Audi allroad ForumAll the traditional Audi strengths of quality and comfort are present in the Allroad. It's an extremely well built and spacious car with some extra versatility over a standard estate. (Audi Allroad Forum)
I have an Audi Allroad 03. During a recent rain storm I went to start the car to discover 6 inches of water in the back seat. The electrical system had been fried. When I contatced Audi they said that it was not a warranty issue that it was my fault. That a line under the battery compartment had been cloged by pine needles causing the water to flow into the car through the Airconditioning system.
It seems to me that this is a design flaw and should be covered by Audi. My Father has the same Audi in Connecticut and his dealer said absolutely they would have covered the issue how could I be expected to remove the batter and clean the tube.
Audi North American and My dealer want nothing to do with the issue.
I wanted to see if anyone else had had similar problems and if Audi had willingly covered the issue or not. As well as warn New Englanders to make sure they have the tube under the battery cleaned so they do not experience the pond in the back seat.
I had the same thing happen with my previous car a 93 100S. The hole clogged and the car was parked at an uphill angle. The water, several inches worth, collected in the back seat floor area. Fried the door locking mechanism. Car was out of warranty, cost $400 for the part several years ago. I would reccommend trying the following approach:
If the car is under warranty and you have used the same dealer for service they should clean this area regularly as part of standard maintenance. When was the car last serviced, and if recently why did the dealer not clear this area? It is something owners will not even be aware of until it is too late. Once aware of it though it is not that difficult to remove the cover to clean yourself.
I had a '92 100CS do this, we joked at the time that it had commited suicide by drowning itself. The water came in thru the same place and did exactly the same thing, except it also fried the engine computer as well as the power lock's computer and wiring etc. My insurance company totaled the car as they decided it would never be a reliable car again even if repaired, since there could be corrosion appear later on as a result of the water, very much like a flood damaged car. They did total it as a comprehensive loss, not collision, so we weren't surcharged. As the car was 10 years old with about 90k miles, I never thought to ask Audi for compensation, but I think I would feel otherwise if this happened to our 2004 allroad.................
I'm used to cleaning leaves out of the heater/intake plenum on all my cars over the years, as leaves would get in and block the fresh air intakes, and sometimes get into the fan and make noise, but when I went to do this on the 100CS, I could not find the drain tubes, they were too well hidden.
I don't know what your next move is, but I'm pretty sure this is not supposed to be an owner maintained type thing, so I would argue the point with Audi USA, and if they aren't helpful, consider the services of an attorney. Oh, and this is not limited to just New Englanders, I live in KC. I would suggest that anyone who owns an Audi, the next time you have your car in for service, ask the dealer to check this, as it's very hard to get to and not easily cleaned. If it's their design problem they should have to deal with it. Good luck!
1999 A4 2.8 - I had water coming into my passenger side dash area and passenger side foot well. Come to find out that when the pollen filter was replaced they forgot to reinstall a rain guide that had to be removed to replace the pollen filter. Took a while to figure out but hope this helps.
I have noticed the passenger side floorboard of my 2001 A4 wet on several occasions. I'm not sure if it's a continual or intermittent since I don't usally ride as a passenger. I first noticed a musky smell when the AC came on then went away after several minutes. I read the earlier replies and could not locate a drain hose. I did disasemble the plastic moulding around the windshield. I let the AC run for several minutes and there was only condensation on the ground and not on the passenger floorboard. Not sure if it's draining properly now or if it occurs when driving. Any help on where to best look for the draining hose or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Nathan
this is a common problem due to a design flaw..I had learned about this earlier in this forum and it saved me a lot of greif..Check in the battery compartment..remove the plastc cover..under the batter is a drain hole that when becomes clogged with pine needles, etc..If clogged, the compartment becomes a small pond!! I reached in and with my finger, dug out the clog...water gushed out under the car. Now i periodically check this for clogging..
amazing that a $45000 can be so damaged by pine needles and water..but in that compartment the computer, wiper moter, and interior air filter(hence the flood) can all be effected..WHY HASN"T AUDI SENT A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS!!??!!
Audi Assurance covered my self-flooding Audi Allroad '04
I recently had this same problem others have experienced, 6 inches of water in the passenger side rear floorboards after some severe rain storms.
I had a few months of my Audi Assurance left, and the company and dealership shop gave me an early indication that it would not be covered.
I told them the following:
> This is a design flaw in the car that dozens of people have experienced, I'd be happy to print up dozens of examples from the internet of other dissatisfied customers.
> When Audi Assurance says that "Outside forces" are not covered, ie, leaves and pine needles got stuck in the car, it's a moot point if there is an inherent design flaw. I told them that was the counsel of my lawyer.
> I told them that there is nowhere in the car's owner's manual which instructs users to remove the battery to extract leaves. This car is outwardly immaculate.
> I told them an '85 Corolla is waterproof, and my '04 Audi should be too.
> I told them I would pay the dealership, but planned to sue Audi Assurance to recoup these unacceptable losses. My lawyer said that with this evidence, it would be a simple case in small claims court (<$2500)
Thankfully, Audi Assurance paid for the repair, cleaned out the battery compartment, replaced the computer, removed the passenger seat and compartments and thoroughly dried the car out--about $2000 worth of work.
I've had this issue too recently and Audi and the dealer both try to dodge responsibility for it. The car is a 2003 Allroad, out of warranty. I've escalated the issue to Audi Customer Care and they won't do anything. The deny it's been an issue even with all this website evidence. So I have to file a comprehensive insurance claim and sue Audi in small claims for the deductible. Thanks to all these posts I have the evidence I need. The other step I have taken is to file a complaint with the governemnt. you can do this at this site: Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
I suggest all who have this issue file the complaint and eventually Audi will get in trouble if enough of us do it. Or perhaps I'll file a class action lawsuit against them if I get angry enough.
You'd think their customer service people would be smarter. Rather than pay me $1000 deductible and admit their design flaw, they now have tons of bad press, a lawsuit, and I will never again under any circumstances buy and Audi. My BMWs don't have these problems and the company stands behind them much better. Screw Audi.
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