Audi Warranty (Issues And Complaints) Share Your Story [Archive]

Gunmeister

07-01-2019, 05:29 PM

Am I the only one? I need to know if I am expecting to much or if I'm getting the short end of the stick here.

Here is the facts...

My Local Dealer: Autonation Audi of Spokane, WA

My Complaint: Passenger side door handle has discoloration.

My Local Dealer Response: Passenger door handle discoloration is from wear and will not be covered by warranty.

My Response: If it's wear then why is it only on the passenger side and not the drivers side?

My Local Dealer Response: Good point lets escalate this to Audi goodwill program. Audi Representative declines it and says the damage most likely there when you bought it used (basically called me a liar)...

My Response: Here is pictures of the car at the dealer I bought it from in the showroom with no damage to door handle. Keep in mind my car had 12k miles when I bought it. On a side note why the hell should it matter if it was there when I got it? It's still defective leather that discolored in less then 20k miles.

My Local Dealer Response: Nothing. Just that it's declined.

My Response: I'll call Audi USA then. So I did currently on hold right now and they say they honor the dealers decision... I don't know what to do at this point. I've gotten into arguments with the GM of my local dealer. At this point I think its there mission to make sure i get shafted here. I am nothing but respectful. I don't lose my cool or get upset when at this point I really should be.

To put this in perspective my car has what is called the Audi Exclusive Package (custom paint color exterior and interior from factory) $4,500 option. It also has the comfort seating package which is an additional $3,450. The MSRP of this Audi A6 TDI was $79k.

My Response: I call Audi USA.

Audi USA: Talked to a representative and they said they stand by the dealer decision. When I challenged the reasoning behind the declined decision she said she will speak to a manager tomorrow.

Now we are here. A slim chance of Audi standing behind there product but most likely I'll get the cold shoulder. I'm pissed. What can I do? Below is picture of said door handle.

Gunmeister

07-01-2019, 05:33 PM

bthethy

07-01-2019, 05:41 PM

Have you tried cleaning it using a leather cleaner?

Sounds like your dealers the same as most others. Good luck. Sorry can’t be of more help

A7 3.0tdi 272 Black Edition Mythos Black Tech pack

Gunmeister

07-01-2019, 05:41 PM

Eugeinus

07-02-2019, 07:34 AM

Yes I've tried cleaning it. Nothing works.

2016 A6 TDI*|*Mugello Blue, Pearl EffectExterior | Alabastar White Interior | Audi Exclusive Line | Eucalyptus Natural Wood Decorative Inlays | Prestige Package | Comfort Seating Package | Driver Assistance Package | S Line Sport Package | 20" Black Optic Package | Cold Weather Package | 18% Ceramic Film Windows | 70% Ceramic Film Windshield | Thinkware F800 Pro Dash Cam | Audi All Weather Mats*|1 of 1 for 2016

My suggestion is you go to Audi USA main website and find the executive page - Their contact info should be listed. Send a detailed email detailing everything above. To make a long story short, I purchased my last Audi from a dealer here on the East coast that bought it from a previous California owner. The car had active audi care, but in the state of CA you can effectively cancel Audicare on a vehicle that was owned and sold even if it is no longer yours. I got nowhere with AoA, One email to an exec and they sorted it out for me.

Good luck

gk1

07-02-2019, 07:43 AM

Yes, you might be expecting too much. You have a white interior...it is going to get dirty. That particular spot is from a passenger's hand lotion or makeup. Believe it or not some hand lotion and sun-tan lotion has chemicals that absolutely discolor leather...even black leather. You are only making their point by saying it was fine when you bought it and after use it is discolored.
I'm sorry it's not what you want to hear. Maybe try a pro leather place to see if they can repair it.

Mordgier

07-02-2019, 09:26 AM

Yes, you might be expecting too much. You have a white interior...it is going to get dirty. That particular spot is from a passenger's hand lotion or makeup. Believe it or not some hand lotion and sun-tan lotion has chemicals that absolutely discolor leather...even black leather. You are only making their point by saying it was fine when you bought it and after use it is discolored.
I'm sorry it's not what you want to hear. Maybe try a pro leather place to see if they can repair it.

Pretty much this. I also have a white interior and at 42k miles all the areas where hands come in contact with it are starting to discolor. This is expected.

White interiors are uncommon because they naturally discolor. Leather is porous and will absorb any moisture it's in contact with. I basically stopped wearing my darker jeans as they'd consistently stain the seats. The exact same handholds on my car are also discolored.

Really your only option here is to ensure you apply some sort of leather care product - I recommend the line from Chemical Guys. It won't remove existing fade but it will help keeping it looking fresh longer.

A good guide on how to take care of white leather is here: https://nickscarblog.com/detailing/how-i-keep-my-platinum-silver-white-leather-seats-clean

I am not nearly as thorough about keeping my leather cleaned as the author, but I do have a reminder in my phone to do a cleaning of the leather monthly.

