NHTSA complaint: 1999 AUDI A6 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
MY 1999 AUDI A6 AVANT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE COLD WEATHER PACKAGE. THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES HEATED SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER IS TURNED ON IT ACTIVATES THE STEERING WHEEL HEATER. ON 12/13/02 IN USING THIS HEATER THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO BURN MY HAND AND BEGAN TO FILL THE CAR WITH SMOKE. IT MELTED THE FOAM UNDER THE LEATHER COVER. IF I HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE SEAT/STEERING WHEEL HEATER I BELIEVE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. MY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INDICATES THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WHEEL THAT WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. I CHECKED AN ENTHUSIAST INTERNET SITE (AUDIWORLD.COM) AND DID A SEARCH OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER AUDI MODELS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. TS
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation