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2004 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Audi A4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Compare all A4 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

168 reports with mileage · 21 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

46 reports
Clear category filter
68,000 miles · Aug 15, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

AUDI A4 3.0 WHILE DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK UP FRIENDS THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED. ONLY 68000 MILES. HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW TO A DEALERSHIP. I WAS IN ANOTHER STATE. FRIENDS HAD TO RENT A CAR AND PICK ME UP. TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD FUEL PUMP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS EARLIER I HAD A BAD FUEL FILTER THAT …

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AUDI A4 3.0 WHILE DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK UP FRIENDS THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED. ONLY 68000 MILES. HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW TO A DEALERSHIP. I WAS IN ANOTHER STATE. FRIENDS HAD TO RENT A CAR AND PICK ME UP. TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD FUEL PUMP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS EARLIER I HAD A BAD FUEL FILTER THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONLY USE 93 OCTANE. NOT GOOD. DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280537

103,000 miles · Aug 8, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

AUDI 2004 A4 FUEL PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE CAR STALLED AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FUEL USED WAS ALWAYS 93 OCTANE AND TANK REPLENISHED AT 1/4 TANK. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2003 MODEL I THINK THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279768

40,000 miles · Jul 1, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

2004 AUDI A4 1.8T STALLED IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 40,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY LOCAL DEALER. DRIVER WAS LEFT STRANDED IN CENTRE LANE FOR ALMOST THIRTY MINUTES UNTIL POLICE AND TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. LOCAL AUDI DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. THIS IS THE SA…

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2004 AUDI A4 1.8T STALLED IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 40,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY LOCAL DEALER. DRIVER WAS LEFT STRANDED IN CENTRE LANE FOR ALMOST THIRTY MINUTES UNTIL POLICE AND TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. LOCAL AUDI DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. THIS IS THE SAME FUEL PUMP AS THE ONE RECALLED IN THE 03 AUDI A4. WHY HASN'T THE 2004 AUDI A4 BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AS ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275452

46,000 miles · Jun 8, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

2004 AUDI A4 - FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 46,000 MILES. WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE (BY DEALER). THE SAME MODEL (2003) WAS RECALLED FOR FUEL PUMP ISSUES. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS/COMPLAINTS AND ASSOCIATED SAFETY ISSUES, VW/AUDI SHOULD RECALL THE 2004 MODEL AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273109

33,885 miles · May 5, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND PREVENTED FUEL FROM ENTERING THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND PREVENTED FUEL FROM ENTERING THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,885.

NHTSA ODI #10267803

49,426 miles · May 4, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP FAILURE ON 2004 AUDI A4. AUDI HAD A RECALL OF 2003 MODEL A4 AND A6 VEHICLES FOR PREMATURE FUEL PUMP FAILURES. I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 AUDI A4. WHILE I CAUGHT THIS ISSUE BEFORE A COMPLETE FAILURE, THIS PREMATURE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267693

61,000 miles · Jan 21, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED WELL, AS PER MANUFACTURERS SPECS. BOTH THE FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 4 YRS/APPROX 60,000 MILES WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE BY TODAY'S QUALITY STANDARDS DEALER INVESTIGATED AN EXISTING FUEL PUMP RECALL ON THE MODEL BUT MY VIN WAS "OUT OF RANGE". I BELIEVE THE RECALL (06V017) INCORRECTLY EX…

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THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED WELL, AS PER MANUFACTURERS SPECS. BOTH THE FUEL PUMP AND POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 4 YRS/APPROX 60,000 MILES WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE BY TODAY'S QUALITY STANDARDS DEALER INVESTIGATED AN EXISTING FUEL PUMP RECALL ON THE MODEL BUT MY VIN WAS "OUT OF RANGE". I BELIEVE THE RECALL (06V017) INCORRECTLY EXCLUDED SOME CANDIDATE VINS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255826

