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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

Power Train complaints

16 reports
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38,000 miles · Feb 1, 2017
Power Train

WE ARE THE 2ND OWNER OF AN AUDI A4 CONVERTIBLE, PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 WITH 25K MILES. WITHIN TWO YEARS, WE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND HAD TO HAVE THE TCM REPLACED, WHICH WAS LATER REIMBURSED BY AUDI AS A RESULT OF A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT. IN JANUARY OF 2014, AT 38K MILES, AUDI DIAGNOSED THE TRANS…

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WE ARE THE 2ND OWNER OF AN AUDI A4 CONVERTIBLE, PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 WITH 25K MILES. WITHIN TWO YEARS, WE BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND HAD TO HAVE THE TCM REPLACED, WHICH WAS LATER REIMBURSED BY AUDI AS A RESULT OF A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT. IN JANUARY OF 2014, AT 38K MILES, AUDI DIAGNOSED THE TRANSMISSION AS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN COLD, VEHICLE SHUDDERING. ON COMPLAINT TO AUDI, THEY AGREED TO COVER 50% OF THE COSTS, WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $7,000 WHICH RESULTED IN MY WIFE BEING AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER. REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT HALF COST. AT 47K MILES, AGAIN COLD WEATHER, THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED, VEHICLE OFTEN WON'T REVERSE AND TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP UNEXPECTEDLY. AS THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY, MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS SAFE AGAIN. AS THERE IS DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF KNOWN ISSUES WITH THIS TRANSMISSION (US DISTRICT COURT # CV11-00665 BRO AGRX), AUDI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR 100% OF THE COSTS TO REPAIR AND CVT TRANSMISSION WHICH RESULTS IN A VEHICLE BEING UNSAFE TO OPERATE.

NHTSA ODI #10948846

38,288 miles · Feb 6, 2015
Power Train

2005 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET WITH 38K MILES, CVT TRANSMISSION SLIPS BADLY, WON'T ACCELERATE, LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN COLD. AUDI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND EXTENDING WARRANTY FOR 2004 AND EARLIER VEHICLES, BUT NOT 2005 MODELS, AS SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME CVT TRANSMISSION. V…

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2005 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET WITH 38K MILES, CVT TRANSMISSION SLIPS BADLY, WON'T ACCELERATE, LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN COLD. AUDI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND EXTENDING WARRANTY FOR 2004 AND EARLIER VEHICLES, BUT NOT 2005 MODELS, AS SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR VEHICLES WITH THE SAME CVT TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY AUDI DEALERSHIP AS NEEDING NEW TRANSMISSION AND PROVIDED A QUOTE FOR REPLACEMENT RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION ($6,687.00 AND TAX). AUDI USA AGREED IN WRITING TO ASSIST WITH THE EXPENSE BY COVERING 50% OF TOTAL COST TO REPAIR. VEHICLE OWNER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND RELIABILITY WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IN TRAFFIC. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10681712

130,000 miles · Oct 13, 2014
EnginePower TrainSteering

STOPPED ON A HILL AT A STOP LIGHT, WENT TO GO AND CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND DIED. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY BRAKES, CAR STARTED AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE ARE SECOND OWNER, HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES - UNDER WARR…

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STOPPED ON A HILL AT A STOP LIGHT, WENT TO GO AND CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND DIED. HAD TO IMMEDIATELY APPLY BRAKES, CAR STARTED AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE ARE SECOND OWNER, HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPLACED AT 49,000 MILES - UNDER WARRANTY TO OTHER OWNER. NOW, AT 130K MILES WE ARE BEING TOLD IT HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. IT IS A DANGER TO DRIVE AS THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL OR EVEN THE GEARS COULD SLIP CAUSING DANGER TO THE PASSENGERS. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF AUDI TRANSMISSION, KNOWN AS "MULTITRONIC" OR "CVT" HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND FAILURES. WE PAID 12K FOR THIS CAR USED AND HAVE A MAJOR MALFUNCTION WITHIN A YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644311

106,453 miles · Mar 16, 2014
EnginePower Train

SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR AND THE GAS PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND ENGINE REDLINED RPMS. I HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR WHERE THE ENGINE AND PEDAL FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL AFTERWARDS. I CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT AND IT WAS SECURE AND AWAY FROM IMPEDING THE PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572625

113,000 miles · Apr 10, 2013
Power Train

SITTING, STOPPED IN MY DRIVEWAY, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, (R WAS LIT ON DASH) YET WHEN I RELEASED BRAKE PEDDLE CAR WENT FOREWORD; IT WAS IN (D) DRIVE! I QUICKLY MOVED SHIFT LEVER TO PARK (P) AND BACK TO REVERSE, THIS TIME IT REALLY WAS IN REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505842

47,000 miles · Dec 26, 2012
Power Train

THE TRANSMISION STALLED; IT WAS AS IF THE CAR LOST POWER BUT THE ENGINE WAS STEEL RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490137

38,513 miles · Sep 3, 2012
Power Train

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 376 THROUGH SQUIRRELL TUNNEL THE CAR STARTED TO HOP. SPUTTER AND JUST STOPPED. THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING. AFTER 5 MINUTES THE CAR RESTARTED AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED.THIS CAUSED A HORRIFIC TRAFFIC JAM AND ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473629

110,000 miles · May 24, 2012
Power Train

THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM IT SEEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). APPARENTLY MOST AUDI VEHICLES WILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT AND THE REPAIRS ARE COSTING THE CONSUMERS BIG MONEY. A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER COSTS AROUND 1100-1200.00 DOLLARS AND THEY ARE USED TO SEEING THIS PROBLEM AND DON'T THINK ITS A BIG DEAL... WHY SHO…

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THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM IT SEEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). APPARENTLY MOST AUDI VEHICLES WILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT AND THE REPAIRS ARE COSTING THE CONSUMERS BIG MONEY. A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER COSTS AROUND 1100-1200.00 DOLLARS AND THEY ARE USED TO SEEING THIS PROBLEM AND DON'T THINK ITS A BIG DEAL... WHY SHOULD WE PAY IF ITS A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE AWARE ABOUT AND ULTIMATELY COMES DOWN TO A BAD SERVICE BY THEM KNOWING AND NOT HELPING PAY FOR A REGULAR PROBLEM CAUSED BY THEM??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459588

50,000 miles · Mar 14, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE PARKING, DRIVE AND NEUTRAL GEARS WERE ALSO ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE PARKING, DRIVE AND NEUTRAL GEARS WERE ALSO ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10390116

103,000 miles · Jan 7, 2011
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO SECOND GEAR ON ITS OWN AND ERRATICALLY. DEALER DIAGNOSES FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, REPLACED. AND, AT APPROX 90,000 MILES, THE REAR WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE CLOTH TOP. DEALER EXPLAINED IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. TOP WAS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375095

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.