Tyre Wear

[frizz]

Sportingmac.
I always leave the car in automatic.

[LAQ7]

Hello all.....Audi Q7 owner here 2007 S Model.....loaded....I leased the car in 11/2007 and now at 12k miles on my 2nd set of tires.....the first set had uneven wear on the front 2 and I replaced all 4 at my expense thinking it was my driving or whatever.....now the same uneven wear on the front tires so now I suspect its not my driving but the car itself.....so took it in to dealer and they tell me the alignment if adjusted and I should buy new tires.....well I am not studpid so I said no way.....its got to be a problem with the car and they did tell me audi is aware of this problem so I said really.....let me check online and now after reading this forum I see it is a problem with many Q7 owners.......so now I am going to tell them to replace these tires at their expense or they can take this car back......I really dont want this car anymore as there is another problem that has happened that I am concern about.......

[LAQ7]

I am in Los Angeles but I don't really drive that much anymore....maybe 10k a year.....but anyway this has happened twice now.....the car suddenly lowers itself to the point that you cannot drive forward anymore as it is so low......at first I didnt know what was going on so I pull over and stop and shut off the engine.....then re started after a few minutes and the car rises up to normal again.....so I figure I'll deal with it later......then few months later it happened again.....same thing......I told the dealer today as they are now dealer with my tire wear problem......they said they'll look in to it.......I am not a happy customer at this point.....almost want to just leave the car at the dealer and tell them to keep this piece of problem and me go buy something else....maybe a Lexus.....my last car was a Porsche Boxster and drove 99k miles from 1999-2006 and really no problems at all except normal maintence......was great.....still have it.....

[jc1971]

Add me to your growing list of those with the same problem - noticed they were going since about 8k but being busy and complacent, it took me this long to get it into the dealer.

Have a copy of the Audi policy on wear, it's currently as follows:

>10k miles = 100% compensation for tyres
10k - 12k = 50% contribution
13k - 14k = 25% contribution
> 15k - you're on your own....

I got in at 13k so am now arguing both with local dealer and Audi UK that if I'd known (as they clearly do) earlier, I'd have brought the car in earlier (around 9,999 miles) so they could pay for all of it. If they have a policy, they have knowledge - and if they cough for some of it, they are admitting liability - they also admitted they don't do full geometry as part of the PDI.....amazing.....a problem waiting to happen.

It also restricts you to ONE claim per car....so when it happens again, we're all on our own.

Not letting it rest there - as I said, it's due in tomorrow so a 'scene' in the showroom won't go amiss (annoyingly I bought the missus an A5 from the same dealer not a month ago, mine was in Oct 07) - they've had a few quid out of me so I deserve better than 'call Audi UK'....

Also awaiting a call back from Audi UK - odds on I don't get it.....

Have contacted ex colleagues at Which? They're unware of the problem in general but have sent them this forum so that may perk their interest into a story....and having worked there for ten years I at least know how to argue - though this is gonna be hard as the old wear and tear will always overule any sale of goods or fit for purpose arguments....

More news after tomorrow.

J

[Sportingmac]

welcome to LAQ7 and JC1971 - I like you have bought Audi's for several years: A6 Allroad - brilliant but flawed brakes, A4 Cabriolet - brilliant and timeless, A4 Avant for daughter - another good car, A6 Avant - great for the "Twins" (Red setter for those who don't get to watch the UK car adverts) and now the Q7.

Always had good service from the dealer - but this tyre problem is causing them some worries. I too take my car back tomorrow for a check. This time I am armed with readouts from my independent wheel alignment, the VAG-Com manual settings, and better knowledge of suspension set-ups than my last visit - so like you JC - should be a good day in the showroom - hope they have lots of customers around too.

The new Q5 looks teh part - wonder if it will be "sorted" for tyre wear - as soon as teh order book is open I am looking to trade-down.

I'll let you all know what the outcome is tomorrow.

