Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Suspension complaints

19 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2000

Suspension

OVER THIS PAST YEAR, I HAVE REPLACED 3 CONTROL ARMS, DEALER POINTS TO DESIGN FLAW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737995

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000

SteeringSuspension

MANY OTHER AUDI A-4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT PREMATURE WEAR OF TIE RODS AND CONTROL ARMS IN VERMONT. AUDI OF AMERICA AND LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO COVER PROBLEM ALTHOUGH VOLUNTARY RECALL IN EFFECT FOR NEWER AUDIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737122

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000

Electrical SystemSteeringSuspension

PROBLEMS IS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #874177

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2000

Suspension

Read full complaint

IN 1998, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AUDI WAS ADVISED OF A PROBLEM WHICH BEGAN WITH A NOISE IN THE CAR. THIS WAS EVENTUALLY DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED IN 2/2000 AT NO COST TO MYSELF AS AUDI ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A "DEFECT" IN THAT MODEL YEAR. 2 WEEKS AGO, I DISCOVERD THAT THE LOWER CONTROLS ARMS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THEM TOGETHER. I AGAIN REPORTED THIS TO AUDI OF AMERICA AND WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT THEY HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER. I WAS INSTRUCTED AUDI AND MY MECHANIC THAT THE I COULD LOSE THE STEERING AT ANY POINT. UPON INSPECTION BY AUDI THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CARE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THESE UPPER CONTROL ARMS MUST BE REPLACED. AFTER DISCUSSING THIS WITH THEM, THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY UNCOOPERATIVE AND RUDE AND HAVE AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE PARTS, BUT I MUST PAY ALL OF THE LABOR AT THEIR PREMIUM PRICES. SINCE THE CAR IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE I DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO TAKE IT TO A REASONABLY PRICED AUTO SHOP. AUDI HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR TWO YEAS, AS I WAS TOLD BY AN AUDI MECHANIC THAT THEY HAD CONSIDERED A RECALL. AUDI IS PUTTING THEIR CUSTOMERS IN GREAT DANGER AND WILL DO NOTHING UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #732705

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2000

Suspension

FRONT SUSPENSION RATTLES AND THUNKS OVER BUMPS, AND MAKES CREAKING NOISE WHEN ENTERING VEHICLE, AND WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS *AK

NHTSA ODI #726466

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000

Suspension

WHEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF VEHICLE OR GOING OVER BUMPS FRONT END MAKES A LOUD NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER , AND THEY REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862266

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2000

Suspension

THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE WEARING OF THE SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING THE CONTROL ARMS AS WELL AS THE STABILIZER LINKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722899

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1999

Suspension

WHEN HITTING A BUMP VEHICLE'S CONTROL ARM MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND CAUSES A SLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL . DLR HAS REPLACED BROKEN CONTROL ARM BEFORE. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851899

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1999

SuspensionVisibility

Read full complaint

(1) SUSPENSION: FRONT END GROANS AND CREAKS OVER BUMPS (EVEN SMALL BUMPS), AS WELL AS WHEN PEOPLE ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE, EXTENT OF DANGER UNKNOWN -- AUDI HAS "DIAGNOSED" IT AS A "CONTROL ARM" PROBLEM; (2) SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY OPENS ON ITS OWN WHILE VEHICLE IN OPERATION WITH NO HUMAN INVOLVEMENT, CAUSING MAJOR DISTRACTION AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION -- AUDI HAS DIAGNOSEDIT AS AN ELECTRICAL "SWITCH" PROBLEM. AUDI SERVICE REPS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THESE TWO DEFECTS OCCURRING ON MY CAR ARE REOCCURRING PROBLEMS IN A4S, AND NOT JUST ON THE 1996 MODEL YEAR, BUT ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS (1997, 1998 AND 1999) AS WELL. DESPITE THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE PROBLEMS, AUDI REFUSES TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARISE ON VEHICLES THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY (LIKE MINE). *AK

NHTSA ODI #705890

Official recalls

06V403000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 23, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AS A RESULT OF A PROBLEM IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ANCHOR POINT OF THE SPRING MAY CRACK. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WITH AN OPTIMIZED ANCHOR POINT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES THE REMEDY PROGRAM UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 00V317).

00V317000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING CAN FRACTURE AT THE RETURN SPRING ANCHOR POINT. FRACTURE OF THE HOUSING COULD CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

97V175000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 8, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

96V088000 · Electrical System:horn

May 23, 1996

THE HORN CAN WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL GROUND CONTACT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT A DRIVER FROM SOUNDING A WARNING BY USING THE HORN INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND CONTACT SPRING WHICH WILL ENHANCE THE ELECTRICAL GROUND CONNECTION.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