1997 Audi A4 Brakes Problems

“1) failure of front left (driver side) hydraulic brake hose at caliper end at inboard side of hose strain relief. The damage location appears to be where hose is subject to maximum stress and flexing when front wheels turn. Further inspection revealed concealed damage to right (passenger) front brake hose at the same location. 2) consequence was loss of all hydraulic braking when hose burst, resulting in minor accident. Damage to vehicles was minor because of good fortune to have failure at low speed--no injuries resulted. …”

“The contact owns a 1997 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the brakes failed when engaged. The contact was attempting to stop for a traffic stop but the vehicle did not respond. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 70,000.”

“My 1997 Audi A4 has experienced almost non braking in cold/wet conditions. When brakes are initially applied during these conditions there is almost zero braking for 50 feet at 35 MPH or less. I have come very close to rear ending a few cars that cut in front of you. I have contacted Audi of america and there response was that no known poor braking condition exists when brakes are cold/wet. Yet there is a news bulletin on Audi's own european web site indicating that there is a problem with brakes when wet. …”

“The A4, unlike all other cars I've ever owned, does not have 'splash shields' inboard of the front disc brake rotors. In the rain, this causes a quite alarming period, when the brakes are initially applied, of sheer terror, because the car is not stopping! This has been made a mandatory recall all across europe, and there, insurance companies won't cover you if you rear-end someone and don't have the shields on. I see no reason why Audi won't also carry this to the us, until they get sued when someone gets killed because of it. …”

“Braking performance seems to be dramatically reduced in wet, and especially wet and cold, conditions. This happens often, but does not happen regularly, and always after prolonged high-speed driving without brake application. The reduction in performance seems much more dramatic than would be expected from typical reduction in brake performance in these conditions.”