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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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73,000 miles · Mar 22, 2011
Exterior Lighting

2005 AUDI A4 2.0T - HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTION. WARNING SIGN COMES ON "LEFT/RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED OUT". DURING NIGHT, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ONLY WAY TO GET LIGHTS BACK ON IS TO EITHER TURN HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN OR PULL OVER, TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART. THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX THOUGH. WITHIN 10 TO 15 MIN, THE HE…

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2005 AUDI A4 2.0T - HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTION. WARNING SIGN COMES ON "LEFT/RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED OUT". DURING NIGHT, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ONLY WAY TO GET LIGHTS BACK ON IS TO EITHER TURN HEADLIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN OR PULL OVER, TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART. THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX THOUGH. WITHIN 10 TO 15 MIN, THE HEADLIGHT WILL "DIP" OUT AGAIN (LIGHT FLICKERS AND GOES OUT). CHANGING BULBS DO NOT HELP. CHANGING BALLAST DOES NOT HELP. WITHIN A 20 MILE STRETCH, MY HEADLIGHTS WILL "DIP OUT" AND BLACK OUT ON AVERAGE OF 3 TIMES. THIS MAKES FOR VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392548

81,500 miles · Feb 11, 2011
Exterior Lighting

DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. GOOGLE "DIPPED HEADLIGHT AUDI". CAUSES RAMPANT FLICKERING THAT BLINDS EVERYONE ON THE ROAD OR TURN OFF YOUR HEADLIGHT AND DRIVE IN THE DARK AT NIGHT. CHANGED BULB DOES NOT FIX IT. CHANGED BALLAST DOES NOT FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381638

55,000 miles · Jan 20, 2011
Exterior Lighting

PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AT NIGHT, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT BEGINS TO FLICKER AND THEN SHUTS OFF WITH AN ERROR, "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". IT OCCURS EVERY NIGHT, WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND OBSCURES THE VIEW TO DRIVERS OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM IS BEING SUFFERED BY A L…

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PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AT NIGHT, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT BEGINS TO FLICKER AND THEN SHUTS OFF WITH AN ERROR, "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". IT OCCURS EVERY NIGHT, WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND OBSCURES THE VIEW TO DRIVERS OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM IS BEING SUFFERED BY A LARGE NUMBERS OF OWNERS AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378083

92,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Exterior Lighting

MY 2005.5 AUDI A4 QUATTRO FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCES HID HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, TYPICALLY STARTING WITH A RAPIDLY FLICKERING HEADLIGHT AND THEN FOLLOWED BY THE HEADLIGHT(S) EXTINGUISHING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS A RIGHT OR LEFT DIPPED BULB FAILURE INDICATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN BE RESTORED BY CYCLING POWER. THIS …

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MY 2005.5 AUDI A4 QUATTRO FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCES HID HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, TYPICALLY STARTING WITH A RAPIDLY FLICKERING HEADLIGHT AND THEN FOLLOWED BY THE HEADLIGHT(S) EXTINGUISHING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS A RIGHT OR LEFT DIPPED BULB FAILURE INDICATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE HEADLIGHTS CAN BE RESTORED BY CYCLING POWER. THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY; CURRENTLY IT OCCURS AT LEAST EVERY 30 MINUTES AND SEEMS TO BE TRIGGERED WHEN BRAKING THE CAR TO A STOP, GENTLY ACCELERATING IN LOWER GEARS, OR WHEN TURNING WHILE CLIMBING OR DESCENDING STEEP HILLS. WHEN THIS CONDITION IS EXPERIENCED, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER RAPIDLY AND EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISH. RESTORING THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT REQUIRES ME TO EITHER PULL OFF THE ROAD AND CYCLE POWER OR TO MANUALLY TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS UNSAFE, PROBABLY ILLEGAL, AND VERY ANNOYING TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS IN TRAFFIC. I HAD THIS CONDITION REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY UNDER WARRANTY (40K MILES), BUT IT HAS RECENTLY RETURNED AND WORSENED. MY AUDI NOW HAS 92K MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM SURPRISED THAT AUDI HAS NOT OFFERED A COST-FREE RECALL ACTION TO FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY GIVEN ITS PREVALENCE IN AUDI A4'S. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT IS HIGH AND APPARENTLY COULD INVOLVE REPLACEMENT OF THE HID BULBS, IGNITERS, AND SENSORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375526

