Searched forum and surprised not to see dozens of threads on wastegate actuator rod rattles.

Purchased car new in early 2022 and within a week rattle started at tickover when cold. Was told by Edinburgh Audi technician that it was fuel pump and would improve with use. Well, ran it for 2 years and it got worse, often rattling when hot. Asked for it to be attended to at 2nd sevice (12  months ago) when they fitted an Audi antirattle kit (a clip basically). Rattle returned intermittently and then reguarly over 6 months. Just been in for 3 years service today and told that it is a 'characteristic' of the model and normal.

Have told dealership that I intend to pursue the issue (as a retired r&d engineer it is driving me nuts if you can excuse the expression and pun). Searching the net, it seems that the issue has a history over a number of years, VW, Seat, Skoda and Audi. You can even buy clips made in China for certain models.? Clearly a demand! My car now has 4300m only on the clock.

Comments very welcome esp any how on earth a design fault like this has continued for so long without a cure!! Almost unbelievable.. .like a parallel world of engineering incompetence... a bad teutonic dream.. still can't quite get my head around it...

18 hours ago, gordonw said:

Comments very welcome esp any how on earth a design fault like this has continued for so long without a cure!! 

How? Well that's easy. As long as Audi can fob off their gullible customers with the excuse that it is a characteristic of the car, then the company need not spend any money curing the problem.

Sorry to disillusion you, but Audi is not the reputable company it once was.