What Is The Strangest Car Problem You Have Ever Had?

I don't know if this qualifies. Last year, I purchased a new Audi Q5. When it arrived, the center console's buttons and their location looked substantially different than in marketing material. After getting to know the car, I learned that the computer user interface (UI) looked more like DOS (text based) than Windows (icon based, which is what the marketing material, dealer demos, and all the magazine and online reviewers showed). I also learned that features were missing, such as ready-to-use voice-initiated phone calls, a "custom" mode for Drive Select, and others.

It turns out Audi has two MMI (Man/Machine Interface) systems, and you only get the good one if you buy the way-expensive navigation package. Without Nav, you get the much lesser unit.

My STS 1998 use to drain the battery over the night and I had to jump it every morning till I discover that software was not shutting down the power amplifier of the Sound system, which was used for the main computer for every warning that was at that time, (doors open, seat belts etc). I fixed creating a secondary circuit with a switch to turn off the power amplifier, GM never gave any software update to address that issue.

Bought my wife a brand new 1990 Mercedes E Class. The first time she opened the trunk she screamed so loud you could hear her from NY all the way to Germany. The trunk was full of a hundred huge cockroaches each about 3" long. The dealer said call an exterminator and send them the bill. From then on my kids called that car the "roach mobile" and needless to say we never bought another car from that dealer.

I had a new 2008 Lexus ES 350 where the Mark Levinson radio would flip out every time it rained, the car would give me an electric shock every time I touched the door handle, and had an intermittent rattle in the roof. All three issues were never fixed.

I have seen a LOT of strange things - one of them was a new Ford Probe that had two problems - One was that the transmission seemed to shift up or down whenever it wanted - and the other was that the Passenger side door window would open whenever the radio was turned on. It stumped the dealer so that - even though I only worked on his used cars transmissions - he asked ME to look at it. Obviously - the tech who installed that radio had taken power from the wire to the Passenger door window switch - why I do not know - but that was easy. THe harder one was the transmission - since they had replaced BOTH the transmission (Which had blown up literally) and the computer. I eventually found that they had tapped into the TPS (Throttle position sensor) circuit - and I found this out when I realized that in a test drive the trans was shifting when the alarm light blinked.

This car had an aftermarket Radio and Theft Alarm system - and this "modification" resulted in a non-warranty repair of the Transmission and Computer - and resulting rewiring to the tune of over $8000. (This car was leased) And the Leaser was responsible although I would assume he eventually sued the installer of the radio and alarm. AND because of the lease - the car leaser had no choice but to do the repair to bring the car back to the condition needed to return the vehicle after the lease was over. If he did not - he would have been responsible for the total price of the car - and leases are normally at MSRP.

Another - a very early example of a Japanese manufacturers Electronically controlled transmission - had a wiring harness for the Shift Solenoids what was unmarked - same color wires - with three identical connectors. How do you tell which solenoid goes to which connector?

Still another - A number of American made based on French design auto transmissions for a car in the usa - where the transmission would not work at all - the cars simply would not move. Replace both computer and trans - still nothing. This was MY first electronic Transmission - and there were dozens of these cars down all over the country. So - a normal mechanic would check the fuses first in a possible electrical problem. The only fuse blown was that for the Cigar Lighter - a completely separate circuit only for that one item. Replacing it blew the fuse again - remove the element from the socket - it was melted - and replace the fuse - the fuse lived - and the transmissions worked too. Electrical Diagrams confirmed that there was NO crossover between the two circuits. However - replacing the Cigar lighters with a stronger one fixed the cars. We found out years later that the problem was in the Fuse Box itself.

I can think of a few others - if you want me to post them

I had a 92 passat that lowered the windows by itself every time it rained, I miss that car, those seats, the funky stubby gear shift lever. I also had a 2000 taurus that would collect drain water in the fan blower motor, ford, you can do better..plenty of youtube videos..

A new Saab 9000 that had an engine that quit whenever I made a hard left turn. Turned out to be a loose wire in the distributor.

Or a horrible Datsun 206Z during the early days of emission controls that vapor locked in the summer. Nothing like pulling out in front of a truck and having the car die. Ripped out all the pollution plumbing to get it right.

My Mom once had a 1955 Buick with the BEST Anti-theft system ever.
In order to start the car - You had to hit the dashboard consecutively in two places with a few seconds. Mom could do it every time. Me - not as often. Others failed miserably - including a couple of guys who got caught trying to rob the car.