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 · Aug 27, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, EITHER TIMING BELT OR TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS CAUSE FOR STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #895189

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001

Steering

TWO STEERING CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #9003598

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001

Vehicle Speed Control

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WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE ALL BY ITSELF GAVE FULL SPEED AFTER BEING ACCELERATED SLOWLY BEYOND THE SPEED ONTO THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND ANYMORE TO THE USUAL SWITCH OFF COMMANDS OF THE SYSTEM, CONSUMER PUSHED THE RESUME BUTTON BUT VEHICLE STEADILY ACCELERATED FURTHER TOWARDS FULL SPEED, DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED THE DEFECT, AND STATED A LOOSE SCREW OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM AS THE PROBLEM, WHICH MOVED IN A SUCH A WAY THAT BLOCKED THE ROPE OF THE ACCELERATOR AT FULL SPEED.( CONSUMER WRITING FROM OVER SEAS, ZUM MORGENGRABEN 6, 65835 LIEDERBACH GERMANY, PHONE#0049-69-318541)*JB

NHTSA ODI #562566

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001

Electrical System

THE VEHICLES IGNITION SWITCH IS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY, THE KEY WILL NOT RETURN TO BE DISENGAGED FROM THE STARTER CAUSING THE LIGHTS, WIPERS AND TURN SIGNALS TO BE INOPERATIVE, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT AUDI HONOR RECALL 00V-317 AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #562491

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2001

Power Train

TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY FAILED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DUE TO A PIECE OF METAL INSIDE TRANSMISSION THAT SHREADED OFF.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #892737

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2001

Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

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CONTROL ARM BUSHING STARTED SQUEAKING INDICATING FAILURE - DID NOT KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE'S INSTABILITY AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND INABILITY TO TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE WERE ALSO DUE TO WORN CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. SEARCHED WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM SITE OF AUDI OWNERS, FOUND THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS REPORT DRIVEABLILTY ISSUES WITH WORN CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. AUDI OF AMERICA AND AUDI DEALER STATES THAT BUSHING PROBLEM IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, HOWEVER BASED ON THE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON AUDIWORLD.COM, THIS IS NOT TRUE. OWNERS REPORT HAVING TO CHANGE CONTROL ARMS EVERY 35K MILES OR SO AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1,500 FOR EACH SIDE SINCE THER ARE 4 CONTROL ARMS ON EACH SIDE THAT COST APPROXIMATELY $300 EACH PLUS LABOR. BASED ON NTSA SEARCH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM; WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL OF THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM? BRAKE PROBLEM IS ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND NORMALLY - APPARENTLY WATER COMES IN CONTACT WITH ROTORS EASILY. THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS IN THE NTSA DATABASE AS WELL. THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE PROBLEM IS A REOCCURRING ONE WHERE THE ENGINE WILL STALL AT IDLE, OR WILL NOT IDLE AT ALL. WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AS THE ENGINE SOMETIMES DIES WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED AS YOU PREPARE TO STOP. OBVIOUSLY THIS RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER BRAKING AND STEERING WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME REGARDING ANY OR ALL OF THESE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AFFECTING MY CAR. OBVIOUSLY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE RECALLS ON ALL THREE ISSUES AND WILL PROVIDE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE I CAN TO ENSURE THAT THIS HAPPENS. THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #746385

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2001

Electrical System

THE VEHICLES BATTERY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

NHTSA ODI #561328

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001

Tires

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AT 31700 MILES I NOTICED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. I REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES WITH THE IDENTICAL BRAND. AT 41239 MILES, I AGAIN NOTICED A LARGE BULGE IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE IN THE SIDEWALL. I AGAIN WILL HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED BEFORE I HAVE A BLOW-OUT. I HAVE READ OTHER REVIEWS ON THIS TIRE AND IT SEEMS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COULD BE QUITE HAZARDOUS IF I DIDN'T CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205 55 16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205 55 16 )

NHTSA ODI #743189

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001

Suspension

LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARMS (2 ON EACH SIDE FOR A TOTAL OF 4) WERE SEVERLY WORN, AND HAVE BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME PRIOR TO MY HAVING THE DEFECT INSPECTED. WITH THE CAR ON LIFT, THE BALL JOINT COULD BE PULLED OUT OF IT'S SOCKET WITH LITTLE EFFORT. HAD I HIT A BUMP AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE LOSS OF CO…

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NHTSA ODI #742870

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2001

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WET BRAKING. BRAKES FAILED TO GRAB IN A TIMELY FASHION, MAJOR DELAY IN BRAKING ACTION LED TO MY HITTING THE BRAKE HARDER CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID SIDEWAYS ON A SLIPPERY ROADWAY INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740065

Official recalls

22V471000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jul 1, 2022

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.

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.

99V131001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 21, 1999

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.

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.

97V115000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Jul 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY NOT LOCK PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED, OR NOT REMAIN LOCKED AFTER BEING ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN IMPROPERLY LOCKING SEAT BELT COULD CAUSE INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.

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