NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
86 reports54,000 miles · May 16, 2018
Steering
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ROAD SPEED (30MPH) STEERING LOCKED UP, NO WARNING. IT WAS AS IF POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. YOU COULD MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 15 DEGREE WITHOUT ANY IMPACT; BEYOND THAT YOU NEEDED TO TURN THE WHEEL VERY HARD. TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS 54K MILES. FIXED BY AUDI (OUT OF WARRANTEE…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ROAD SPEED (30MPH) STEERING LOCKED UP, NO WARNING. IT WAS AS IF POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. YOU COULD MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 15 DEGREE WITHOUT ANY IMPACT; BEYOND THAT YOU NEEDED TO TURN THE WHEEL VERY HARD. TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS 54K MILES. FIXED BY AUDI (OUT OF WARRANTEE) - ELECTRIC STEERING FAILURE AND UNIVERSAL STEERING RACK FAILURE. ACCORDING TO AUDI, IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A4 FROM 2013 AT ABOUT 50K MILES - CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IF I WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT'S UNCLEAR I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11096432
35,000 miles · May 3, 2018
Power TrainService Brakes
WHEN I BACK OUT FROM MY GARAGE THE VEHICLE FAILS TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE SHIFTER IS MOVED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I HAVE TO APPLY AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS ENGAGE, THE EXCESSIVE FORCE FROM INCREASING THE POWER CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LAUNCH FORWARD MANY…
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WHEN I BACK OUT FROM MY GARAGE THE VEHICLE FAILS TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE SHIFTER IS MOVED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I HAVE TO APPLY AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS ENGAGE, THE EXCESSIVE FORCE FROM INCREASING THE POWER CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LAUNCH FORWARD MANY TIMES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE WITH THE FRONT TIRES SQUEALING. IT APPEARS THE FRONT BRAKES ARE ENGAGED AND SUDDENLY DISENGAGES AND THEN SUDDENLY LAUNCHES FORWARD. THERE HAS BEEN NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO ASSIST WITH THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS SETTING OVERNIGHT IN MY GARAGE AND BACKING DOWN A SLIGHT SLOPE TONTO THE PUBLIC STREET.. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST 3 PLUS YEARS OF OWNERSHIP.
NHTSA ODI #11091493
24,000 miles · Apr 16, 2018
Steering
DRIVE HOME WITH MY WIFE AND LOSS ALL CONTROL OF STEERING IT ALMOST GOT US KILLED AND MAY BE MORE,CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEEP IN GARAGE AND DRIVEN VERY LITTLE CAR HAS ONLY 24.K MILES ON IT.HAD AAA TO PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP ( AUDI OF DAYTON).LOOKING ON LINE AND DOING SOME CHECKING IT LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE,DO …
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DRIVE HOME WITH MY WIFE AND LOSS ALL CONTROL OF STEERING IT ALMOST GOT US KILLED AND MAY BE MORE,CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEEP IN GARAGE AND DRIVEN VERY LITTLE CAR HAS ONLY 24.K MILES ON IT.HAD AAA TO PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP ( AUDI OF DAYTON).LOOKING ON LINE AND DOING SOME CHECKING IT LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE,DO WE WAIT UNTILL SOMEBODY GETS KILLED BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE?
NHTSA ODI #11088497
60,000 miles · Apr 11, 2018
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO THE DEALER (MAGUIRE AUDI, 370 ELMIRA ROAD, ITHACA, NEW YORK). THE DEALER DIAGNOSE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO THE DEALER (MAGUIRE AUDI, 370 ELMIRA ROAD, ITHACA, NEW YORK). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TT *TR
NHTSA ODI #11084578
52,335 miles · Apr 11, 2018
Steering
MY 2013 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS 52,346 MILES. THIS WEEK, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, I EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTION IN THE STEERING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES AND MAKE TURNS RIGHT AND LEFT. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE TECH CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A …
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MY 2013 AUDI A4 QUATTRO HAS 52,346 MILES. THIS WEEK, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, I EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTION IN THE STEERING WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES AND MAKE TURNS RIGHT AND LEFT. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY LOCAL AUDI DEALER AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE TECH CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WHICH IS CAUSING THE STIFFNESS AND BINDING THAT IS INTERFERING WITH THE FREE MOVEMENT OF THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. FURTHERMORE, I'VE SINCE ASCERTAINED THAT AUDI HAS A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN" REGARDING THIS ISSUE DATING TO JULY 10, 2014 COVERING A NUMBER OF AUDI MODELS AND MODEL YEARS BUT HAS NOT INSTITUTED A RECALL. (SEE ATTACHED) IN ADDITION, I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE SPECIFIC PART IS CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER AND MAY TAKE FROM TWO WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS. HE LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE AS MANY AS THIRTY (30) CUSTOMERS AWAITING THIS PARTICULAR PART. I HAVE BEEN ADDED ME TO THE WAIT LIST. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECH ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE AND IF IT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE THAT I COULD EXPERIENCE TOTAL STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING. HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT LIKELY, IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE I MAY NEED TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THAT THE STEERING RESPONSE COULD BECOME AN ISSUE. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS DO I DRIVE THE CAR WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART? AUDI IS NOT AT THIS MOMENT PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE IN THE WAY OF A LOANER VEHICLE SO I'M ON MY OWN. I'VE UPLOADED THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN.
