you bought the car, you will need to be able to prove that the fault was present when the car was sold to you. If the seller is accredited to our Vehicle Sales Code, and you are unhappy with their response, please get in touch and we will see what we can do to assist you further. You can check to see if they are accredited at www.themotorombudsman.org/garage-finder. If they are not accredited, you may wish to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau on 0808 223 1133 for some guidance on your legal rights as we will not be able to assist you further.

Below is the letter I recently had published in the Hull Daily Mail. "My Audi A8 came to an abrupt halt in the middle of roadworks during rush hour. All electrics shut down. I was unable to use my hazard warning lights. I was unable to lower my window to shout to a workman nearby. I was unable to exit the vehicle. Literally everything failed. In the event of fire I would have been burned alive which may have delighted some of those hurling abuse. It was almost impossible to recover the vehicle as the wheels were turned towards the kerb and the power steering and steering lock had seized. I eventually had to remain in the vehicle until it was finally dragged diagonally onto the back of a trailer and taken away. The replacement 48v alternator part is unavailable and on back order in Germany due to the sheer scale of vehicle failures that now require it. Apparently looking at online forums it's a case of when rather than if it fails. I could never feel safe in my vehicle again. Watching all those approaching HGVs in my rear view mirror was truly awful. I understand recalls have been issued elsewhere in the world and it's scandalous that this hasn't happened here. Why was my life endangered because Audi technology is not up to the job." Following publication I reported the matter to the Motor Ombudsman and the DVSA. The ombudsman said it fell outside their remit but the DVSA have given Audi UK 28 days to provide a written report explaining how such catastrophic failure was possible. Audi Executive Office only gave me a goodwill gesture of £600 (reduced to £500 due to VAT!) despite the £2,800 total repair cost and the serious risk to my life. To rub salt into the wound I even went out and bought a cheap runaround as I needed my own transport for hospital appointments and my car was miraculously repaired before I even picked it up. I now have two cars. The 28-day deadline is only three days away!