61,000 miles · Jan 19, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

A FUEL PUMPED HAS FAILED IN MY 2004 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 3.0L. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP IN THE PREVIOUS MODEL (2003). WITHIN MY RESEARCH, I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SEVERAL 2004 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME FUEL PUMP FOR THE 2003 MODEL, AS WELL AS THE 2002 AND 200…

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A FUEL PUMPED HAS FAILED IN MY 2004 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 3.0L. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP IN THE PREVIOUS MODEL (2003). WITHIN MY RESEARCH, I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SEVERAL 2004 OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME FUEL PUMP FOR THE 2003 MODEL, AS WELL AS THE 2002 AND 2001). I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF 800 DOLLARS AT AN AUDI DEALER RECENTLY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60K ON IT, AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING FUEL PUMP ISSUES. I FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD COVER MY CHARGES, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER 2004 A4 OWNERS' CHARGES FOR THE FUEL PUMP FIX. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL, AND I HOPE TO FIND THE REASONING TO BE A SIMILAR INSTANCE AS THE 2003 A4 FUEL PUMP RECALL DETAILED BY THE NHTSA. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255591

46,700 miles · Jan 5, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

2004 AUDI A4 1.8L FUEL PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253856

52,000 miles · Nov 5, 2008
Fuel System, GasolineVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND A RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED FOR THE FUEL PUMP. TWO YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD WINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND REAR WINDOW REGULATO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND A RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED FOR THE FUEL PUMP. TWO YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD WINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND REAR WINDOW REGULATOR CABLE FAILED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE COST OF $1,458.33. LATER, THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED IN 2006 AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER A SECOND REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V017000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #10247796

Official recalls

2

16V382000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 1, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service 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

