Recall?

[PetrolTed]

Got this sent to me the other day. Searching on the web gives some Australian recall notices but nothing in the UK yet...

somebody said:

121k of UK A4, A6, A8 plus 80k Passats may soon be crashing in front of you soon. VOSA Ref R200498, Audi Ref 40G4, VW Ref 40G3. This is all due to faulty components, resulting in a possible suspension collapse and total steering failure. Three accidents have occurred already. VAG will only replace parts with Full Dealer History. On browsing a leaked document it does say Recall even though Audi say it’s only an Inspection. They also said that the fault would be been picked up during servicing, I asked why did they still need to recall 200K then, and got no answer! Leaked docs show that you can get the recall work carried out (without dealer servicing) and that it is a Recall as on the official documents sent by Milton Keynes to the dealers with the words – ACTION IMMEDIATELY, ALL VEHICLES, IMPORTANT MATTER used… So next time you are driving along at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 + etc behind an A series ...think twice it may be going in any direction….and very …very suddenly.....CRASH…..

[jeremyc]

I could only find reference to a recall for steering ball joints - it appears to be common to the Audi A4, A6 etc.

The AA Website said:

Recall Ref: 1999/073 Exact Model: Passat Description: POTENTIAL PREMATURE WEAR OF STEERING BALL JOINTS VIN: VARIOUS Build Date: March 1998 to August 1998 Numbers: 19633 Defect: Faulty seals could lead to premature wear of the track rod bearings (ends) and if the warning noises are ignored it is possible that the track rod bearing pin could work loose and affect steering control. Action: Recall vehicles in order to replace the track rod ends with ones fitted with an improved seal. Launch Date: 01 November 1999

[plotloss]

Investigation of support arms/wishbones up to cars built in '99

800,000 cars potentially affected worldwide.

Talk on the german webboards...

[minghis]

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=96042&f=23&h=0&hw=audi+vw+recall

Is this the same? I wondered what had happened to this story - it made BBC news back then...