TTAC Flashback: The 60 Minutes Scam That Nearly Killed Audi

Simply a tragedy. My dad had a 1982 5000 turbo that was a sweet (if underpowered compared to today) car. It stickered for $24K in 1982 and was the 'A8' of the time. He went to trade it in 4 yrs later and it was worth all of $4k, so he got all p----- off and kept it. We drove the thing for a total of 10 yrs (2 turbo replacements too) and 160,000 miles b/f the odo broke. They really don't build cars like they used to.

Audi really botched the PR on that episode though - I'm sorry to say that they have no one to blame but themselves.

That's a sad story for Audi.

Can we bring in Lexus in this dicussion?

*please*

after this whole ordeal ended, it was shown that there really was nothing wrong mechanically with Audi's vehicles. It was driver error. But the problem was Audi's handling of the situation that haunted them forever later. They didn't seem to realize 'the customer is always right' principle. Instead, they blatantly blamed the customers and wouldn't admit anything was wrong. No assistance was provided to customers.
When Lexus first launched in 1989, there was a problem with the cruise control that wouldn't shut off. Lexus immediately recalled the vehicles and had them fixed right away. Customers were given loaner cars and later, a full tank of gas. The cars were even given a full wash and wax! Just how you handle a situation makes all the difference in the world to your PR image.

both situations were different, the lexus had a legit problem and had to address it, but in Audis' case there was nothing wrong with the 5000, what were they suppose to do , recall them any way for a fake problem.

BTW, Audi didnt blame the drivers as you said they did, even after the reports came back that nothing was wrong.

Lexus = problem = Recall
Audi = no problem = no recall

The only thing Audi did wrong was sit back and do nothing, they should of blamed the drivers, it was there fault, thats the problem with the world, no one wants to take responsibility for there own mishaps, they take the easy way out and blame someone else.

I feel bad for the woman who killed her son, but it was 100% her fault, but she didnt want to believe that she killed him.

I agree in the way you handle it really matters. The only problem if my memory serves me correctly, was the Lexus’ were recalled while the Audi never had an addressable issue. So if the car never made it to the dealership there is less of an opportunity to speak to the customer.

But Audi did a poor job in handling it and should have reached out..(German arrogance?)

eff this pos lying program.

At the time also all the shots were called by Audi in Germany, not here in the U.S and because the car had nothing wrong and they were stubborn, they did not do anything.
If not for that black episode, who knows where Audi would be today in the U.S...definitely way on top alongside BMW!!

You are totally right, AlexTx, history would likely have been different - I think Audi was way ahead from a quality and technology standpoint in the 1980's. Its really a shame this got so botched up.

Their sales (Audi and BMW) were neck-and-neck around this time, in the high-70,000s, if memory serves. Assuming Audi had the sales in all other markets that it has today, and they kept up with BMW in the U.S. market, they'd probably be #1 in the world. Damn publicity!

jmrA480, Audi DID put the blame on the customers. This all first came out when attorney general Robert Abrams started looking into the matter after many people complained of the problem. Then Audi (correctly) blamed people were mistaking the gas pedal for the brake pedal. They resisted a recall on the vehicles. The rest is as I said before.

well the article said they didnt blame them, so if your right I apoligize.

yes they resisted a recall on the vehicles, why wouldnt they , there was nothing wrong with them. If they recalled them, then they would of been saying something was wrong, when tests show they weren't.

Audi should of went after 60 min for the scam, thats were they went wrong. I know at the end of one of the shows they did say they were wrong and appoligized, but it was to late the damage was done

Guaranteed had BMW or Mercedes been in that situation, they would have done nothing just like Audi did. However I seriously doubt BMW or Mercedes would have ended up in North America where Audi is today. Do any of you? I truly wonder why?

This whole thing is sad. I hope this will never ever happen to any car company.And I still can't get it how could people belieave this POS!

I had 3 Audis in the eighties and I had trouble getting used to the safety feature they came up with that required the driver to depress the brake pedal before engaging the transmision. Moreover, the linkage from the on-floor shifter to the transmission was some sort of unreliable semiflexible rod that was not quite stiff but not as flexible as a wire. I actually had one that broke with the automatic transmission stuck in first gear.
I am once again a happy Audi driver and I marvel at the big improvemnets Audi has made over the years.

It's not Audi's fault people can't drive.

Oh ya, I am so sure! You are the worst hater/faker on the site!