Handbrake Failure?

[concam]

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Our new 07 A3 Sportback was less than 3 weeks old when its handbrake failed, it had been on a short 2 mile round journey from cold first thing in the morning (how could the brakes have even reached operating temp during this period?) before being parked on our slight incline of a drive. The car was left with the handbrake applied (but unfortunately out of gear), on the drive for at least 30mins (we had been in the house for at least 30mins before walking past the car still parked on the drive) while we went out on foot, we returned to find the car missing off the drive, only to discover it had rolled backwards off the drive down an embankment hitting a tree before resting in a neighbouring fence. The cost of the repair (at an Audi approved repairer!!) approx £1300.

The ironic thing is Christmas week a 56 plate A3 sportback had rolled down from further up our street embedding itself in the same fence!!!! Two on the same street, the same postcode and still a problem is denied by the dealership and Audi!!!

Being new to the street it wasn't until we suffered the handbrake failure that we learned from the 56 plate A3 owners the reason as to why their car had parked itself in the fence, if we had discovered the reason earlier we may have thought long and hard before buying our A3 or at the very least been mindful to leave the car in gear.

The response we had from our Nottingham Audi dealer was one of complete surprise , claiming to never having heard of an Audi handbrake failing. It would appear this particular dealership has, at the very least a short memory..... December 2006 a 56 plate A3 sportback, from our street, handbrake failed??

Fortunately to date I have read of no one being injured as a result of this most alarming and obvious fault... I fear however that unless there is immediate recognition of the braking fault by Audi and its dealership network and a recall on the A3 it will only be a matter of time before we are reading of something catastrophic that could have and should have been prevented....

I am sure there are eminent and influential people from Audi who read these forums, one things for sure if a hand brake related incident does result in an injury or a fatality there will definitely be a certain group of professionals (wearing big white wigs) who will refer to the contents of this forum

Deepest sympathy's to all who have experienced this trauma, it shouldn't happen regardless of whether or not the car is left in gear or not a handbrake at any point in a cars life should remain capable of securing a vehicle on any gradient otherwise what is its use??

Good luck to you all as you pursue your claim with your respective Audi dealerships, particularly as you discover the main culprit AUDI continues to keep its head plugged firmly in the sand!!

[Badger61]

This, um, "problem" is commonly known as "Pilot Error"

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Originally Posted by Badger61

This, um, "problem" is commonly known as "Pilot Error"

This "pilot error" you refer to, would this also be responsible for the same 07 A3 allowing a "swimming pool" to form in the drivers foot well following a heavy shower yesterday? Shooks I guess I must have left the window down... NOT!!

20 years ago I owned a ford Capri that used to do the same thing i.e let water in when it rained, thing was I knew it was going to happen so I placed polythene in the footwell...I know "Pilot Error" on my part should have been prepared for an indoor swimming pool in my brand new Audi A3...... Whatever next hey.... expecting a 3 week old car of being capable of holding itself on its handbrake??

WOW Audi really know how to produce a quality product!!!

Audi have built a reputation for build quality and reliability so much so I was enticed to purchase my first ever Audi, however as the demand for the Audi product expands so does pressure on production, it's a supply and demand thing in all industry, to meet with this growing demand lapses in build quality will carry a heavy price, i.e Mercedes Benz!!!

If you have any other explanation for the non performance of this sub standard product that I have purchased from Audi I would love to hear it

[Badger61]

Oh dear , looks like you bought the wrong car, if it's only 3 weeks old you can send it back. Are you sure you didn't leave the window down?

[concam]

Yep as sure as the handrake was left on the day it failed the window was up when a swimming pool formed in the drivers foot well following a heavy rain shower, I think my car is what's known in the trade as a "Friday car".

[Badger61]

Sorry to hear you have had some problems concam, expectations are high on the Audi brand, rightly so for the premium you pay, however mechanical things can and do go wrong however much quality control is implemented hence the 3 year warranty,I have only experienced water leaks into footwells on older model A3s. Lets hope your Centre can get it sorted for you without too much more grief.

[a8 tech]

Sorry to hear about your handbrake issue but i havent had any complaints of this nature at my centre but i will bear it in mind.I can help with the water ingress as after pending the best part of two weeks on two brand new 06 a3s last year i located both leaks to insufficent sealant at the windscreen osf a pillar.I had new screens fitted and sealed and reported it to audi but they were the only two i no of unlike vw who seem suffer more water ingress than audi ie passat.Sorry to see your dissatisfaction with audi but they are well built and issues like this are few and far between.Before you ask if i am from audi i will say iam not but iam a audi master technician at an audi dealer and i am also honest.Best Regards Jon

[CAO]

There was an article on page 4 of today's Daily Mirror (06/06/07) where a new VW Golf TDI suffered handbrake failure, rolled 70 yards downhill, smashed a wall and then got stuck leaving its owner looking on in disbelief !!!!!!

Sound familiar anyone...........?? Audi / VW................!!

Cao

[Badger61]

Why would you not leave a vehicle in gear if you parked on a hill???? Sounds like another failure of the operator to me.

[a8 tech]

I dont know how meny golf/a3 are currently on the road but i do know that your claim of handbrake failure is unfounded as there doesnt seem to be meny people backing your argumentation.You need to prove it to AUDI and not this forum.I have witnessed all kinds of customer complaints and most are unfounded as the driver hasnt been using the car correctly.The handbrake set up on your a3 has been around long enough now that they are mot tested and i dont here of any failing,but then again you have to fully apply the lever for lock up to occur.I suggest you forward your findings to audi and not the dealer.