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2003 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Audi A4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

177 reports with mileage · 33 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

41 reports
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54,250 miles · Aug 16, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE STOPPING IN TRAFFIC, REQUIRING TOW TO SERVICE CENTER. NOT CURRENTLY COVERED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165672

53,000 miles · Aug 9, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 06V017000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 06V017000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA ODI #10165068

55,000 miles · Apr 7, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION MY CAR DIED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED IN MY CAR WHICH WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10154839

52,000 miles · Mar 30, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

OUR 2003 A4 HAS FAILED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I LEARNED ABOUT THE RECALL ON FUEL PUMPS AND CONTACTED AUDI USA AS OUTLINED IN NHTSA WEB SITE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THE DEALERSHIP AL…

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OUR 2003 A4 HAS FAILED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I LEARNED ABOUT THE RECALL ON FUEL PUMPS AND CONTACTED AUDI USA AS OUTLINED IN NHTSA WEB SITE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL. WHEN I SHOWED IT TO THEM THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NEW PUMPS AND MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO PLACE AN "IN STOCK" POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE PUMP IN MY CAR UNTIL THE NEW PUMPS ARRIVE. I TOLD THEM I DID NOT WANT THE OLD PUMP BECAUSE MY FAMILY HAD BEEN LUCKY TO ESCAPE INJURY IN THE FIRST TWO FAILURES. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION. IN SUM, AUDI HAS INTENTIONALLY PLACED MY FAMILY AT RISK BY INSTALLING A POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE PART IN OUR CAR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10154156

65,374 miles · Feb 16, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL THIS IS THE 2ND FUEL PUMP INSTALLED ON THIS CAR. SEE ODI # 10150440. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150442

26,827 miles · Feb 16, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150440

43,000 miles · Nov 14, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY A4 1.8 LOST POWER...I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR WHO MUST NOT HAVE NOTICE MY SPEED OR THAT MY HAZARDS LIGHTS WERE ON...I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL FILTER THAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. BOTH PAR…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY A4 1.8 LOST POWER...I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR WHO MUST NOT HAVE NOTICE MY SPEED OR THAT MY HAZARDS LIGHTS WERE ON...I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL FILTER THAT CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. BOTH PART WERE REPLACED, THE CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY TEST DRIVEN TO ENSURE IT WAS OPERATING PROPERLY...HOWEVER, A MONTH LATER I HAD ANOTHER FAILURE (NOT RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10142639

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

2003 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 3.0 - WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING AS IF OUT OF GAS. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE LOCATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN FULLY SERVICED BY THE DEALER AND HAS 33K MILES. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE STARTED TO SEE THESE SHOW UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10139628

5,000 miles · Oct 6, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

I OWN A 2003 AUDI A4. I CAN NOT REFUEL THE CAR WITH THE OPW MODEL 12VW NOZZLE. THE NOZZLE SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY AND SPILLS GAS BACK OUT ONTO THE CAR AND PERSON FUELING THE CAR. ALL OTHER OPW MODELS AND OTHER MAKES OF NOZZLES WORK NORMALLY. THIS IS CAUSING MORE OF A PROBLEM IN MY AREA LATELY BECAUSE MOST NEW GAS STATIONS USE THIS…

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I OWN A 2003 AUDI A4. I CAN NOT REFUEL THE CAR WITH THE OPW MODEL 12VW NOZZLE. THE NOZZLE SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY AND SPILLS GAS BACK OUT ONTO THE CAR AND PERSON FUELING THE CAR. ALL OTHER OPW MODELS AND OTHER MAKES OF NOZZLES WORK NORMALLY. THIS IS CAUSING MORE OF A PROBLEM IN MY AREA LATELY BECAUSE MOST NEW GAS STATIONS USE THIS NOZZLE AND AS OLD NOZZLES ARE BEING REPLACED, THEY USE THE OPW 12VW. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138956

38,517 miles · Aug 29, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

2003 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 3.0L, 38,517 MILES. FULLY MAINTAINED BY AUDI DEALER W/ DOCUMENTATION. ENGINE SHUT OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVE IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC. ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT AT AN INTERSECTION. AUDI DIAGNOSED AS FAILED FUEL PUMP WHICH THEY REPLACED. SERVICE MANAGER NOTED THAT 3 OTHER NEW MODEL AUDI'S WITHIN SAME WEEK HAD F…

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2003 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 3.0L, 38,517 MILES. FULLY MAINTAINED BY AUDI DEALER W/ DOCUMENTATION. ENGINE SHUT OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVE IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC. ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT AT AN INTERSECTION. AUDI DIAGNOSED AS FAILED FUEL PUMP WHICH THEY REPLACED. SERVICE MANAGER NOTED THAT 3 OTHER NEW MODEL AUDI'S WITHIN SAME WEEK HAD FUEL PUMP FAILURE. HIGHLY CONCERNING TO HIM AND US. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134455

Official recalls

3

07V375000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Aug 28, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 20007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. THIS RECALL IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V017).

06V017000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jan 23, 2006

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 - MARCH 2003, EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

05V096000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Mar 15, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT XENON HEADLAMP REFLECTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.