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2005 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 2005 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

165 reports with mileage · 54 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

7 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

101 reports
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98,000 miles · Oct 22, 2012
Exterior Lighting

5 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK AS I DO EVERYDAY, THE ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED", LOSING ONE SIDE OF THE LIGHTING TO THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS EACH DAY AFTERWARD WHENEVER DRIVING IN THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENING WHEN LIGHTS WOULD BE REQUIRED. A FEW MONTHS AFTER, THE RIGHT SIDE …

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5 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK AS I DO EVERYDAY, THE ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED", LOSING ONE SIDE OF THE LIGHTING TO THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS EACH DAY AFTERWARD WHENEVER DRIVING IN THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENING WHEN LIGHTS WOULD BE REQUIRED. A FEW MONTHS AFTER, THE RIGHT SIDE HAD DIPPED AS WELL. I LOOKED UP SOME POSSIBLE SCENARIOS OF WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS ISSUE AND FOUND A FEW THINGS BUT HAVE NOT PINPOINTED THE ISSUE; WILL HAVE TO TRY THE DEALERSHIP SOON. 1) CHANGE OUT THE BULBS (BI-XENON) 2) CHANGE OUT THE BALLASTS 3) SOME OTHER ISSUE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE AND MANY OTHERS AS ONE DAY BOTH LIGHTS WILL GO DARK WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WILL SURELY INDUCE SOME TYPE OF ACCIDENT. I HOPE THAT THE DOT WILL STRONGLY CONSIDER FORCING AUDI TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS THIS IS A PREVENTABLE SITUATION. THANK YOU, *TR

NHTSA ODI #10481344

112,000 miles · Aug 11, 2012
Exterior Lighting

RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED WARNING. RIGHT HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER AND THEN SHUT OFF. I SUSPECT A FAULTY IGNITER BALLAST. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2005.5-2008 XENON HEADLIGHTS. CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470272

20,000 miles · Apr 13, 2012
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND GOES OUT "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10455216

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2012
Exterior Lighting

PROBLEM: LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS FREQUENTLY, AND OFTEN SHUTS OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT HAS BEEN EVALUATED BY SEVERAL AUDI DEALERS, AND AT LEAST 2 ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT HAVE FAILED. THE LIGHT BULB IS NOT BROKEN, SINCE IT TURNS BACK ON AFTER SWITCHING LIGHTS OFF. THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT DURING COLD WEATHER. WHEN I…

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PROBLEM: LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS FREQUENTLY, AND OFTEN SHUTS OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT HAS BEEN EVALUATED BY SEVERAL AUDI DEALERS, AND AT LEAST 2 ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT HAVE FAILED. THE LIGHT BULB IS NOT BROKEN, SINCE IT TURNS BACK ON AFTER SWITCHING LIGHTS OFF. THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT DURING COLD WEATHER. WHEN IT HAPPENS, A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING A "DIPPED HEADLIGHT." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450034

Mileage unknown · Feb 29, 2012
Exterior Lighting

THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND FLICKERS ON MY AUDI A4 QUATTRO T 2005 AND IT HAS HAPPENED DAILY AND IVE BEEN READING ABOUT IT IN BLOGS AND NOTHIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449896

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2012
Exterior Lighting

WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT, WHEN ERROR MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARED, AND SHE NOTICED LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING. REPLACED WITH NEW BULB AND STILL NOT WORKING. A FEW MONTHS LATER, NOW BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448538

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2012
Exterior Lighting

FRONT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON EITHER SIDE AND I GET A HEADLIGHT DIPPED ERROR ON MY DASH. AS A RESULT EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT LIGHT GOES OUT COMPLETELY. PROBLEM OCCURS DAILY AND THE ONLY WAY OF TURNING LIGHTS ON BACK AGAIN IS TO COMPLETE TURN LIGHTS OF OFF THEN ON AGAIN. A SAFETY ISSUES WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING.

NHTSA ODI #10448266

51,200 miles · Feb 13, 2012
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior Lighting

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 02/11/2012 AND THAT VERY EVENING WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE LIGHTS, MY RIGHT LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS REALLY UNNERVED ME AS I WAS IN AN AREA WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. AND DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I INSTINCTIVELY TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAI…

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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 02/11/2012 AND THAT VERY EVENING WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE LIGHTS, MY RIGHT LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS REALLY UNNERVED ME AS I WAS IN AN AREA WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. AND DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I INSTINCTIVELY TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, AND THIS MADE THEM COME BACK ON. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT NIGHT. I FEEL THIS IS A BLATANT SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AS I HAD FAMILY MEMBERS IN MY CAR AND THEIR WELL BEING WAS COMPROMISED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM VIA THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS TO BE RAMPANT ON AUDI'S AND THE DEALERSHIPS DON'T EITHER KNOW WHAT TO DO OR DON'T WANT TO DO IT AS FOR THE EXPENSE OF THE PARTS.I SPOKE WITH NO LESS THAN 8 AUDI DEALERSHIPS AROUND THE PA NORTHEAST AND NO ONE COULD POSITIVELY SAY WHAT WOULD BE THE PROBLEM. I AM HAVING THE BULB REPLACED AT MY COST BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND HAVE NO WARRANTY. NOW I KNOW WHY I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE IT AT A GOOD COST. LAST OWNER WAS PROBABLY CRAZY OVER THIS. BY ALL ACCOUNTS, EVEN REPLACING THE BULB MIGHT NOT WORK. THERE ARE NO LESS THAN 4 TSB'S OUT ON THIS PROBLEM. WHY AUDI GETS AWAY WITH THIS IS A TRAVESTY AND THIS SHOULD BE REMEDIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447829

75,000 miles · Feb 12, 2012
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY AUDI A4 FLICKER AND THEN I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING THAT THE "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" AND THEN IT TURNS OFF. I THEN HAVE TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON TO GET THE LIGHT TO RETURN. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING MANY COMPONENTS OF THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND NOTHING HAS REMEDIED THE ISSUE. THE DEALER D…

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THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY AUDI A4 FLICKER AND THEN I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING THAT THE "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" AND THEN IT TURNS OFF. I THEN HAVE TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON TO GET THE LIGHT TO RETURN. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING MANY COMPONENTS OF THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND NOTHING HAS REMEDIED THE ISSUE. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447688

67,000 miles · Jan 29, 2012
Exterior Lighting

MY AUDI A4 CURRENTLY HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. WHEN I TURN IT ON, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WILL START FLICKERING AND THEN DIP, GETTING A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT SPECIFIES THE HEADLIGHT HAS DIPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND TENDS TO HAPPEN EARL…

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MY AUDI A4 CURRENTLY HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. WHEN I TURN IT ON, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WILL START FLICKERING AND THEN DIP, GETTING A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT SPECIFIES THE HEADLIGHT HAS DIPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND TENDS TO HAPPEN EARLY AFTER DRIVING, USUALLY WHEN ROADS ARE UNEVEN OR GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED REPLACING THE BULBS AT THE COST OF OVER $700. THEY DID NOT GAURANTEE IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS I DROVE OFF THE LOT. APPARENTLY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY AND HAZARD ISSUE AS IT OCCURS WHILE I AM DRIVING. IF YOU TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN IT BACK ON, THEY WILL SOMETIMES STAY ON BUT MORE OFTEN WILL FLICKER AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE VS. WEAR AND TEAR AND WOULD LIKE AUDI TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10445745

Official recalls

3

18V427000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 22, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.

17V032000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 11, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the 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." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever 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 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. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

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.

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.