Audi Q5 steering failure

"We are still investigating but we are pretty certain that the leaks are the result of stress and impact pressures from the cars being driven dynamically over rough roads during the media launch," Audi Australia's Anna Burgdorf says.

"The repeated impacts and stress weaken the hose and it leaks."

Burgdorf says that a third car, also a 3.0 TDI used on the launch drive, suffered a similar failure while being driven on Sydney roads earlier this week.

"The problem has been reported to Audi AG (head office in Ingolstadt) and a solution has been identified. All 3.0 TDI cars will now be fitted with an optimised servo hose."

The potential for failure is restricted to the 3.0 TDI as it is the only model which uses the particular hose that leaked, Burgdorf says.

"It is not something that has happened anywhere else during testing, development or launch programs. As far as we know it is unique to Australia but it will be addressed world-wide.

"There are 120 cars (for Australia) that could possibly be affected and they will all have those hoses changed before being delivered. If any owner is inconvenienced while waiting for their car we will arrange a loan vehicle for them."