1

PE08027 · Engine Stalling - Fuel Pump Failure

Opened Apr 14, 2008 · Closed Aug 6, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST FOR PE08-027, VOLKSWAGEN AG (VW) STATED THAT IT BELIEVES THAT THE POSSIBLE CAUSAL OR CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES COULD RESULT FROM EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF FOREIGN MATERIALS IN THE FUEL FILTER.IN RARE CASES, THE FUEL FILTER COULD BECOME CLOGGED, WHICH CAN CAUSE INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE PUMP.VW INDICATED THAT ENGINE STALLS RESULTING FROM THIS CONDITION ARE RARE AND WOULD BE PRECEDED BY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS REDUCED ENGINE POWER, NOISE OR HESITATION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA DETERMINED THAT THE RATE OF ENGINE STALL INCIDENTS RESULTING FROM FUEL PUMP FAILURE IS LOW AT APPROXIMATELY 0.2 PERCENT AFTER THREE YEARS IN SERVICE. ON JANUARY 17, 2006, VW SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI CONCERNING A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL PUMPS OF APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (47,000), AUDI A4 (20,000) AND AUDI A6 (7,000) VEHICLES BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 THROUGH MARCH 2003 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V-017, VW RECALL NOS. M7 FOR PASSAT AND JL FOR AUDI A4 AND A6).ACCORDING TO VW, A SUB-SUPPLIER EXPERIENCED AN UNKNOWN CHANGE IN THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE CARBON-BRUSH SET USED IN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INCREASED WEAR OF THE CARBON-BRUSH SETS, WHICH IN TURN CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE.ON JULY 23, 2007, VW EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL TO INCLUDE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 2002 THROUGH APRIL 2003, ADDING ANOTHER 34,358 VEHICLES TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL (24,801 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 7,436 AUDI A4 AND 2,121 AUDI A6 VEHICLES).ODI ASSIGNED RECALL NO. 07V-375 TO THE AMENDED RECALL REPORT. THE MY 2004 AUDI A4 VEHICLES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF PE08-027 ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE SUB-SUPPLIER ISSUE THAT PROMPTED 06V-017 AND 07V-375.PRODUCTION OF THE MY 2004 VEHICLES BEGAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE AMENDED PRODUCTION RANGE IDENTIFIED IN 07V-375.THE FUEL PUMP FAILURES IN THE MY 2004 VEHICLES HAVE DIFFERENT CAUSES THAN THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE PRIOR RECALL POPULATIONS AND HAVE OCCURRED AT MUCH LOWER FREQUENCIES. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FIND BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST FOR PE08-027, VOLKSWAGEN AG (VW) STATED THAT IT BELIEVES THAT THE POSSIBLE CAUSAL OR CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES COULD RESULT FROM EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF FOREIGN MATERIALS IN THE FUEL FILTER.IN RARE CASES, THE FUEL FILTER COULD BECOME CLOGGED, WHICH CAN CAUSE INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE PUMP.VW INDICATED THAT ENGINE STALLS RESULTING FROM THIS CONDITION ARE RARE AND WOULD BE PRECEDED BY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS REDUCED ENGINE POWER, NOISE OR HESITATION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA DETERMINED THAT THE RATE OF ENGINE STALL INCIDENTS RESULTING FROM FUEL PUMP FAILURE IS LOW AT APPROXIMATELY 0.2 PERCENT AFTER THREE YEARS IN SERVICE. ON JANUARY 17, 2006, VW SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI CONCERNING A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL PUMPS OF APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (47,000), AUDI A4 (20,000) AND AUDI A6 (7,000) VEHICLES BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 THROUGH MARCH 2003 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V-017, VW RECALL NOS. M7 FOR PASSAT AND JL FOR AUDI A4 AND A6).ACCORDING TO VW, A SUB-SUPPLIER EXPERIENCED AN UNKNOWN CHANGE IN THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE CARBON-BRUSH SET USED IN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INCREASED WEAR OF THE CARBON-BRUSH SETS, WHICH IN TURN CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE.ON JULY 23, 2007, VW EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL TO INCLUDE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 2002 THROUGH APRIL 2003, ADDING ANOTHER 34,358 VEHICLES TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL (24,801 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 7,436 AUDI A4 AND 2,121 AUDI A6 VEHICLES).ODI ASSIGNED RECALL NO. 07V-375 TO THE AMENDED RECALL REPORT. THE MY 2004 AUDI A4 VEHICLES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF PE08-027 ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE SUB-SUPPLIER ISSUE THAT PROMPTED 06V-017 AND 07V-375.PRODUCTION OF THE MY 2004 VEHICLES BEGAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE AMENDED PRODUCTION RANGE IDENTIFIED IN 07V-375.THE FUEL PUMP FAILURES IN THE MY 2004 VEHICLES HAVE DIFFERENT CAUSES THAN THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE PRIOR RECALL POPULATIONS AND HAVE OCCURRED AT MUCH LOWER FREQUENCIES. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FIND BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST FOR PE08-027, VOLKSWAGEN AG (VW) STATED THAT IT BELIEVES THAT THE POSSIBLE CAUSAL OR CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES COULD RESULT FROM EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF FOREIGN MATERIALS IN THE FUEL FILTER.IN RARE CASES, THE FUEL FILTER COULD BECOME CLOGGED, WHICH CAN CAUSE INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE PUMP.VW INDICATED THAT ENGINE STALLS RESULTING FROM THIS CONDITION ARE RARE AND WOULD BE PRECEDED BY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS REDUCED ENGINE POWER, NOISE OR HESITATION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA DETERMINED THAT THE RATE OF ENGINE STALL INCIDENTS RESULTING FROM FUEL PUMP FAILURE IS LOW AT APPROXIMATELY 0.2 PERCENT AFTER THREE YEARS IN SERVICE. ON JANUARY 17, 2006, VW SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI CONCERNING A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL PUMPS OF APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (47,000), AUDI A4 (20,000) AND AUDI A6 (7,000) VEHICLES BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 THROUGH MARCH 2003 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V-017, VW RECALL NOS. M7 FOR PASSAT AND JL FOR AUDI A4 AND A6).ACCORDING TO VW, A SUB-SUPPLIER EXPERIENCED AN UNKNOWN CHANGE IN THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE CARBON-BRUSH SET USED IN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INCREASED WEAR OF THE CARBON-BRUSH SETS, WHICH IN TURN CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE.ON JULY 23, 2007, VW EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL TO INCLUDE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 2002 THROUGH APRIL 2003, ADDING ANOTHER 34,358 VEHICLES TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL (24,801 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 7,436 AUDI A4 AND 2,121 AUDI A6 VEHICLES).ODI ASSIGNED RECALL NO. 07V-375 TO THE AMENDED RECALL REPORT. THE MY 2004 AUDI A4 VEHICLES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF PE08-027 ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE SUB-SUPPLIER ISSUE THAT PROMPTED 06V-017 AND 07V-375.PRODUCTION OF THE MY 2004 VEHICLES BEGAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE AMENDED PRODUCTION RANGE IDENTIFIED IN 07V-375.THE FUEL PUMP FAILURES IN THE MY 2004 VEHICLES HAVE DIFFERENT CAUSES THAN THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE PRIOR RECALL POPULATIONS AND HAVE OCCURRED AT MUCH LOWER FREQUENCIES. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FIND BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.

