Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
425–50K
650–75K
1175–100K
9100–150K
10150K+
42 reports with mileage · 56 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 33 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
98 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE A4, UNLIKE ALL OTHER CARS I'VE EVER OWNED, DOES NOT HAVE 'SPLASH SHIELDS' INBOARD OF THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IN THE RAIN, THIS CAUSES A QUITE ALARMING PERIOD, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE INITIALLY APPLIED, OF SHEER TERROR, BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT STOPPING! THIS HAS BEEN MADE A MANDATORY RECALL ALL ACROSS EUROPE, AND THERE, INS…
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THE A4, UNLIKE ALL OTHER CARS I'VE EVER OWNED, DOES NOT HAVE 'SPLASH SHIELDS' INBOARD OF THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IN THE RAIN, THIS CAUSES A QUITE ALARMING PERIOD, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE INITIALLY APPLIED, OF SHEER TERROR, BECAUSE THE CAR IS NOT STOPPING! THIS HAS BEEN MADE A MANDATORY RECALL ALL ACROSS EUROPE, AND THERE, INSURANCE COMPANIES WON'T COVER YOU IF YOU REAR-END SOMEONE AND DON'T HAVE THE SHIELDS ON. I SEE NO REASON WHY AUDI WON'T ALSO CARRY THIS TO THE US, UNTIL THEY GET SUED WHEN SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF IT. SWITCHING TO GAS-SLOTTED BRAKE ROTORS HELPS THIS SITUATION, BUT DOES NOT ELIMINATE IT. THANKS, AND I HOPE THIS GETS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE I HIT SOMEONE! OH, EVERY SINGLE PERSON WITH AN A4 THAT I KNOW HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #713229
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE DIED OCCASIONALLY. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP/RELAY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #839834
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
PLAZA MOTORS HAS IGNORED COMPLAINTS. AM NOW USING PARKTOWN. BETTER, BUT AM READY TO GET RID OF CAR BECAUSE PROBLEMS ARE PERSISTING. DO NOT FEEL THAT AUDI EVEN CARES. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707516
Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
VERY POOR INITIAL BRAKING IN WET CONDITIONS, EX. RAIN OR SNOW. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705715
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 1997 AUDI A4 HAS EXPERIENCED ALMOST NON BRAKING IN COLD/WET CONDITIONS. WHEN BRAKES ARE INITIALLY APPLIED DURING THESE CONDITIONS THERE IS ALMOST ZERO BRAKING FOR 50 FEET AT 35 MPH OR LESS. I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING A FEW CARS THAT CUT IN FRONT OF YOU. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA AND THERE RESPONSE WAS TH…
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MY 1997 AUDI A4 HAS EXPERIENCED ALMOST NON BRAKING IN COLD/WET CONDITIONS. WHEN BRAKES ARE INITIALLY APPLIED DURING THESE CONDITIONS THERE IS ALMOST ZERO BRAKING FOR 50 FEET AT 35 MPH OR LESS. I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING A FEW CARS THAT CUT IN FRONT OF YOU. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA AND THERE RESPONSE WAS THAT NO KNOWN POOR BRAKING CONDITION EXISTS WHEN BRAKES ARE COLD/WET. YET THERE IS A NEWS BULLETIN ON AUDI'S OWN EUROPEAN WEB SITE INDICATING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES WHEN WET. ALSO MANY READERS ON THE WWW.A4.ORG WEB SITE HERE IN THE US HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING FOR A LONG TIME. I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS A FATALITY CAN EXIST IN THIS CASE. I HAVE OWNED MANY US/EUROPEAN/JAPANESE VEHICLES AND NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH POOR WET BRAKING!
NHTSA ODI #704472
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1999
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility
INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE COMPUTER KEPT IT FROM ACCELERATING. IT WOULD SUDDENLY ONLY IDLE OUT FROM A STOP. IF YOU WERE TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC YOU COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WOULD BE HIT OR CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO SWERVE TO AVOID YOU. IT TOOK THE DEALER 7 MONTHS TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE ECU. IT BECAME OBVIOUS AFTE…
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INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE COMPUTER KEPT IT FROM ACCELERATING. IT WOULD SUDDENLY ONLY IDLE OUT FROM A STOP. IF YOU WERE TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC YOU COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WOULD BE HIT OR CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO SWERVE TO AVOID YOU. IT TOOK THE DEALER 7 MONTHS TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE ECU. IT BECAME OBVIOUS AFTER REPLACEMENT THAT IT HAD BEEN BAD SINCE DAY ONE AND GRADUALLY GOT WORSE SINCE ALL ACCELERATION HESITATION WENT AWAY. THIS UNIT QUICKLY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALSO.
NHTSA ODI #703252
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE CAUSING VARIOUS COMPONENTS WITHIN THE ELCTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. YH
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
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).
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A CONTROL VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FULLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 F UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT VACUUM TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A VACUUM BY-PASS SYSTEM INTO VEHICLES OPERATED IN THESE STATES WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT VACUUM FOR FULL BRAKE ASSIST UNDER ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.
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.
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