Finally, stained leather can be re-dyed but just like repainting a piece of a car, it will stick out as it'll look newer than the rest of the car - even a perfect color match will be a more consistent fresh color rather than the natural slightly worn leather look

In the end, if you wanted an interior that didn't stain, you could have bought a VW with black pleather that doesn't absorb anything except sunrays leaving you with a seat that you could have cooked an egg on and it wouldn't have even left a mark on the lovely non-stick pleather interior....

Leather has it's charms, but just like alcantara it is far more maintenance intensive than your more pedestrian materials.

Gunmeister

07-02-2019, 11:06 AM

Yes, you might be expecting too much. You have a white interior...it is going to get dirty. That particular spot is from a passenger's hand lotion or makeup. Believe it or not some hand lotion and sun-tan lotion has chemicals that absolutely discolor leather...even black leather. You are only making their point by saying it was fine when you bought it and after use it is discolored.
I'm sorry it's not what you want to hear. Maybe try a pro leather place to see if they can repair it.They were more saying I was trying to just get previous damage repaired which I'm not. I have pictures of the car at the dealer I bought it from. It was more or less a stab at me for buying a used car

2016 A6 TDI*|*Mugello Blue, Pearl EffectExterior | Alabastar White Interior | Audi Exclusive Line | Eucalyptus Natural Wood Decorative Inlays | Prestige Package | Comfort Seating Package | Driver Assistance Package | S Line Sport Package | 20" Black Optic Package | Cold Weather Package | 18% Ceramic Film Windows | 70% Ceramic Film Windshield | Thinkware F800 Pro Dash Cam | Audi All Weather Mats*|1 of 1 for 2016

Gunmeister

07-02-2019, 11:08 AM

Pretty much this. I also have a white interior and at 42k miles all the areas where hands come in contact with it are starting to discolor. This is expected.

White interiors are uncommon because they naturally discolor. Leather is porous and will absorb any moisture it's in contact with. I basically stopped wearing my darker jeans as they'd consistently stain the seats. The exact same handholds on my car are also discolored.

Really your only option here is to ensure you apply some sort of leather care product - I recommend the line from Chemical Guys. It won't remove existing fade but it will help keeping it looking fresh longer.

A good guide on how to take care of white leather is here: https://nickscarblog.com/detailing/how-i-keep-my-platinum-silver-white-leather-seats-clean

I am not nearly as thorough about keeping my leather cleaned as the author, but I do have a reminder in my phone to do a cleaning of the leather monthly.

Finally, stained leather can be re-dyed but just like repainting a piece of a car, it will stick out as it'll look newer than the rest of the car - even a perfect color match will be a more consistent fresh color rather than the natural slightly worn leather look

In the end, if you wanted an interior that didn't stain, you could have bought a VW with black pleather that doesn't absorb anything except sunrays leaving you with a seat that you could have cooked an egg on and it wouldn't have even left a mark on the lovely non-stick pleather interior....

Leather has it's charms, but just like alcantara it is far more maintenance intensive than your more pedestrian materials.I do clean it monthly but this should help me do a better job thank you. I'm just saying the car has 20k miles the discoloration started at 15k miles. Don't think it should get issues that fast.

2016 A6 TDI*|*Mugello Blue, Pearl EffectExterior | Alabastar White Interior | Audi Exclusive Line | Eucalyptus Natural Wood Decorative Inlays | Prestige Package | Comfort Seating Package | Driver Assistance Package | S Line Sport Package | 20" Black Optic Package | Cold Weather Package | 18% Ceramic Film Windows | 70% Ceramic Film Windshield | Thinkware F800 Pro Dash Cam | Audi All Weather Mats*|1 of 1 for 2016

Gunmeister

07-02-2019, 11:09 AM

My suggestion is you go to Audi USA main website and find the executive page - Their contact info should be listed. Send a detailed email detailing everything above. To make a long story short, I purchased my last Audi from a dealer here on the East coast that bought it from a previous California owner. The car had active audi care, but in the state of CA you can effectively cancel Audicare on a vehicle that was owned and sold even if it is no longer yours. I got nowhere with AoA, One email to an exec and they sorted it out for me.

Good luckYou don't happen to have the email to said Audi Exec?

2016 A6 TDI*|*Mugello Blue, Pearl EffectExterior | Alabastar White Interior | Audi Exclusive Line | Eucalyptus Natural Wood Decorative Inlays | Prestige Package | Comfort Seating Package | Driver Assistance Package | S Line Sport Package | 20" Black Optic Package | Cold Weather Package | 18% Ceramic Film Windows | 70% Ceramic Film Windshield | Thinkware F800 Pro Dash Cam | Audi All Weather Mats*|1 of 1 for 2016