Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
825–50K
2750–75K
3875–100K
20100–150K
8150K+
102 reports with mileage · 156 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
258 reports
63,500 miles · Feb 4, 2003
Electrical System
THE PROBLEM: IGNITION SWITCH RETURN SPRING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER STARING THE ENGINE, THE RETURN SPRING DOES NOT FULLY RETURN THE KEY TO THE RUN POSITION, CAUSING A MALFUNCTION OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND CLIMATE CONTROL. I HAVE FOUND A RECALL NOTICE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 97V115000) DESCRIBING THIS EXACT P…
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THE PROBLEM: IGNITION SWITCH RETURN SPRING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH. AFTER STARING THE ENGINE, THE RETURN SPRING DOES NOT FULLY RETURN THE KEY TO THE RUN POSITION, CAUSING A MALFUNCTION OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND CLIMATE CONTROL. I HAVE FOUND A RECALL NOTICE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 97V115000) DESCRIBING THIS EXACT PROBLEM FOR AUDI A4 VEHICLES WHICH AFFECTS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 10/1995 AND 8/1997 (MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD, ON AUG 13TH, 1997). I REPORTED THIS INFORMATION TO AUDI CUSTOMER ASSURANCE AND THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL NOTICE DOES NOT SPECIFY "MODEL YEAR 1998". PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE EXISTING RECALL TO COVER 1998 VEHICLES. COMMENT: OBVIOUSLY, CONTAINMENT OF THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT LIMITED TO 1997 VEHICLES (NOTE- THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CALLED TO THEIR ATTENTION UNTIL OCT 24, 2000. HOW CAN CONTAINMENT HAPPEN EFFECTIVELY LONG AFTER THE VEHICLES ARE DELIVERED TO CUSTOMERS?). AUDI HAS NOT CONTAINED THE FAULTY SWITCH TO THE VEHICLES SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10005244
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2002
Seats
THE CONSUMER HAS A ELECTRICAL SEAT WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HE TURN THE ELECTRICAL SEAT ON NUMBER 1 FOR WARMTH. AND THE SEAT BURN HIM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023612
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING AND WITHOUT WARNING THEY WILL HAVE BAD BRAKE PERFORMANCE DURING RAINY WEATHER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTEND STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023411
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2002
Steering
CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE TIE ROD FAILING AFTER DEALER REPAIRS. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023005
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH VEHICLE TIMING BELT BROKE, CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF SPEED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER STATED OWNERS MANUAL RECOMMENDED TIMING CHAIN BE REPLACED AT 90,000 MILES HOWEVER TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 72,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED BROKEN TIMING CHAN, TENSIONER AND BENT VALVES. *TT
NHTSA ODI #8022734
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2002
Unknown Or Other
VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI AREA ABOUT THE SAME CAR AND VOLKSWAGEN RECALLED THEM AND HAVE A COST OF $50 FOR A NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WHILE AUDI HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR AND NO RECALL AND COST IS $400. NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER CAUSE ITS A VERY COMMON PART TO GO OUT ON AUDI AS WELL AS VOLKSWAGEN. CALLED MANUFACTURER AND W…
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VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI AREA ABOUT THE SAME CAR AND VOLKSWAGEN RECALLED THEM AND HAVE A COST OF $50 FOR A NEW MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WHILE AUDI HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR AND NO RECALL AND COST IS $400. NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER CAUSE ITS A VERY COMMON PART TO GO OUT ON AUDI AS WELL AS VOLKSWAGEN. CALLED MANUFACTURER AND WONT DO A THING FOR ME CAUSE IM THE SECOND OWNER. SHOULD BE RECALLED JUST CHECK AUDIWORLD.COM TO SEE THE PROBLEMS WITH THOSE MAF SENSORS. DT
NHTSA ODI #769171
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WAS STUCK ON DANGEROUS FREEWAY OVERPASS. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAD BROKEN, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE. ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. AUDI DEALER QUOTE ON PARTS ALONE IS OVER $6900. DT
NHTSA ODI #768699
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK STARTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8019947
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEALER SAYS VIRTUALLY ALL THEIR 6CYL CARS HAVE THIS FAIL - REPAIR WAS $850. *AK
NHTSA ODI #767280
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2002
Steering
NHTSA RECALL #99V248000 CONCERNING TIE RODS. THIS VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF RECALL SCOPE. CONSUMER HAS A FILE WITH AUDI IDENTIFYING THE FAILURE OF THE TIE RODS. MOISTURE/DUST PARTICLES ARE GETTING INSIDE SWIVEL BEARING. HE IS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED WHICH IS NOW ON RECORD WITH AUDI. CASE #20253198. *AK
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
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. IF THE ENGINE BACKFIRES DURING A COLD-START, AN AIR SCREEN WHICH IS LOOSELY SEATED IN THE AIR FLOW METER CAN BECOME DAMAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SCREEN PIECES COULD ENTER THE INTAKE AIR FLOW SYSTEM AND PREVENT THE THROTTLE PLATE FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RETAINING RING TO HOLD THE AIR SCREEN IN PLACE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5
EA04017 · STUCK-OPEN Throttle
Opened Jun 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 10, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
VWOA HAS RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 28,300 MY 1998-99 A6 VEHICLES IN COLD WEATHER STATES THAT EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST RATE OF THROTTLE ICING INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (04V-495).THE FAILURE RATE IN THE A4 AND PASSAT VEHICLES IS MUCH LOWER THAN IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE EXPERIENCE IN THE A4 AND PASSAT VEHICLES.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS FOR THE AUDI A4 OR VW PASSAT VEHICLES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
PE02008 · Brake And Clutch Pedal Bracket
Opened Jan 23, 2002 · Closed Jul 12, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
No summary supplied.
EA00021 · Degraded Braking In Wet Weather
Opened Aug 11, 2000 · Closed Mar 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE00016 · Degraded Braking Wet Weather Condition
Opened Apr 4, 2000 · Closed Aug 11, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
RQ99008 · Power Brake Booster Vacuum BY-PASS
Opened Jun 1, 1999 · Closed Nov 14, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
1998 Audi A4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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