NHTSA Investigates Audi Sedans

Reuters is reporting that The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday it had opened an investigation of 210,626 Audi sedans after two reports of pedals breaking, including one accident linked to two fatalities.

NHTSA said the complaints alleged a bracket connecting the pedals to the instrument panel failed on 1998 to 2001 A4 and A6 sedans. The agency said Audi parent Volkswagen AG had issued no technical bulletins on such a problem and that the agency had received no similar complaints on other vehicles.

A preliminary investigation is the first step taken by the agency into consumer complaints. If it determines the problem needs further study, the investigation can be upgraded to an engineering analysis. A Volkswagen spokesman said he had no further information about the complaints.