I leased a 2003 Audi A4 1.8T from the New Country Audi in Greenwich, CT on June 23 for a term of 42 months (3.5 years) and 15k per year (52,500). When I received the car, there were approximately 1,000 miles on the vehicle.
I have kept up the maintenance on this vehicle at the AUDI dealership for all but one service that I had performed at an individual mechanic because Audi could not schedule me and I was going on vacation.
In August of this year, while driving, my three year old vehicle with 53,000 miles DIED. The check engine light came on for 30 seconds and the car SHUT OFF. I had the car towed to a mechanic who confirmed it was OIL SLUDGE in the engine.
I called Audi USA several times to question about the engine and got nowhere. I searched the A4 1.8T and learned that an ENGINE RECALL had been issued. I NEVER received the recall letter but I did download one from the internet.
I called AUDI USA AGAIN and asked them why I had not been informed about this ENGINE RECALL and they instructed me to have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership. (I moved to Florida, the nearest dealership was Pompano Beach, FL).
I towed the vehicle to Pompano Beach Audi on Copans Road and spoke with the service manager, Jesse Hutcher, who told me that after reviewing my service report I would NOT be covered under the 2004 OIL SLUDGE RECALL for 1.8T engines. I asked why and he indicated that there was no record of my having the 30,000 mile service.
I explained I had it done by an outside mechanic because I was going on vacation and Audi in Greenwich could not schedule my service. Jesse Hutcher let me know his team could pull apart my engine and charge me a labor fee of about $600 to do so and the service would NOT be covered by Audi. If I wanted to have the engine and the Turbo replaced (Mr. Hutcher explained that often when the enine goes, the Turbo goes as well), the cost would be approximately $6000 for the engine and $1500 for the Turbo.
This is a LEASED VEHICLE. I have to turn in this vehicle on December 23 (in one month). I was forced to purchase another vehicle a month ago because I was paying rental car fees totally $638 per month.
I am financially UNABLE to pay for a vehicle I am not driving plus it's insurance, a new vehicle and that car's insurance, and pay $7500 to replace an engine on a LEASED vehicle that I did not cause to fail. The engine is faulty - is has been RECALLED.
It is UNETHICAL and ILLEGAL what AUDI is doing here. I am a single female who is paralyzed in fear and does not know where to turn. Please help me.
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