Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
96V017000VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INCfrom 01/01/1994 to 12/01/1995V (Vehicle)2400004/23/1996ODIVOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC01/29/199602/01/1996
Defect SummaryDefective ignition switches were improperly manufactured and can cause some electrical accessories to malfunction.
Consequence SummarySome electrical accessories, such as, turn signals, windshield wipers, lamps, power wind0ws and air conditioners can malfunction when the car is started.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the ignition switch.
NotesSystem: electrical; ignition; switch. vehicle description: passenger vehicles. note: owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time, should contact audi at 1-800-822-2834. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
01/970101/03/199752641Abs light (k47) on due to battery jumping/charging. *tw08/21/1997
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
GRP28/950209/01/199546406The model listed above will be equipped. with a new 'interior profile' key and lock system.04/25/1996

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
05/21/199940000
 Tl-the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. the contact stated that the ignition switch failed. the contact stated that he attempted to turn the key in the ignition, but the key would not return to the on position on its own. the key remained in the starting position, causing several components to fail. the contact would have to turn the key back manually in order for the vehicle to remove from the starting position. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an inspection and the dealer stated that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred several times. the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact of the same information. the failure mileage was 40,000. sm.
05/21/199940000
 Tl- the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. the contact stated that the contact stated that ignition switch failed. the contact stated that he went to turn the key to start the engine but the key would not go back into the on position on its own. the key stayed in the starting position causing several components to fail. the contact would have to turn the key back manually in order for the vehicle to get out of the starting position. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and the dealer informed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired because but the failure recurred several times later. the manufacturer was notified and informed the contact the same information. the failure mileage was 40,000.ap
03/25/2009149000
 Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. when attempting to start the vehicle, the starter would disengage. after further inspection, the contact determined that the ignition switch would not release and caused the failure. there were no warnings prior to the failure. he is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and notifying the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 149,000 and current mileage was 149,063.
11/01/2007100000
 Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. the contact is experiencing intermittent failures with the air conditioning, windshield wipers, and turn signals. based on the vin, the dealer stated that the ignition switch was replaced. the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 096v17000 in 1996. they are obligated to repair the vehicle only once. the vehicle will be taken to the dealer to have the ignition switch replaced. the failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 104,000.
04/08/20057303/01/2005
 My 1996 audi a6 check engine light continually come on. repeated visits to audi dealer. spent several hundreds of $ with no sucess. i now visit them every week to have it turned off to come on again and again. i will be thinking of riding of thr car and going back to honda's. they have never failed me.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY
08/04/2004127000110/29/2000
 Battery explosion occurred. two weeks prior to battery explosion, vehicle ignition switch would not return completely from start position to run position when the engine is started. it was necessary for the driver to manually return the key to the run position. when the key was between start and run position, turn signals and air conditioning would not operate. when turning the ignition switch to start the vehicle on august 4, 2004, battery exploded. battery in this vehicle is positioned underneath rear seat passenger side. vehicle is currently being diagnosed for root cause of battery explosion at local non-audi service center.*ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
05/01/20011001/01/2000
 Some electrical functions such as: headlights, turn signals, windshield wipers, and climate control, do not function after the vehicle is started.
10
 The car can be started and driven with the horn, directional lights, windshied wipers, and other electrical components not working. audi (both the dealer and national) does not think it is a problem to have safety equipment inoperable. the local dealer was aware of the defect, but did not feel they needed to inform customers. the car should be recalled and the ignition system fixed.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
04/11/20081250001
 Ignition switch gets stuck in on position causing lights, radio, wipers not to function. starter also remains on causing burn out. *tr
04/15/2003500001
 After driving and when vehicle was turned off key stuck in the ignition. when this happened, the signal lights/ head lights and air conditioner didn't work. *ak
970001
 The electrical ignition switch goes past the accessories and causes some accessories to malfunction when vehicle is started. provide further details. *ph
600001
 Vehicle experienced the same defect with ignition switch as stated in recall 96 v 017 000. but this vehicle not included in recall due to vin. *ak
02/12/2000105/01/1998
 Complete power rack & pinion steering required replacement, approximately $1,000. car had recieved all required checkups since new by various authorized audi dealerships and was not covered under warranty. if system not replaced may have led to more serious problem. no loss of life or damage sustained. system fluid leakage resulted in abnormaal noise and then brought to dealership for repair/ replacement. ignition switch stuck on engine start position
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
12/17/2008155000112/17/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a6. the contact discovered recalls for his vehicle and the manufacturer stated that the repairs had already been performed. he asked for the repair records, but they were unavailable. the vehicle is experiencing the same symptoms as noted in nhtsa campaign id number 96v017000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). the instrument panel indicators do not illuminate, and there is a loud cracking noise. the vehicle has not yet been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 155,000. updated 02/10/09 *bf when the key was turned in the ignition, the ignition didn't spring back. the starter made a cracking noise when the consumer turned the key. the instrument panel indicators illuminated, but the climate control and air conditioner malfunctioned. updated 02/11/09. *jb
02/27/200711200010002/20/2007
 1996 audi a6 ignition gets stuck and starter stays on. lights, air, wipers, etc, will not work. this problem was a major recall on other audis of the same year but my vin # does not show up for some reason. *tr
01/01/19011
 1996 a4 headlamps and windshield wipers failed to operate. ***nar*** *ts recall 06v403 regarding the ignition switch seems to be the cause of the headlamp and wiper failures. the 1996 a4 has been recall but not the a6. *nm
12/11/2006142000205/08/2000
 Dt*: the contact stated intermittently the turn signal, headlight, and windshield wiper fail to operate. when vehicle was maneuvered off the road and restarted, the components were functional again. a nhtsa recall, #96v017000 was performed on the vehicle years ago concerning, the ignition switch however; the problem has recurred. the dealer has not inspected the vehicle.
