I'll start off with the car info
2005 A4 1.8T Quattro with about 35K miles

The other day I got in my car and started driving on the freeway. Everything seemed to be going fine until I got off the freeway when the car started to shake/shutter at higher RPMs. This got progressively worse and started happing at lower RPMs and while it was happening the check engine light would come on (would not be on when the car wasn't acting up). Eventually about one block away from my house the car pretty much lost all power and died on the side of the road. However, the car was still idling at the time it just wouldn't move at all when I pressed on the gas. After turning of the car I was unable to immediately start it again so we pushed it the final block and let it sit for a while. After sitting for a few hours it started right up, but I was hesitant to drive it anywhere so had it towed to the dealership.

I had the car towed to the dealership (still under warranty) and after two days they finally called me back with their version of an answer. They said the computer told them the car had four "unspecified misfires" so they could not give me a definitive answer as to what was going on. They suspected that it may have been the ignition coils so they replaced all four. And the car seems to drive fine now. Has anyone had this happen? Does this sound like it could have been a problem with the coils? Any other ideas? I pick the car up tonight so hopefully it will get me home.

 

The car drives fine? What's the problem, seems like they fixed it.

 

I've never had four coils go out at the same time but I've had one coil go at a time and the symptoms are very similar, my car didn't lose all power but I'm
sure it happened to you because it was 4 coils opposed to 1, so you should be ok now

 

To have four coils blow on you is highly unusual so I would suspect that they all went due to the part that allows the coils to fire, the part that dictates the voltage each coil will get. I'm no mechanic but I do know that if all four have gone at the same time then it's not just faulty coils, the problems lies in "WHAT" made them all faulty at the same time. I have a feeling your problem will come back so you better have them check a little more into it before they all go again.

Good luck

 

My car made it home yesterday evening and it seems fine. The problem I have is that they had no hard diagnosis of what caused this to happen, and only replaced all four coils because they thought that may have been the issue. They did not inspire confidence that it would not occur again. Im just trying to find out if anyone has had something similar happen to see what their issue was.

 

Like I said.... Have them take a closer look at the issue.

 

I had a similar issue with my 2003 A4. THe check engine light did come on and under the dealership diagnostic they told me it was a suction jet issue. I then took it to my mechanic after it started running rough and he found it to be mis-firing. Something the diagnostic did not catch and so he replaced the coils and that lead to finding out the catalytic converter needed to be replaced as well as the gasket value that was leaking onto the coils and sparks - all issues of what I understand would cause a mis-firing.

I would have a diagnostic done and take it to another mechanic you trust so you can also get the real story.

 

I agree, otherwise it's freak luck to have all 4 coils go at the same time. Do you know how long it was on the lot before you picked it up?