Maria, I think the Audi warranty extension that covered the ‘99 A4 timing belt and tensioner inspection was called the JK campaign. I don’t recall the dates exactly, but roughly a year or two before the timing belt on my car broke I received a letter from Audi requiring me to take the car to a dealer to have the timing belt and tensioner inspected. I brought the car in with about 58,000 miles on it and the dealer said there was no problem. About 11,000 miles later, wham!

After my timing belt broke, I corresponded with three people at the Audi Customer Care Center — Terry May, Bruce Shellnut (who was a supervisor, if memory serves), and Jeannette Rineheimer. This was in late ‘06, so I can’t guarantee that these folks are still around.

I got my info on how to deal with Audi from an excellent post on this page from Eric Bulock, dated June 5th, 2006. In it he gave the name of the lawyer who, I think, helped craft the settlement with Audi on behalf of model year ‘98 and ‘99 A4 1.8T owners. That lawyer is Sheryl Levy, Esquire, Berger & Montague, P.C. 1622 Locust St. Philadelphia, PA 19103. It was to Ms. Levy that I copied my correspondence with Audi.

If you haven’t already, check our Eric’s June 5, 2006 post. It’s still there, and it’s helpful.

Good luck –

Adam R.

http://smashgods.com/2008/08/27/audi-volkswagen-timing-belt-slip-spells-class-action-suit/

This is hitting more people than Audi anticipated and they are going to have to take action by 2009.

Could you please email me who you contacted about your 1999 Audi A4 because I just received an email from the Settlement Administrator for the timing belt settlement cival suit and I was told that it is only for 2000- 2003 Audi A4’s.

Would like to know whom you contacted.
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Maria

I too have a ‘99 A4 1.8T. Like your son’s car, the tensioner and timing belt on my car failed at about 69,000 miles, after an inspection and clean bill of health at a local dealer, per Audi’s instructions. I was 100 miles from home when my car died — had to leave the car there and take a train home.

Long story short, the damage was about $6000 and Audi did reimburse me for the repair, as well as train fare home and back to retrieve the car. All of my written correspondence to Audi was copied to my lawyer, with reference to the class action settlement. I did have to keep after Audi to pay up — several letters back and forth — but finally they did.

You may have an easier time with Audi if you get your son’s car to a dealer for the repair, though. The service department at the dealer nearest to where my car died had terrible reviews online, so I had my car fixed at an independent shop. I had to pay the bill, and then submit it to Audi for reimbursement. The Audi customer service rep told me that if I had the car fixed at a dealer, they’d cover the cost directly with no financial output on my part.

Whatever you choose to do, this is a real pain in the you-know-where, isn’t it? Good luck —

I am planning on submitting a claim to Audi, by the way the car has about 63K miles on it. Does anyone know if they will also reimburse me for the additional expenses I had for the breakdown (towing, car rental and the airfare back to NC)?

Please let me know if anyone else has had there other expense reimbursed.
Thanks!