It turns out that many of the ABS systems can be repaired by replacing a faulty controller board. I believe that the dealer price for this can range from $800 - $1,000 while an independent mechanic can do it for about $650+. Circuit boards shouldn't be faulty like this, it was a faulty design that should be covered by the warranty but apparently it is covered on the lower-end VWs and not the Audi...one would think that the customers who pay for quality, brand, service and extras would be treated AT LEAST the same as the customers who don't...go figure.

My brother, who also has an Audi with a crappy Bosch ABS control unit just called me up and asked if I know anything about the ABS control unit because his just went out on him and the dealer wants $1,400 to repair it. We have similar Audis and he is also having a problem with the ABS control unit? Coincidence? I think NOT! Audi really needs to recall the Bosch ABS control units now!

I filed a compaint with the National Traffic Safety Folks today at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ and recommend that everyone else do so as well to force their hand in dealing with this problem.

Latest update on the Audi ABS Control unit problems. I spoke with a parts guy at the local Audi dealership and asked whether they get a lot of problems with the ABS Control UNits and he said yes absolutely. In fact, they have had so many problems that instead of selling only the complete control unit for about $1,400, they are now selling the electronics for $500 because that was the faulty part. I asked him why the company doesn't just admit the problem and do a recall and he shook his head and said he didn't know, but that it is a pretty common problem.

So I guess the good news is that the price to repair the faulty ABS control unit is now only $500 plus labor instead of $1,400 plus labor. But the bad news is that Audi still isn't stepping up to the plate and doing a recall, or at the very least covering the cost of the part when the faulty part goes out.

The Audi ABS problem is quite well known, apparently to everyone BUT Audi who has refused to compensate owners for the faulty ABS control units. I have come across Modulemaster who will repair your ABS control unit for a flat $250. They provide instructions on how to remove the unit and then you send it to them and they repair it. It sure beats the $1,700 - $2,200 quotes from the Audi dealers to replace this problematic part. So check out Modulemaster and let the group know what your experience is with them. I intend to do this myself, when I get some free time, and will let everyone know how it goes.

Does anyone have experience with Modulemaster?

Here is a copy of the email I sent to Annette Johnson at Audi America. I encourage everyone to send emails to Annette at the following email address: Annette.Johnson@audi.com and copy the boss at: johan.denysschen@audi.com

Annette,

I understand that you are evaluating the problems with the ABS control unit. There is a plethora of information about this problem on the Internet. I have a blog about this very same problem at http://audi-vw-abs-recall.blogspot.com/ There are several links to people having this same problem and there are links on how to replace the unit yourself and where to get rebuilt units for $250 instead of the $1,700 quote by Rectal Motors.

You can read my story about the problem and how poorly I was treated by Rector Motors (I will never go back there) at this link: http://audi-vw-abs-recall.blogspot.com/2005/07/audi-and-vw-please-recall-cars-between.html

Here is a description of the Jetta recall for the same problem (and same part):

2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLS NHTSA Recall ID Number: 02V031000

Recall Date: JAN 31, 2002
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK
Potential Units Affected: 55000
Summary: ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Notes: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC,

http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/67-int/2002/volkswagen/jetta/gls/

p.s. I will be posting the contents of this letter on the blog mentioned above.

Well, The growing list of dissatisfied Audi owners with ABS control unit problems continues to grow. Hopefully, at some point Audi of America will admit the problem and do something about it. Here are a few more links to people mentioning this problem:

http://auto-forums.net/ftopic10066.html

http://www.talkaboutautos.com/group/alt.autos.audi/messages/74176.html

http://www.audilife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6654 – Says that Audi of America paid most of the cost of his replacement of the ABS control unit

http://carcommons.com/abs-warning-light-vt15802.html

http://audi-forums.com/t902-abs.htm

http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/360190/Main/259550

The Audi ABS light and ABS Control Unit is such a problem that there is a good sized after market for rebuilt ABS control units such as the one featured here for $250. They claim that removal instructions will be forthcoming…

http://www.modulemaster.com/audiabsrepair.html