Vibration Issues Revisitied, Updated and Confirmed by AOA
#101
So, I've had the new control arms for five days now. The steering wheel doesn't shake any more but there is a constant 'buzz' vibration now at highway speeds that can be felt. After a long drive it makes my hands tingle. I ride MTB a lot and it feels similar to being on the bike for a while and what your hands feel like after a few hours on the bars.
I've called the dealer and they're bringing it back in.
I've called the dealer and they're bringing it back in.
I don't even have the new control arms and I have the same thing, buzz in the wheel. Wow, what an apt description -- I described it as a hum or high pulse vibration or buzz to the service mgr.
I am still waiting BTW for an answer -- talked to him, explained it all -- he was supposed to call the Audi factory rep and discuss. That was yesterday -- no call today -- I called late today and did not hear back.
But am hoping they will replace control arms and also wheels/tires -- it's got to be more than just control arms and you are proof of that.
#102
steering vibration
i hate to admit it, but i am 58 years old. i have owned a lot of cars. bmw, audi, mercedes, porsches, and 3 ferraris. my '09 s-line tip had the steering wheel shimmy right out the dealer's lot. i bought the car from a dealer that i don't do a lot business with. i took my car to livermore audi and they said that there is a problem with the control arms on the new a4. just like as been said before, they checked the wheels and tires and replaced one of my "dunlop" tires. i have no shimmy , whatsoever. even with this improvement, audi has still agreed to replace the control arms. i have had bmw's that had the same problem and bmw would always blame it on the tires that they supplied on the new car. "go call mr. michelen". audi is handling situation with great integrity and they need to receive some credit for that. i get the impression that some of our owners are having "buyer's remorse" around the time that their first lease payment is due.
#103
I will say though, I'm going to wait as long as I can to get it fixed, in the hopes that I get new rubber out of them for my troubles. That's me minimizing my risks! Then they can put the new arms on.
Good day.
#104
Well too be honest, that's not what's going on, sir. I have been told there's no problems on the A4 with shimmy. I had the SM ride to show him the problem is verifible and reproducible. Took of all of 3 min of him driving too! Then finally the head tech stated that there was a known issue after all. But then they call back and say it's just the tires. They say bring it in at 5K service and they will road force balance the tires, maybe replace tires, Then, and only after then, do you get control arms if still problem. So I get to waste my time proving to them that I have a shimmie, which any chuckle-head on google can find out about this issue on A4/A5s. That's not integrity. That's what I would call minimizing risks.
I will say though, I'm going to wait as long as I can to get it fixed, in the hopes that I get new rubber out of them for my troubles. That's me minimizing my risks! Then they can put the new arms on.
Good day.
I will say though, I'm going to wait as long as I can to get it fixed, in the hopes that I get new rubber out of them for my troubles. That's me minimizing my risks! Then they can put the new arms on.
Good day.
#105
No offense, but Audi has not taken full ownership of this issue. It's still a hassle at some dealers proving up your "case" that you have a problem.
Didn't mean to come off trite, but you might have a point. Audi might know of this issue. But Dealerships are still sticking there heads in the sand.
Once people start posting on here and other A4/A5 boards about how they go in the first time and they get the new arms, then thats when I would trhow out words like integrity. Or standing behind their products. However, The jury is still out.
Didn't mean to come off trite, but you might have a point. Audi might know of this issue. But Dealerships are still sticking there heads in the sand.
Once people start posting on here and other A4/A5 boards about how they go in the first time and they get the new arms, then thats when I would trhow out words like integrity. Or standing behind their products. However, The jury is still out.
#106
Does anybody have access to a Bentley Repair CD with an active sub for the A4? TSBs and other info are available on there. Another interesting area to look at would be the EKTA - to see if there are any suspension differences.
I'm following this out of interest. I picked up a MY09 227XX VIN last Wednesday - it's an early MY09 Prestige w/18" five spokes.... however, I have the Audi Drive Select system - which I think changes the suspension setup somewhat (and the Drive Select is great by the way.....). It's rock solid for me.