NHTSA ODI #11084524
85,000 miles · Apr 10, 2018
Power Train
THE CAR DOESN'T ENGAGE IMMEDIATE PROPULSION WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT HESITATES, THEN JERKS, AND FINALLY DRIVES. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES THE GAS RESPONDS, AND OTHER TIMES DOESN'T. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT, BUT THAT IT'S "N…
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THE CAR DOESN'T ENGAGE IMMEDIATE PROPULSION WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT HESITATES, THEN JERKS, AND FINALLY DRIVES. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES THE GAS RESPONDS, AND OTHER TIMES DOESN'T. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT, BUT THAT IT'S "NORMAL" FOR THE FWD MODELS OF THE CAR. MY WIFE WON'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE SHE THINKS IT'S TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNPREDICTABLE. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THOUGHT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST OCCURRING BECAUSE THE CAR NEEDED NEW TIRES.
NHTSA ODI #11084289
72,000 miles · Feb 12, 2018
Steering
AFTER TWO TEST DRIVES WE PURCHASED A USED AUDI A4 ON 2/10/2018. WHILE TEST DRIVING WE DIDN'T NOTICE ANY ISSUES WITH STEERING, BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WE NEARLY SIDE SWIPED A TRACTOR TRAILER ON THE I80 OHIO TURNPIKE. THE STRAIGHT LINE STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE, SCARY AND DOWNRIGH…
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AFTER TWO TEST DRIVES WE PURCHASED A USED AUDI A4 ON 2/10/2018. WHILE TEST DRIVING WE DIDN'T NOTICE ANY ISSUES WITH STEERING, BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WE NEARLY SIDE SWIPED A TRACTOR TRAILER ON THE I80 OHIO TURNPIKE. THE STRAIGHT LINE STEERING IN THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE, SCARY AND DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS AT ANY SPEEDS ABOVE 20+ MPH. NHTSA ISSUED A VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE AUXILIARY HEATER, I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE AUXILIARY HEATER IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THIS STEERING PROBLEM. STEERING COMPLAINTS CLEARLY OUTNUMBER OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, BUT SEARCH OUTSIDE OF THIS SITE AND SEE JUST HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM IS. AUDI IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE, A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SOFTWARE CHANGES AND STEERING RACK, NEITHER ADDRESS THE ISSUE, AND BOTH ARE AT THE CUSTOMER EXPENSE. IT'S TIME FOR NHTSA TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STEERING COMPLAINTS AND ISSUE THE SAFETY RECALL THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN ISSUED YEARS AGO. LET'S DO IT BEFORE A FAMILY IS KILLED.
NHTSA ODI #11072433
Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2017
Steering
BOUGHT MY 2013 AUDI A4 USED I NOTICE A NOTCHY FEEL WHILE DRIVING JUST AFTER I BOUGHT IT, BUT THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL. AS TIME WENT ON IT BECAME MORE UNCOMFORTABLE AND FELT UNSAFE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS(OR SLOW SPEEDS) WHEN YOUR STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE TO THE LEFT & RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THERE ARE PLEN…
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BOUGHT MY 2013 AUDI A4 USED I NOTICE A NOTCHY FEEL WHILE DRIVING JUST AFTER I BOUGHT IT, BUT THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL. AS TIME WENT ON IT BECAME MORE UNCOMFORTABLE AND FELT UNSAFE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS(OR SLOW SPEEDS) WHEN YOUR STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE TO THE LEFT & RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND THERE ARE PLENTY MORE PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM, SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND AUDI KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WANTS YOU TO PAY FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT MIGHT COST YOU $150 - $200......PLEASE HELP GET THIS RECALLED BY AUDI!
NHTSA ODI #11054744
65,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017
Engine
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE AT 114KM , CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO SKIPS A TOOTH OR TWO, RESULTS IN ENGINE DAMAGED TO THE HEAD VALVES AND ENTIRE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THIS COULD RESULTS IN FATAL CAR ACCIDENTS DURING DRIVING TO EVERYONE.
NHTSA ODI #11021660
65,000 miles · Aug 20, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury
TAKATA RECALL - REARENDED A STOPPED TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. CAR IS TOTALED. AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF DESPITE MASSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE.
NHTSA ODI #11016424
Official recalls
4Apr 11, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.
Oct 5, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.
Jan 3, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.
Oct 24, 2014
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Audi A4 and S4 vehicles manufactured February 16, 2012, to October 21, 2014, and 2013-2015 Audi Allroad vehicles manufactured March 12, 2012, to October 21, 2014. Due to an improper algorithm in the air bag control module, if a crash necessitates deployment of the side air bags, a second impact to the front of the vehicle may not command the front air bags to also deploy.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front air bags do not deploy in the event of a secondary impact to the front of the vehicle, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on November 14, 2014. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69K5.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