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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 →
189Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
131
2001181
2002210
2003189
2004219
2005295
2006196
2007
Compare all A4 years →

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

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
46Air Bags
26Engine And Engine Cooling
18Tires
16Vehicle Speed Control
16
All reported categories
Visibility
16Electrical System
15Exterior Lighting
14Power Train
12Engine
7Unknown Or Other
6Fuel System, Other
5Fuel/propulsion System
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Structure
4Equipment
3Steering
3Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Suspension
1

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

Visibility complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
54,000 miles · Jul 23, 2008
Visibility

2004 AUDI A4 QUATTRO WIPERS STARTED TO RUN SLOWLY. SOMETIMES WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. RAN SLOWLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. FINALLY, DRIVERS SIDE WIPER DISENGAGED FROM LINKAGE AND ACTUALLY CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD. TOOK IT TO SHOP FOR REPAIR, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE "WIPER TRANSMISSION" WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE…

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2004 AUDI A4 QUATTRO WIPERS STARTED TO RUN SLOWLY. SOMETIMES WOULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. RAN SLOWLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. FINALLY, DRIVERS SIDE WIPER DISENGAGED FROM LINKAGE AND ACTUALLY CRACKED MY WINDSHIELD. TOOK IT TO SHOP FOR REPAIR, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE "WIPER TRANSMISSION" WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. WHEN CALLING FOR PARTS, SHOP FOUND OUT THAT THIS PART IS IN "HIGH DEMAND" DUE TO AN APPARENT DESIGN DEFECT. READ MORE ABOUT OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ONLINE. THIS WILL END UP COSTING ME CLOSE TO $1000 TO REPLACE THAT BAD WIPER ASSEMBLY AND MY WINDSHIELD. HOW COULD THIS NOT BE A RECALLED ITEM? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235557

20,000 miles · Jul 19, 2008
Visibility

I PURCHASED NEW A 2004 AUDI , THE CAR NOW HAS ONLY 20,000 MILES AND BOTH FRONT WINDOWS HAVE QUIT WORKING., THE PASSENGER SIDE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO OTHER CARS THIS MODEL AND IF SO, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A FACTORY RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234938

87,000 miles · May 26, 2008
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING WHEN IN USE WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE. DEALER EXPLAINED THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, INDICATED IT WAS A POOR MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY DESIGN AND THE BUSHINGS CORRODE. THEY WOULD REPLACE BUT WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228921

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4 AVANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID PREVENTS THE WIPERS FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE WIPERS TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. TO HAVE THE WIPERS REPAIRED WOULD COST $500, SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4 AVANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID PREVENTS THE WIPERS FROM WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE WIPERS TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. TO HAVE THE WIPERS REPAIRED WOULD COST $500, SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 70,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10193432

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2005
Visibility

DT: THERE IS AN OILY FILM THAT DEVELOPS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDOWS, CAN'T WIPE IT OFF BECAUSE IT SMEARS. TRAVELED 80 MILES A DAY FOR WORK. DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE WINTER, BUT HAPPENS IN WARM WEATHER. DEALER PUT IN A NEW WINDSHIELD WHICH WAS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. *AK THE OILY FILM CONTINUED TO COVER THE WINDSHIELD AT 11,00…

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DT: THERE IS AN OILY FILM THAT DEVELOPS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDOWS, CAN'T WIPE IT OFF BECAUSE IT SMEARS. TRAVELED 80 MILES A DAY FOR WORK. DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE WINTER, BUT HAPPENS IN WARM WEATHER. DEALER PUT IN A NEW WINDSHIELD WHICH WAS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. *AK THE OILY FILM CONTINUED TO COVER THE WINDSHIELD AT 11,000 MILES. AUDI DOESN'T PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM AND CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM *SB

NHTSA ODI #10124897

8,000 miles · Dec 27, 2004
Visibility

MY 2004 AUDI A4 3.0 CABRIOLET HAS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH AT ABOUT 8,000 MILES OF WEAR BEGAN TO MAKE AN UNBEARABLY LOUD, RYTHMICALLY REPETITIVE SOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SELLING DEALER, CHERRY HILL IMPORTS, HAS REPEATEDLY LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS SOUND, BUT THE CAR DID NOT DO IT W…

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MY 2004 AUDI A4 3.0 CABRIOLET HAS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH AT ABOUT 8,000 MILES OF WEAR BEGAN TO MAKE AN UNBEARABLY LOUD, RYTHMICALLY REPETITIVE SOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SELLING DEALER, CHERRY HILL IMPORTS, HAS REPEATEDLY LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS SOUND, BUT THE CAR DID NOT DO IT WHEN IT WAS NEW. IN SEVERE WEATHER , I HAVE RESORTED TO TURNING OFF THE WIPERS FOR A FEW SECONDS AT A TIME IN ORDER NOT TO BE HYPNOTIZED BY THE REPETITIVE SOUND OF THE DEFECT. THIS, OF COURSE, IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT I FEEL BEING PUT TO SLEEP WHILE DRIVING IS MORE DANGEROUS, SHOULD THE DEFECT LEAD TO THAT. DEALERSHIPS BESIDES CHERRY HILL IMPORTS HAVE REPLACED THE BLADES ON THE CAR, BUT THE EFFECT OF THIS REMEDY WAS NON-EXISTENT. I FEEL IT IS MY DUTY TO REQUEST THE AID OF THE NHSTA TO SAVE THE LIVES OF AUDI OWNERS WHO LABOR UNDER THIS HAZARD, AS WELL AS MY OWN. THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10104593

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.