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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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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70,000 miles · Nov 10, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

WHEN THE CAR GETS COLD, THE LATCH ON THE TRUNK WON'T CATCH. SO, YOU CAN HAVE THE TRUNK LATCH CLOSED WHEN YOU LEAVE THE GARAGE. BUT WHEN YOU PARK IN A COLD OUTDOOR LOT, THE LATCH WILL COME UNDONE, AND YOU CAN'T LATCH THE TRUNK ON THE WAY HOME. SO WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND HIT A BUMP, THE TRUNK LID RATTLES AROUND. BUT THIS ONLY HAP…

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WHEN THE CAR GETS COLD, THE LATCH ON THE TRUNK WON'T CATCH. SO, YOU CAN HAVE THE TRUNK LATCH CLOSED WHEN YOU LEAVE THE GARAGE. BUT WHEN YOU PARK IN A COLD OUTDOOR LOT, THE LATCH WILL COME UNDONE, AND YOU CAN'T LATCH THE TRUNK ON THE WAY HOME. SO WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND HIT A BUMP, THE TRUNK LID RATTLES AROUND. BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD. THE SERVICE GUYS AT MY AUDI DEALER SAID, "YEAH, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS." IF THEY KNOW ABOUT IT, WHY DON'T THEY FIX IT? THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE FAULTY TRUNK LATCHES. IT SEEMS A SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE THE TRUNK FLY OPEN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435208

80,500 miles · Jan 25, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

CAR VIN#: [XXX] 2005.5 A4 2.0T QUATTRO DEFECTIVE DESIGN TRUNK LATCH PART THAT AUDI SHOULD RECALL. SEE THREAD AT FORUM: HTTP://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/329499-DIY-FAULTY-TRUNK-LATCH AUDI OWNER COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ALL AGREED THIS IS A SAFETY DESIGN DEFECT THAT AUDI REFUSES TO RECALL BUT SEEM TO HAVE A …

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CAR VIN#: [XXX] 2005.5 A4 2.0T QUATTRO DEFECTIVE DESIGN TRUNK LATCH PART THAT AUDI SHOULD RECALL. SEE THREAD AT FORUM: HTTP://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/329499-DIY-FAULTY-TRUNK-LATCH AUDI OWNER COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ALL AGREED THIS IS A SAFETY DESIGN DEFECT THAT AUDI REFUSES TO RECALL BUT SEEM TO HAVE A TSB FOR THIS WELL KNOWN ISSUES. REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART WITH PART #4F5-827-505-D NOT SURE OF THE LONGEVITY OF THIS NEW PART. $50 PART + 1 HOUR LABOR THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOUR TRUNK DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND POTENTIALLY POPS UP DURING DRIVING. IF THIS HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH TRUNK WIDE OPEN AND THINGS FLY OUT OF YOUR TRUNK AS YOU BLINDLY PULL OVER, ITS POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IS VERY HIGH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378700

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

I OWN AN AUDI A4 2.0. THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM OF LOCKING UNEXPECTEDLY AND LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED. THE FIRST 2 TIMES I WAS CHECKING MY MAIL AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY BUT FOUND LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR. FORTUNATELY BEING NEAR THE HOME, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE DUPLICATE KEY AND GET IN. THE MOST RECENT…

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I OWN AN AUDI A4 2.0. THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM OF LOCKING UNEXPECTEDLY AND LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED. THE FIRST 2 TIMES I WAS CHECKING MY MAIL AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY BUT FOUND LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR. FORTUNATELY BEING NEAR THE HOME, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE DUPLICATE KEY AND GET IN. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING TO WARM THE CAR WHILE SHE WAS CLEANING THE SNOW. FORTUNATELY A POLICEMAN STOPPED AND HELPED HER UNLOCK THE CAR BUT THE SITUATION WAS BAD AND COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. EACH TIME I TOOK THE CAR, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS A VISIT TO THE DEALER TODAY. THEY SAID THAT AUDI IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM AND HAS PUT OUT A BULLETIN JUST NOW, ON 02/05/10. CHANGING THE ENTIRE LOCKS FOR THE CAR AT $1,500 WAS THE RECOMMENDED SOLUTION. NOW THE CARE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WHEN IT WAS WITHIN THE 50K WARRANTY PERIOD. I CHECKED ON GOOGLE. WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR "LOCKED-OUT AUDI" YOU SEE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF LOCK MALFUNCTION. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED IRRESPECTIVE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED OR ELSE A DRIVER CAN GET STRANDED IN A VERY UNFORTUNATE UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315749

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.