This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The tail light bulbs melts plastic and can cause fire. My light indicator came on. When I checked the bulb, the internal structure was melted. I ordered exact model from a junk yard. When I received, I noticed it had the same issue and the internal structure was melting from heat of light bulb. Both Left and Right Tail light structures were melting. Potential fire hazard.
After starting the car and moving a short distance, the dash display showed multiple warnings regarding the exterior lights. Approximately 12 exterior lights had all gone out at once. After some research on the issue I checked the fuse box in the engine bay and fuse F16 (30A) had melted with residue on the contact but not failed. The contact on the fuse box also had residue and the surrounding plastic was melted as well. The same exact issue occurred on my 2009-2011 VW tiguan and a recall was issued (NHTSA campaign number: 13V569000 and VW recall number: 97Z9/2V). The part recalled in the tiguan is the same exact part used in the 2012 Audi A3 (part #: 1K0937125D). Aoa should recall the part as was done by VW. There are multiple safety issues that are caused by this failure such as loss of exterior lighting while driving at night and possibility of fire caused by overheating. Attached are photos of the melted fuse and fuse box as well as the VW tiguan recall notice.
After starting the car and driving about 50 feet, the vehicle driver display screen signaled that multiple exterior lights had failed simultaneously. Sensing that multiple light bulbs would not fail at once unless there was a larger electrical problem, I promptly made an appointment at the local Audi service center the next day. After diagnosis by Audi technicians, I learned that the fuse box under the hood had melted due to overload of circuits or wiring in the box. Had I not taken the car in for repair, the overload could have caused a fire in the engine bay. I researched this problem online and found other occurrences experienced by Volkswagen/Audi vehicle drivers with the same symptoms. Please add this incident to your record of cases. Thank you.
While driving my lights would randomly go out both during day and night. Dash warning would be bulb out needing replacing but nothing was ever wrong with the bulbs or turn signals. Issue was intermittent and warning would go away on it's own or after car restarted. Later when dash warning came on and stayed on I took it into service which later was diagnosed to be a melted fuse box panel on F16 & F17. Both fuse slots were melted along with F16 fuse (15amp) and burn marks along the housing. The dealership repaired it but would not cover the repair under warranty or acknowledge the known issue which was recalled on VW side but not by Audi. The fusebox is 1K0937125D. Audi of America should have had this covered under warranty from when the symptoms started, or recalled the part as was done on VW side. This is a safety issue due to lights while driving at night, and potential fire issue with the melting of panel and fuse.
The F16 fuse which is recalled on the VW side melted, causing the smell of burnt plastic and exterior lights going out while driving on the interstate at night. The dealer on top if this refuses to acknowledge this issue, and will not properly fix the car. I replaced the fuse with another, the recall on the VW side is 13V569000, aoa claims they do not have this problem, VW redesigned the fuse panels in its 2012 golf/tiguan/jetta, but the Audi A3 still uses the exact same fuse and fuse panel as the models on the recall list and tsb list.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Marcos, CA, USA