Audi Says Will Recall Over 40,000 Cars

[Martin Suryadarma]

FYI, from AP:

Thursday October 4 11:42 AM ET 
Audi Says Will Recall Over 40,000 Cars

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - German carmaker Audi is recalling 41,890
vehicles worldwide due to rust problems in the rear suspension of some
four-wheel-drive models, the company said Thursday. 

The recall applies to TT and S3 models made between September 1998 and
March 2000, and A3 models made between February 1999 and March 2000, the
Volkswagen subsidiary said. Only four-wheel-drive models are affected. 

The corrosion has caused the suspension to fail while cars have been at
rest or moving slowly and has not caused any known injuries, Audi
spokesman Axel Catton said. Owners will be notified by letter and the
parts will replaced by the company. 

The A3 and S3 models were not sold in the United States, said Catton, and
only a few of the affected TTs were sold in America before the defect, a
joint that was inadequately sealed, was caught. He said the part is under
greatest stress at slow speed and during parking maneuvers and tended to
break at that time. 

Ingolstadt-based Audi makes about 180,000 of the models yearly, he said.