2007 Audi S4 Engine Problems

AUDI HAS USED A TIMING CHAIN IN THE 4.2L V8 ENGINE. BECAUSE TIMING CHAINS ARE TYPICALLY VERY RELIABLE, THE CHAIN HAS BEEN PLACED AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TIMING TENSIONERS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND PRONE TO BREAKAGE. THIS CAN RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING TO NEW YORK CITY FROM NORTH CAROLINA ON INTERSTATE 95, I ENCOUNTERED HEAVY TRAFFIC AROUND SILVER SPRING, MD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING IN SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC, THE CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED TO RETURN FROM ITS ENGAGED POSITION AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. WITH THE ENGINE OFF, I MANUALLY PULLED AND RETURNED THE CLUTCH PEDAL BACK TO ITS RELEASED POSITION. I THEN PROCEEDED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND PRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL. AGAIN, THE CLUTCH PEDAL REMAINED STUCK IN THE ENGAGED POSITION. MOMENTS LATER SMOKE BECAME TO APPEAR FROM UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD. A POLICE OFFICER WHO HAPPENED TO BE NEARBY HELPED PUSH THE CAR TO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE AND LEFT, WHILE SMOKE KEPT ESCAPING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED BY THE POLICE OFFICER. SHORTLY AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE POLICE OFFICER, FLAMES APPEARED ALONGSIDE THE SMOKE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD AND THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FILL UP WITH DENSE SMOKE. WHILE FRANTICALLY REMOVING MY DOG, SUITCASES AND OTHER PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM THE VEHICLE, A MOTORIST STOPPED TO ASSIST ME AND WITH THE USE OF HIS OWN FIRE EXTINGUISHER PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE DAMAGED VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY AUDI DEALERSHIP AND SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION TO BE EVALUATED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND BY AUDI OF AMERICA. A RENTAL CAR HAD TO BE USED TO COMPLETE THE TRAVEL. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAS SINCE DECLARED THE DAMAGED VEHICLE A "TOTAL LOSS". THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAD NOT MISSED ANY MANUFACTURE-RECOMMENDED SERVICE AT AUTHORIZED AUDI DEALERSHIPS. THE LAST SUCH SERVICE WAS CONDUCTED THE WEEK PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. *TR