10/26/2006107445112/20/2005
 Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition switch did not return automatically to the run position. the contact had to manually twist the ignition cylinder back into the correct position. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who determined that the remedy for nhtsa recall # 96v017000, which pertains to the ignition switch, had previously been performed on the vehicle in a different state. the manufacturer was notified.
12/20/20041
 My 1996 audi a6 has a faulty ignition switch as descirbed in nhtsa campain id number : 96v017000, which applies to my car's model year. however my vehicle's vin number seems to fall right outside the range described by audi as the affected range, audi usa refuses to take care of the problem under their recall program. the problem is clearly the one targeted by this recall campaign and so i suspect that audi usa delibirately understated the range of cars that are affected by the problem so as to save themselves the cost of addressing it properly and honestly. i would appreciate your investigation of this issue. *ak
11/16/20044
 Ignition switch is causing the headlights/interior lights/heat, and windshield wipers to become inoperative. this only occurs when the key is inserted into the ignition. dealer will repair at consumer's expense.*ak
09/01/2004103758604/04/2002
 Climate control and turn signals do not always work upon start-up unless the ignition key is jiggled into the correct position. appears to be a recurring problem with these models and unfortunately, my vin # is just out of the origianl recall range of recall #96v0117000. *ak
08/23/20042
 While driving headlights came on and off on their own. then, vehicle stalled. consumer restarted vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. mechanic stated that this problem had been determined, but this vehicle was not covered under recall 96v017000 for ignition switch. consumer informed mechanic that this problem happened more than once, and had not been resolved. *ak
01/01/19016
 Consumer had experienced unsafe driving conditions due to improperly manufactured ignition switch. (nar) *lab lights, head lamps, heater & ac functions, wipers and turn signals would fail unpredictably. *cb
06/29/20041
 Consumer's vehicle experienced the same problem as stated in nhtsa recall 96v017000. defective ignition switches were improperly manufactured, and could cause some electrical accessories to malfunction. *ak starter stayed engaged when vehicle was already running. *la
06/29/20041
 Consumer vehicle's experienced the same problem as stated in nhtsa recall 96v017000. defective ignition switches were improperly manufactured, and could cause some electrical accessories to malfunction.*ak the starter remained engaged when the vehicle was running. *nm
05/10/2004910001
 Ignition switch is experiencing the problem and consequence described in ignition switch recall 96v01700. *ak
01/20/20041006002
 Ignition switch stopped working. water pump stopped working. (was replaced 40,000 miles ago). *la
42500112/01/1999
 Vehicle stalls due to a faulty ignition switch. sometimes vehicle will not start. also, stalled when jiggling the keys.*ak there was a recall regarding the issue, however the consumers vehicle identification number was outside the range, therefore the consumer pay for the repairs. recall#96v017000. *jb *nm
06/17/20031
 Nhtsa#96-v-017-000: defective ignition switches were improperly manufactured and can cause some electrical accessories to malfunction. consumer has the same problem. however this vehicle was not recalled due to the vin. *ak
11/10/2002
 Consumer stated having the same problems as recall#96v01700 ignition switch. dealer will not repair because vin number is not included. ts
03/10/20021
 Consumer states that his ignition switch is faulty causing turn signals and windshield wipers not to work.*jb
 Ignition switch would fail to go into original position. all the accesories would become inoperative. starter was also affected by this failure making a grinding noise. please describe details. *ak
09/06/20021
 Mfr# kb & nhtsa# 96 v 017 000/ignition switch: consumer states that the malfunction of various electrical accessories, such as the head light, and the interior lights would occur when the car is started. dealer contacted. feel free to provide any further information. nlm
07/27/200210112/01/1999
 Consumer's vehicle experiencing the same problem with ignition switch as mentioned in recall 96/v/017/000. but this vehicle is not part of recall due to vin. *ak jlg
06/11/19981
 Orginial owner had recall done for ignition switch. problem reoccurred. *ak without warning, the ignition switch would sometimes stick and keep the starter engaged. other times, the a/c, radio and lights would not go on although the vehicle was running. consumer had to manually set the key in a position that would turn the items on. on several occasions driving over a bump would turn all electircal items off. *tt
09/11/200108/01/2001
 The ignition switch does not turn back to motor position after engaging the starter. the internal spring (from the ignition switch), is not operating properly. anytime i start the car i have to be careful to rotate the key in the motor position; if i do not do this, the starter remains engaged after the engine is on.i have contacted the dealer (audi/porsche in middleburg heights oh 44130) to replace the switch as a recall, but i as told the recall is only for cars older than 1996. *ak
04/17/2001110/12/1996
 96 v 017 000/ignition switch: intermittent problem with starting, and instrument failure during operating of vehicle. manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not cover under recall due to vin. *ak the dealer confirmed that the vehicle had a defective switches but was not on recall. *yh
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY
 Ignition switch would fail to go into original position. all the accesories would become inoperative. starter was also affected by this failure making a grinding noise. please describe details. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING
06/02/2002106/01/2001
 Check engine light remains on despite repeated visits to the dealer. first it was diagnosed with failed vaccum line, but three months later the same check engine light came back. corrective measures have since included the change of: oxygen sensors, fuel lines, and a new battery. the light is still permanently on, although no noticable drivability is affected.*ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
04/17/2001110/12/1996
 96 v 017 000/ignition switch: intermittent problem with starting, and instrument failure during operating of vehicle. manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was not cover under recall due to vin. *ak the dealer confirmed that the vehicle had a defective switches but was not on recall. *yh