65,000 miles · Dec 30, 2010
Exterior Lighting

OVER THE COURSE OF NEARLY TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED (TURNED OFF), WITH NO CONSISTENT CAUSE APPARENT. THE SPECIFIC ERROR MESSAGE THAT APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN IS "RIGHT/LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED". THIS CONDITION IS BOTH UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL - AS MANY STATES WILL ISSUE A TR…

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OVER THE COURSE OF NEARLY TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED (TURNED OFF), WITH NO CONSISTENT CAUSE APPARENT. THE SPECIFIC ERROR MESSAGE THAT APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN IS "RIGHT/LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED". THIS CONDITION IS BOTH UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL - AS MANY STATES WILL ISSUE A TRAFFIC VIOLATION FOR DRIVING WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 7-8 TIMES, THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS, THEN GOES OUT, BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED, THEN BE FINE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AT A TIME. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM ON AT LEAST 3 VISITS, AND HAS CLAIMED THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE SAID ERROR. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED/GUESSED THAT IT IS THE XENON LIGHT BULB ITSELF, HOWEVER IT HAS CHECKED OUT FINE EACH TIME, AND AS MENTIONED, HAS FUNCTIONED FLAWLESSLY AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE WITH MERELY A RESTART OF THE VEHICLE. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED, HOWEVER THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO PERFORM A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ON AT LEAST ONE VISIT. GIVEN THE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION ONLINE AND BY WORD OF MOUTH FROM OTHER FELLOW AUDI OWNERS, THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST MY CASE. I WOULD LIKE AUDI TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE NOT ONLY FOR THEIR OWN PR, BUT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS' SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10373401

48,466 miles · Dec 19, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

2005 AUDI A4 S-LINE'S PROBLEMS: DIPPED HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING & INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT AND CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10371190

42,300 miles · Dec 16, 2010
Exterior Lighting

EXCESSIVE MOISTURE IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS. DEALER STATS THAT AN "O" RING HAS FAILED AND INFERS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. STATES THAT MOST HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WILL CLEAR UP WITHIN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. MINE HAVE SO MUCH MOISTURE IN THEM THAT I HAVE WATER DRIPS. THIS CAUSES THE LIGHT OUTPUT TO BE VERY DIM. AUDI HAS A TSB THAT S…

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EXCESSIVE MOISTURE IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS. DEALER STATS THAT AN "O" RING HAS FAILED AND INFERS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. STATES THAT MOST HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WILL CLEAR UP WITHIN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. MINE HAVE SO MUCH MOISTURE IN THEM THAT I HAVE WATER DRIPS. THIS CAUSES THE LIGHT OUTPUT TO BE VERY DIM. AUDI HAS A TSB THAT STATES THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD NOT BE REPLACED, AND HAS NO OTHER REPAIR SUGGESTION (JUST LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM I GUESS). ALSO, IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAPPENS ON THE 2002-2005 MODELS AS WELL AS THE 2005.5 - 2009 MODELS OF THE A4. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT AUDI DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO ADDRESS. DEALER HAS ESTIMATED THE "O" RING REPLACEMENT TO BE ABOUT $250 (FOR A $1 PART!). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370852

55,000 miles · Dec 9, 2010
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF FOR NO REASON. FOGLIGHTS WILL ALSO CYCLE ON AND OFF. NO SOLUTION. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369720

49,850 miles · Dec 3, 2010
Exterior Lighting

DIPPED HEADLIGHT / FLICKER / PROBLEM VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. HID HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER THEN GOES OFF COMPLETELY. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369026

42,000 miles · Dec 2, 2010
Exterior Lighting

AUDI A4 2005 HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368715

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.