John.
#107
No offense, but Audi has not taken full ownership of this issue. It's still a hassle at some dealers proving up your "case" that you have a problem.
Didn't mean to come off trite, but you might have a point. Audi might know of this issue. But Dealerships are still sticking there heads in the sand.
Once people start posting on here and other A4/A5 boards about how they go in the first time and they get the new arms, then thats when I would trhow out words like integrity. Or standing behind their products. However, The jury is still out.
Didn't mean to come off trite, but you might have a point. Audi might know of this issue. But Dealerships are still sticking there heads in the sand.
Once people start posting on here and other A4/A5 boards about how they go in the first time and they get the new arms, then thats when I would trhow out words like integrity. Or standing behind their products. However, The jury is still out.
#108
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
i hate to admit it, but i am 58 years old. i have owned a lot of cars. bmw, audi, mercedes, porsches, and 3 ferraris. my '09 s-line tip had the steering wheel shimmy right out the dealer's lot. i bought the car from a dealer that i don't do a lot business with. i took my car to livermore audi and they said that there is a problem with the control arms on the new a4. just like as been said before, they checked the wheels and tires and replaced one of my "dunlop" tires. i have no shimmy , whatsoever. even with this improvement, audi has still agreed to replace the control arms. i have had bmw's that had the same problem and bmw would always blame it on the tires that they supplied on the new car. "go call mr. michelen". audi is handling situation with great integrity and they need to receive some credit for that. i get the impression that some of our owners are having "buyer's remorse" around the time that their first lease payment is due.
That said, Audi requires a force balance before a dealer can replace the arms which is not an unreasonable requirement especially since not all A4s have exhibited the vibration as posted by several folks and the balance will be covered under warranty. At first, Audi required more dealer performed gyrations but has since simplified the requirement.
Finally, while your tire replacement appears to have solved the problem in your case, others have reported new tires and force balancing to be a temporary fix only to have the vibration return immediately or some miles down the road. Replacing the control arms with the redesigned bushings appears to have solved the high speed steering wheel "shimmy" for almost all those reporting on the board (the "buzzing" thing is a new observation and may or may not have anything to do with the control arms). Even at that, there's no empirical evidence that replacing the control arms has permanently solved the problem long term - yet. We certainly hope so and time will tell.
While it's possible that there may be someone out there with buyer's remorse, this is a well documented problem and the majority of those reporting the vibration are simply trying to get it resolved.
BTW, I've got you beat by 3 more years. :-) .....not sure if I've got you outgunned on qty. of cars but I've owned 27 including a '53 Studebaker my dad bought for me from my uncle in 1965 for $50. I drove it for exactly one block from his house before coming to a complete stop with a seized engine. Dad got his $50 back.
#109
AudiWorld Senior Member
Just took my car in for its 15k service - described the issue to the service tech and told him it was intermittent, but definitely there (referred to posts on this matter on Edmunds and various Audi forums). He wrote it up as "Steering vibration @ 60-80mph, check control arms". The service tech called me mid-afternoon and said they road tested and found no vibration, but asked if he could take my car home overnite (25 miles + each way) to give it a good road test. Went in the next AM and he told me that he did experience a very faint vibration on smooth services (said he had seen it much worse in other cars where steering wheel would visibly vibrate from side-to-side), and that he'd ordered the control arms. I've had the car for 2 days since the service and haven't noticed the vibration since them (in addition to the std 15k service, I also had them rotate tires) - it figures!!!
#110
So, I've had the new control arms for five days now. The steering wheel doesn't shake any more but there is a constant 'buzz' vibration now at highway speeds that can be felt. After a long drive it makes my hands tingle. I ride MTB a lot and it feels similar to being on the bike for a while and what your hands feel like after a few hours on the bars.
I've called the dealer and they're bringing it back in.
I've called the dealer and they're bringing it back in.
When you bring the car back in, this time make sure that they install the new control arms properly. If necessary, get some other things fixed, too. And, most of all stay on top of your dealer about all issues with your car 100%!