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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

Steering complaints

6 reports
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175,000 miles · Aug 10, 2020
Air BagsEngineSteering

NOTICED AIR BAG LIGHTS ON DIDNT THINK QUICK , ALSO I NOTUCED ELECTRICAL ISSUE HERE & THERE. ENGINE RUNS & SOUNDS LOUDER WHEN USING A/C. WHEN YOU GO TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE THERES A LOUD THUMP THUMP NOISE AT THE END FIR ABOUT 3 MINS OR SO , PROBLEMS STARTING THE ENGINE , BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER TURNS ON BY ITS SELF , A WEEK AGO THE LIG…

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NOTICED AIR BAG LIGHTS ON DIDNT THINK QUICK , ALSO I NOTUCED ELECTRICAL ISSUE HERE & THERE. ENGINE RUNS & SOUNDS LOUDER WHEN USING A/C. WHEN YOU GO TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE THERES A LOUD THUMP THUMP NOISE AT THE END FIR ABOUT 3 MINS OR SO , PROBLEMS STARTING THE ENGINE , BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER TURNS ON BY ITS SELF , A WEEK AGO THE LIGHT IN THE BAVK TURNS ON BY IT SELF. OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS NOT SURE IF ALL TIED IN TOGETHER I JUST STARTED MY PURCHASE ON 7/21/2020 FROM A CAR DEALER. HAD IT CHECKED BY 2 PEOPLE & ONE SAID AIR LEAK SHOWING FROM DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE . MY DEALER PUT ON MACHINE & SAID DIDNT SEE NOTHING WRONG. POWER STEERING GOES OUT HAVE TO FILL ALMOST EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MY DEALER SAID DONT PUT MORE CAUSE IT COULD MESS UP ENGINE. SO I DIDNT & 2 DAYS LATER DRIVING 15 -20 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE ITS GOING TO STOP SO I PRESUMED TO SHUT OFF ENGINE . CHEVK UNDER THE HOOD & THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS BONE DEY SMOKING SLIGHTLY , & BELT WAS PULLED OUT A& SHREDDED & IT WOULDNT EVEN TURM ON ENOUGH TO GET A FULL START & DEALER CAME & TOWED IT BACK. NOW HE SAYING I NEED A NEW ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #11348420

56,000 miles · Aug 19, 2018
Air BagsSteeringUnknown Or Other

AFTER 10 YEARS OF USE, TURNING LEFT THE RUBBER WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVER SIDE MAKES A POP NOISE. NOT FROM DRIVING ERRADIC BUT FROM TYPICAL WEAR AND TEAR. ALSO, THERE IS AN MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT COMES ON BUT WHEN PLUGGED UP TO A CODE READER, NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND. CARS WONT PASS SMOG WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON, SO THIS …

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AFTER 10 YEARS OF USE, TURNING LEFT THE RUBBER WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVER SIDE MAKES A POP NOISE. NOT FROM DRIVING ERRADIC BUT FROM TYPICAL WEAR AND TEAR. ALSO, THERE IS AN MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT COMES ON BUT WHEN PLUGGED UP TO A CODE READER, NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND. CARS WONT PASS SMOG WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON, SO THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN. IF THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WHY WOULD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON? I THINK COMPUTERS IN LUXURY CARS BACK THEN WERE A BIT TOO ADVANCED FOR THEIR TIME AND WEREN'T VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. AIR BAG HAD A RANDOM DEPLOYMENT WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD AND UNSCREWED THE PRESSURE ON THE RADIATOR FLUID. GOING TO NEED THIS VIN ADDED TO THE RECALL FOR AIRBAGS TO GET A NEW ONE.

NHTSA ODI #11120940

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

4,000 miles · Oct 18, 2006
SteeringSuspension

MY AUDI SINCE NEW HAS DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT, REGARDLESS OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS. MC KENNA AUDI HAS ATTEMPTED TO ALIGN THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. MR. FORD (AUDI REP) AUTHORIZED MC KENNA TO CHANGE THE CAMBER ON THE VEHICLE TO IT CAN DRIVE STRAIGHT. THIS CAUSED MY TIRE TO WEAR OUT AT AN ALARMING RATE. THIS QUICK FIX WAS APPARENTLY TO KE…

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MY AUDI SINCE NEW HAS DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT, REGARDLESS OF THE ROAD CONDITIONS. MC KENNA AUDI HAS ATTEMPTED TO ALIGN THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. MR. FORD (AUDI REP) AUTHORIZED MC KENNA TO CHANGE THE CAMBER ON THE VEHICLE TO IT CAN DRIVE STRAIGHT. THIS CAUSED MY TIRE TO WEAR OUT AT AN ALARMING RATE. THIS QUICK FIX WAS APPARENTLY TO KEEP ME FROM GOING BACK. I CHANGED THE TIRES AND HAD THE CAR RE ALIGNED TO MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATIONS. THE CAR DANGEROUSLY DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT IF I DON'T COUNTER STEER TO THE LEFT. MC KENNA AUDI STATED THEY CAN NO LONGER DO ANYTHING FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I PAID $250.00 FOR THE ALIGNMENT AND IT WAS MONEY LOST. MC KENNA WILL NOT REFUND OR FIX THE WARRANTIED CAR ANYMORE. THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT AUDI OF AMERICA FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. AUDI HAS NOT RESPONDED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171280

500 miles · Sep 3, 2006
Steering

STEERING VIBRATION IN CAR AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-65 MPH ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT BY ROAD FORCE BALANCING WHEELS AND TIRES, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY SINCE VEHICLE NEW, DESPITE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167276

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrash

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4 2.0 LITER TURBO ENGINE. THE NON LINEAR ACCELERATION, IT WILL BOG AND SURGE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. WHILE PRESSING HARD ON THE GAS, IT WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD, CAUSING DRIVERS BEHIND HIM TO CONSTANTLY APPLY THE BRAKES. ALSO, THE LOW SPEED POWER STEERING WILL NOT COME ON. IT WAS LIMITED AND VE…

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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4 2.0 LITER TURBO ENGINE. THE NON LINEAR ACCELERATION, IT WILL BOG AND SURGE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. WHILE PRESSING HARD ON THE GAS, IT WILL SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD, CAUSING DRIVERS BEHIND HIM TO CONSTANTLY APPLY THE BRAKES. ALSO, THE LOW SPEED POWER STEERING WILL NOT COME ON. IT WAS LIMITED AND VERY HARD TO STEER. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING STARTED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. BUT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF POWER STEERING ACCELERATION PREVENTED FROM BEING HIT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES FOR THE ACCELERATING PROBLEM, AND ONCE FOR THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP STARTED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER MANY TIMES, AND THEY WERE COOPERATIVE. THE REPAIRS ARE BEING DELAYED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP FORGOT TO ORDER THE PARTS. THE NUMBERS OF FAILURES WERE 100 TIMES AT LEAST. THE PROBLEMS FIRST BEGAN 10 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE ON APRIL 4, 2005, AND IT WAS IN FOR SERVICE ON APRIL 14, 2005. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BOG AND SURGE WAS WITHIN AUDI'S SPECIFICATIONS AND NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WOULD TAKE PLACE. 11/15/05. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138927

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.