I’ve leased a new ’07 A4 Quattro 2.0T recently. It appears to have a steering problem. The steering wheel doesn’t return back easily. I have to use force to get it back to the neutral position.

Moreover, it becomes almost stuck when it turned all the way to the left or right. It starts to get back slowly and only when I drive very fast (which is almost impossible and dangerous to do if you are not in an empty parking lot but in a road – the car may hit the sidewalk after a sharp turn). In a parking lot the car makes almost a full turn around while the steering wheel is coming back by itself. And it never comes back to the zero angle precisely.

My Audi dealer admitted the problem and replaced the steering rack-and-pinion. But it has become even worse. Now they don’t know what to do.

Does anybody have the similar problem?

 

My B7 doesn't have that problem. I can turn my steering wheel smoothly even my car is not moving at all.
B7 should have an adaptive steering wheel (not sure)


Did you find that problem when you test drive it?

 

Even my B7 does not have this problem. I will make sure today. Please keep us posted with any new information about this problem.

 

It could be lacking enough positive caster, or have heavy friction
in the steering.

 

back to the dealer I would think?? its a new car

 

yeah head back and check your fluids will ya

 

Thank you for your replies!

Unfortunately I didn’t do a test drive before signing a lease. This is not my first Audi. Been driving them since 1992. I was so stupid to believe in their superior quality and so excited expecting a new one so I just skipped a test drive. And this problem is not noticeable until you do the first sharp turn in a tight space.

About positive caster. This was my first suggestion when I talked to the dealer. It appeared that in A4 the front wheels caster angle is NOT ADJUSTABLE! Can you believe it? But my mechanic confirmed it also.

Regarding the fluids. According to the invoice they‘ve checked almost everything including suspension and tie rods. But the only thing they’ve replaced was steering rack-and-pinion. Now they do not know what to do.

I really appreciate any help with this problem. And of cause I’ll keep you posted.

Alex

 

I find this hard to believe, on my 99 A4 Quattro you loosen the sub frame bolts and adjust the sub frame to adjust caster and camber. I would assume the newer a4s are the same. They should be able to show you some kind of printout showing the car is in alignment or it is covered under the warranty for the first 12,000 miles. They just don't want to try if they say they can't. Smaller diameter bolts, shims and other methods are generally used to get adjustments out of vehicles that can't be adjusted.

Is it worse one way than the other? This would further make me believe it is a caster issue. Other possibilities other than the rack or caster is strut tops binding or possibly (LONGSHOT) The intermediate shaft boot binding on the shaft, usually indicated by a low pitch squeaking sound.

 

Unbelievable!

I cant imagine buying a car without test driving it.

anyway, I would ask them for a new vehicle, then they can do whatever testing/fixing/troubleshooting they want once I got my new one.