2015 A4 steering issues

[Camss57]

Hi, I took delivery of my 2015 A4 in December and have has some issues with the steering. Car has the sport package and sport plus package. The steering wheel was off center to the left, so I took the car in to get it checked. I had my winter wheels and tires on it and when they checked the alignment and everything was in spec so they swapped the front wheels with the rears and had me try that. No change in the steering after that, so they wanted to check the car with the OEM wheels. The car still had the same issue with the OEM wheels on it. If you would hold the wheel straight, the car would go right. And it was not a gradual change, it was pretty immediate. The tech driving my car said he had never seen a car that did that, and could not believe his machine didn't pick that up. So, they put it on the alignment rack and made some changes. They didn't give me a printout or any kind of paperwork for that matter. Now the wheel was to the right. So, I decided to take the car to the next closest Audi dealership and have the alignment done again. The tech at this dealer could see the wheel was to the right when he drove the car. He found the rear toe was out of spec. He aligned it and we went for a ride. It was much better, but the wheel was now slightly off to the left. He put it on the rack again and tweaked it a little bit more and it seemed straight during our short drive. I drove the car home and I had the wheel cranked to the right because it was vey windy. Once I got near my home it seemed ok again.

The next day the steering was slightly to the left and if you held the wheel straight it did the same thing it did before I took it in initially. The car all the while seemed to be dog tracking and required almost constant adjustments on the interstate. I spend about 90% of my time on the interstate, so this to me is a major annoyance. This is my first Audi and I can't believe that this is how the steering is suppose to be. My wife has a 08 Passat with 76k on it that we have had since new that drives better than my car. I contacted Audi today and they want me to take the car back into the dealership to have the alignment checked again. I have had the car in 6 times now and it has been on the alignment rack 4 times.

Could the alignment be ok and something else is causing the issue? It is the same with both winter and summer tires. I called the dealership today after Audi had contacted them and the service advisor told me that he thought my issue would never go away and that they get a lot of complaints about the electronic steering especially when it is cold outside. Long post, and it could be longer. I have tried searching the entire web and have found several things that pop up, but most seem to be from around 2013. Oh, and I drove a similar 2015 A4 at the dealership on 3 separate occasions and it drives how in my mind, how mine should drive. The wheel is straight and the car seems solid on the interstate.

[boomtime]

From the start in my 2013 Q5 with quattro, the steering was always "touchy" at highway speeds.
In fall 2013 the dealer did a power steering firmware update that simply made it sloppier (less touchy) but basically meaning its still takes some work on the interstate because now its too loose.
Since then I have had it aligned twice and new tires put on at 36k miles. Switching from Continental to Falken helped a good amount.

Also, when I enabled ADS my steering got tight again but definitely not as touchy as when it was new. It may relax once your tires break in, it seemed to be the Continental Cross-Contact causing it in my case.

Something I have noticed with new Audi's from the dealer, loaners is that they are all "Point and Shoot" type of steering cars. Its very precise, sometimes too precises making it touchy and more work on the interstate.

[B44]

I don't understand this issue could it be wrong frame construction?

[TDIaholic]

How much to the left is the wheel pointing? It's normal for the steering wheel to point a little toward the center of the road, as the roads are angled toward the ditch a bit, and never perfectly level.

[poweredbyaudi7]

How much to the left is the wheel pointing? It's normal for the steering wheel to point a little toward the center of the road, as the roads are angled toward the ditch a bit, and never perfectly level.

This is not true....when alignments are done, they can put the wheel dead center and then align the car so that it handles accordingly. My '14 takes a bit of adjustment as well. However my wife's '15 Q5 drives like it is on rails....

[TDIaholic]

I guess it depends on the roads where you live, but at least over here the center of the road is always higher than the sides, so if you drive on the left, you need to steer just a hint to the right, and if you drive on the left, you need to steer to the left. I'm not talking major corrections here, just a few degree turn of the wheel toward the center of the road. Depends on the tires as well. Wider tires normally require more "correcting".

[Camss57]

I am aware of the road crown, but my car has the wheel to left no matter what lane you are in. I have 225/50R17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS80's on the car currently. That is the Audi recommended size for winter tires according to the dealership. I can only imagine this will be worse with the 19" summer performance tires on it. The thing that gets me is the 2015 A4 on the dealers lot drives how I feel mine should. It has the sport suspension on it like mine does. I actually drove that car twice before I ordered mine. How is it that one can drive straight and have the wheel straight and mine doesn't? I think what I'm asking for would be expected in a $15,000 KIA or any new vehicle for that matter.

