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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

Structure complaints

3 reports
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400 miles · Dec 17, 2010
Electrical SystemStructure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT WAITED 20-25 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICAT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT WAITED 20-25 MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 20 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN 2007 AND THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED. IN JANUARY 2009, THE IGNITIONS COILS WERE PLACED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE GLUE SEPARATED FROM THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND RUIN THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND CARPET; THE TOP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

NHTSA ODI #10371101

45,000 miles · Oct 18, 2010
Structure

2005 AUDI CABRIOLET CONVERTIBLE. THE REAR WINDOW IS PARTING FROM THE ROOF. THE GLUE IS NOT HOLDING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS THE WINDOW COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND CRASH INTO OTHER VEHICLES. AUDI REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS THE 2ND AUDI CONVERTIBLE I'VE OWNED (PREV 2003) AND THIS WAS A PROBLEM…

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2005 AUDI CABRIOLET CONVERTIBLE. THE REAR WINDOW IS PARTING FROM THE ROOF. THE GLUE IS NOT HOLDING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS THE WINDOW COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND CRASH INTO OTHER VEHICLES. AUDI REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS THE 2ND AUDI CONVERTIBLE I'VE OWNED (PREV 2003) AND THIS WAS A PROBLEM THEN AS WELL. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361109

2,200 miles · Dec 14, 2004
Structure

AT 2,200 MILES, A HEADLIGHT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT A MOUSE HAD CLIMBED INTO MY ENGINE, BUILT A NEST OUT OF THE HOOD INSULATION, AND CHEWED THROUGH WIRES. AUDI REFUSED TO COVER ANY DAMAGES. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $1,400. I HAVE PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT OF MY UNDERGROUND GARAG…

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AT 2,200 MILES, A HEADLIGHT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT A MOUSE HAD CLIMBED INTO MY ENGINE, BUILT A NEST OUT OF THE HOOD INSULATION, AND CHEWED THROUGH WIRES. AUDI REFUSED TO COVER ANY DAMAGES. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $1,400. I HAVE PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT OF MY UNDERGROUND GARAGE FOR 3 YEARS, AND THIS NEVER HAPPENED TO MY PREVIOUS CAR. I FEEL AUDI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES DUE TO POOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAR'S UNDERCARRIGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102901

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.