How my Audi tried to kill me

Rear-Wheel Steering Failures

On several occasions, when pulling off my driveway at low speeds of around 10 mph, the vehicle would suddenly and sharply steer itself into the right-hand kerb. Each time, I was only able to prevent damage by immediately stopping. To reset the system, I would pull over in a safe place, exit the vehicle, lock it, and then re-enter before restarting.

As a qualified avionics engineer, I was concerned but initially assumed that safety systems would prevent such behaviour at higher speeds. Rear-wheel steering is designed to disengage above 25 mph, and below that threshold the maximum permitted angle of movement is 5°. Above 25 mph, the system should only make fine adjustments of around 1° in line with the front wheels.

Catastrophic Incident – “How My Audi Tried to Kill Me”

While driving along a dual carriageway, at the precise moment the central reservation ended, the rear-wheel steering suddenly snapped violently to the left. The car lurched into the path of oncoming traffic. Only through quick reactions and extensive professional driving experience was I able to regain control, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision.

The sensation was identical to hitting black ice—instantaneous, unexpected, and terrifying. In all my years as a professional chauffeur, this stands out as the single most frightening and dangerous incident I have ever experienced behind the wheel.

Significance

What makes this event especially alarming is that it represents a total and catastrophic failure of the rear-wheel steering system, well beyond its design parameters. A system that should only make minor, controlled adjustments instead wrenched the vehicle into oncoming traffic at speed.

Had the worst occurred, it is doubtful that accident investigators would have traced the root cause to the rear-wheel steering mechanism. This highlights not only the seriousness of the defect but also the unacceptable danger posed by this vehicle to both its occupants and other road users.