[jc1971]

Hi

Thanks for the moral support!

Have just spent an hour on the phone to and Audi UK supervisor - same old party line, goodwill gesture, guidelines etc etc - all I managed to do was state my case quite strongly, ask him to put it on record and get the Head of Customer Services name so I can contact him.

They did say the dealership has the right to overrule the guidelines - but I know they won't - why woudl they, they'll have to foot the cost....so it'll be along hard battle to get anyone to listen.

What irks me most is they knew, so could have warned me, it's dangerous - without my neighbour spotting the wear I'd have 'assumed' I had another 10k in my tyres without even looking (though I do check pressure, I don't look at the tread every morning!) and mostly the fact that the 'goodwill' can only be taken advantage of ONCE - so next time I'm up for the full £500 for two tyres....

They have my car for two days from tomorrow - on pick up I'll return their courtesy car and all my keys and ask them to keep the vehicle as it will then be part of my dispute with Audi UK.....and I don;t want it back until someone offers me a resolutions that suits ME, not their version of goodwill.

Had a similar problem with a BMW 330 convertible (engine management problem) - despite having done 7k in it, I refused to take it back and took it to BMW UK who I must say were impeccible - offered me a choice of nearly new cars - all with lower mileage and higher spec than my own within a day.

Maybe I should've bought an X5 after all......if only I liked them?!?!

JC

[Sportingmac]

Stick with it JC - there are more owners out there who are having the same problem - but if not then maybe we could hear your voices on this forum and tell us your good news - it would help us with the bad news to think that there is a solution and all we have to do is keep going - so come on all you viewers of the forum - speak up - either way will help.

I guess there are some Q7 owning legal peope out there who can help with a class action.

Final point - since we can afford Q7's I am guessing that money is not such a big deal - but being sold a problem rankles with all of us - and Audi are smiling all the way to the bank.

Maybe a mass protest might get some technical action from Audi - how about we all hand back our Q7's - imagine the media frenzy that would ensue.

[Badger61]

Having a rant in the showroom may make you feel better at the time but to be honest it makes you look like a tw@!

Audi are sometimes not the quickest (understatement) at resolving these problems but I have faith they will. Everyone thought the origonal TT's handling concerns would be a real reputation killer but it wasn't, they delt with it and sorted it, even if the cars had to be shipped back to the factory to be sorted.

If you can keep the faith then great but if not then move on if the product doesn't come up to your expectations.

[Sportingmac]

Hi Badger - you are right - ranting in public with the very people who can support and help will not be a good move - something I have learned well in my profession - firm and fair works as well as a bit of smooching.

I have followed the "win~win" rule in all my deals with partners and it has paid dividends. For the rule to work all parties have to be open and honest. All Audi have to do is tell us all what is going on. You have seen in other comments above that some owners are achieving reasonable mileage with a mix of driving and suspension set-up. So maybe it is possible to "get it right" now and not as you suggest in a few months/years time.

Besides - thought you were an A2 fan

[Badger61]

I am waiting to see what the outcome will be as much as anyone, (although I don't have the cost of replacement tyres),not only from a technical point of view but also because I want to retain customers to the Audi brand. Is anyone in contact with other owners in europe? and are they experiencing the same thing? The state of British roads may be contributing to the problem as it has to premature suspension component wear. maybe the suspension is TOO adaptive and causing geometry changes to excess. Whatever the factors are, the reporting system in place at centres will be helping Audi to investigate and rectify. At least they have put in place a scheme to contribute to costs in the meantime. I can feel a software update to adaptive suspension coming on! If you can't hang on in there then move on,(I've heard Fiat Pandas are good) but if it gives some comfort banging on about it on a forum then so be it.

When people rant at centre staff all it does is give a negative effect towards that customer throughout the departments, it's human nature.

As for A2, yes I love em ;-)

And SUV's...........YUK!... I hate (all of them)