Fuel System, Gasoline

IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST FOR PE08-027, VOLKSWAGEN AG (VW) STATED THAT IT BELIEVES THAT THE POSSIBLE CAUSAL OR CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES COULD RESULT FROM EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATION OF FOREIGN MATERIALS IN THE FUEL FILTER.IN RARE CASES, THE FUEL FILTER COULD BECOME CLOGGED, WHICH CAN CAUSE INCREASED PRESSURE ON THE PUMP.VW INDICATED THAT ENGINE STALLS RESULTING FROM THIS CONDITION ARE RARE AND WOULD BE PRECEDED BY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS REDUCED ENGINE POWER, NOISE OR HESITATION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA DETERMINED THAT THE RATE OF ENGINE STALL INCIDENTS RESULTING FROM FUEL PUMP FAILURE IS LOW AT APPROXIMATELY 0.2 PERCENT AFTER THREE YEARS IN SERVICE. ON JANUARY 17, 2006, VW SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI CONCERNING A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL PUMPS OF APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (47,000), AUDI A4 (20,000) AND AUDI A6 (7,000) VEHICLES BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 THROUGH MARCH 2003 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 06V-017, VW RECALL NOS. M7 FOR PASSAT AND JL FOR AUDI A4 AND A6).ACCORDING TO VW, A SUB-SUPPLIER EXPERIENCED AN UNKNOWN CHANGE IN THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION OF THE CARBON-BRUSH SET USED IN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INCREASED WEAR OF THE CARBON-BRUSH SETS, WHICH IN TURN CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE.ON JULY 23, 2007, VW EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL TO INCLUDE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 2002 THROUGH APRIL 2003, ADDING ANOTHER 34,358 VEHICLES TO THE ORIGINAL RECALL (24,801 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 7,436 AUDI A4 AND 2,121 AUDI A6 VEHICLES).ODI ASSIGNED RECALL NO. 07V-375 TO THE AMENDED RECALL REPORT. THE MY 2004 AUDI A4 VEHICLES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF PE08-027 ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THE SUB-SUPPLIER ISSUE THAT PROMPTED 06V-017 AND 07V-375.PRODUCTION OF THE MY 2004 VEHICLES BEGAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE AMENDED PRODUCTION RANGE IDENTIFIED IN 07V-375.THE FUEL PUMP FAILURES IN THE MY 2004 VEHICLES HAVE DIFFERENT CAUSES THAN THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE PRIOR RECALL POPULATIONS AND HAVE OCCURRED AT MUCH LOWER FREQUENCIES. FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FIND BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.