German Car Zone

To all those who have an Audi Q7 or dream about having one

Before getting possession of your new Q7 or stepping once again in your Q7, I would like to invite you to take a look at the photos on this blog, illustrating an accident occurred on July 1st, 2006 with our new Audi Q7 (ordered in December 2005, produced in Germany in May 2006, delivered to us in Belgium on May 18th, 2006 and totally destroyed not even 6 weeks later, in France).

While driving on the highway in France (at approximately 130 km/h), the front wheel on the right side got loss (absolutely no obstacle on the way), stayed for a while under the car while the car went in one move to the right (the wheel pushed the interior side of the car inside breaking the leg of my daughter). The right wheel also got deformed, while the car was sliding to the right. The car flew into the outside landscape then hit (almost) frontally the land hill, obviously first with the right front side and immediately afterwards also with the left front side.

It went then up to an angle of approximately 45 degrees, then fell back on the ground and hit it first with its right corner at its bottom, then fell completely on its right side.

It is a model TDI 3.0 l (233 HP), 7 seats. It has a weight of approximately 2.5 ton.

The frontal airbags didn’t work (neither because of the frontal choke, nor because of the seat belts), the lateral ones neither, when the car (2.5 ton) fell on its side. The car was equipped with all possible airbags proposed by the constructor.

As if this was not enough, the central internal mirror also got loss at the moment of the choke and hit the head of my wife, who was driving the car.

I’m very happy that my wife and my daughter survived to this very severe accident (the car has been very normally declared as a total loss), these two members of my family being relatively lightly injured (broken sternum for my wife and hit on her head and broken leg for my daughter).

There are witnesses of this accident who can confirm what they saw.

Just to give you an idea about the attitude of Audi towards this accident (which could reveal some very serious technical problems with this car, problems that could endanger the life of people buying such a car), they didn’t do any technical expertise at all until now, even if the car is back in Belgium since July 11th, 2006.

I’m at your disposal for any additional information,

Aurel GAVRILOAIA
Managing Director

More info & pics: HERE

Woah! Talk about your early production lemons. Audi had best put a lid on this one by providing some TLC and a very good sounding excuse. Good for them, this accident didn't happen in the US. Last thing Audi needs is another safety-related PR disaster.

From the sounds of it, Audi is reacting in a rather cavalier matter to this incident. Lucky them, we're just talking broken bones and one wrecked Q7.

I really hope it was just an unfortunate single case deffect, not a one due some serial material / engineering faults. Otherwise Audi will be in a biiiiiiig trouble ...

A recall could not help ... Maybe for the airbags & other safety systems, but not for engineering / material fault.

Ouch!

Let's wait & see the epilog of this story ...

Ouch! Bentley recall, now this... let's hope it's an isolated case.

Recall Date:MAY 30, 2006
Model Affected:2006 BMW 5 SERIES
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NUTS WHICH SECURE THE FRONT AXLE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT TO THE FRONT WHEEL HUB MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. OVER TIME THE NUTS COULD LOOSEN AND THE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT COULD BE DAMAGED.
Consequence:
VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL COULD COMPROMISE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE FRONT AXLE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT NUTS TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Potential Units Affected:
40
Notes:
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

http://www.automotive.com/2006/49/bm...lls/53365.html

What a coincidence. BMW had made a recall due to problems in the front suspension of the 5 series a few months ago.
As you can see recalls help in material faults too. BMW has experience in that part.

Yep, neither BMW are immune to flaws.

Btw, Yannis, this is not BMW vs. Audi case ... You are acting like a true Audi fundametalist.

It's just an interesting story (I found it on some German Audi forum) with potentially serious outcome (mind A-class ESP, TT spoiler, Z8 deffective alu body frame etc).

But I really hope it's an isolated case. But it will be interesting to monitor this case / story over the next few weeks or months. I'm eager to hear official independent explanation of the deffect.

If you hear explaination about the defects in 5 series let us know too.

No problem.

Oh, Yannis, you are so funny.

wow this is bad.. its actually pretty dangerous..

Few days ago, in Croatia, a brand new Q7 while being parked on the street suddenly started to burn! Noone from Audi's dealership can tell what's the problem and the answerfrom Ingolstadt still didn't arrive! Damage is app. 60.000,- €!!!



Link in Croatian that Eni and Dominic can confirm.