Does the steering angle sensor need to be recalibrated after an alignment? If they didn't do that could the car be thinking one thing while the alignment is fighting the car? I have no idea, I'm just trying to determine if it could be something other than alignment. Thanks!

[B G 8er]

We are having issues with the steering on our 2013 Q5. It is intermittent, most often when cold (either outside and the car is freshly started for the day). It will feel "notchey" as in not smooth from left to right and right to left.

I so love my non-electronic steering in my 2011 B8 A4.

[treginginco]

We are having issues with the steering on our 2013 Q5. It is intermittent, most often when cold (either outside and the car is freshly started for the day). It will feel "notchey" as in not smooth from left to right and right to left.

I so love my non-electronic steering in my 2011 B8 A4.

This sounds like either the software update needs to be done or the steering rack needs to be replaced. The rack on my '13 allroad had to be replaced two years ago for that "notchy" problem.

[skis4hire]

You might try this:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...=1#post9925986

Dealer may not be correctly resetting the servo motor/ steering position sensor.

[TDIaholic]

Yes, with the new electro-mechanical steering it's recommended to peform the steering angle sensor alignment after you've had the chassis aligned. The wheel needs to be straight during alignment of the sensor, or the car will pull to one side all the time.

[B G 8er]

This sounds like either the software update needs to be done or the steering rack needs to be replaced. The rack on my '13 allroad had to be replaced two years ago for that "notchy" problem.

Thanks. I believe the software is up to date but will have them c/o the steering rack. Trouble is it is intermittent.

[SleeperCar]

Yes, with the new electro-mechanical steering it's recommended to peform the steering angle sensor alignment after you've had the chassis aligned. The wheel needs to be straight during alignment of the sensor, or the car will pull to one side all the time.

can a non-dealer perform this task? i got my car aligned at a performance aftermarket shop so just making sure as i didnt even ask about this.

[b6onboost]

If you search AZ or online you'll find a lot of similar reported issues with Audi's EPS (Electric Power Steering). They've issued software updates and even replaced the EPS units when they can't fix it. It is still intermittent. Some cars have it, others don't. Some only act up in the cold, others all the time.

The problem is Audi seems to make you try everything (alignment, new tires, etc) before opting to replace the EPS. I'm also worried that they attempt to alter alignment to counteract/minimize the root EPS issue.

If your car has these issues, keep taking it in, document it too. Most states have lemon laws only giving the dealer 2-3 times to fix the same issue. If it cannot be resolved, you have options.

[TDIaholic]

can a non-dealer perform this task? i got my car aligned at a performance aftermarket shop so just making sure as i didnt even ask about this.

If your car still drives straight, you're good. If you feel it pulling to one side, chances are you need to have the sensor calibrated. It should be doable with VCDS as well.

[Camss57]

If you search AZ or online you'll find a lot of similar reported issues with Audi's EPS (Electric Power Steering). They've issued software updates and even replaced the EPS units when they can't fix it. It is still intermittent. Some cars have it, others don't. Some only act up in the cold, others all the time.

The problem is Audi seems to make you try everything (alignment, new tires, etc) before opting to replace the EPS. I'm also worried that they attempt to alter alignment to counteract/minimize the root EPS issue.

If your car has these issues, keep taking it in, document it too. Most states have lemon laws only giving the dealer 2-3 times to fix the same issue. If it cannot be resolved, you have options.

My state says 4 attempts within a year to fix the same problem as far as lemon law. My next trip to the dealership will be #7.

[Jason11213]

I was hoping some other people may be able to chime in on this? I know this thread is old but I am experiencing the same “notchy” steering issues described here. It seems to be getting worse and I just got back from a trip to my in laws where it was aggravating/dangerous driving home. The car needed constant adjustment to stay in the lane and it seemed to be the worst when I used “dynamic” but comfort, individual and automatic modes seemed to give the steering a little more slack and didn’t need as much adjustment when driving at highway speeds.

[Theiceman]

I was hoping some other people may be able to chime in on this? I know this thread is old but I am experiencing the same “notchy” steering issues described here. It seems to be getting worse and I just got back from a trip to my in laws where it was aggravating/dangerous driving home. The car needed constant adjustment to stay in the lane and it seemed to be the worst when I used “dynamic” but comfort, individual and automatic modes seemed to give the steering a little more slack and didn’t need as much adjustment when driving at highway speeds.

Have you tried lubricating the universal joint in tne steering shaft?? Thst fixes most issues..

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