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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2017
Air BagsEngineVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL WATER PUMP IS BAD AN IT IS ON THE RECALL LIST

NHTSA ODI #10992954

95,000 miles · Jun 5, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

AS I WAS DRIVING THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR FULL THROTTLE. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I FINAL GOT THE CAR OVER TO THE ROAD AT A STOP BY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO. SO I CUT THE CAR OFF THEN CUT IT BACK ON AND IT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT TOOK 3 TIMES OF CUTTING THE CA…

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AS I WAS DRIVING THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR FULL THROTTLE. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I FINAL GOT THE CAR OVER TO THE ROAD AT A STOP BY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVVED UP AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO. SO I CUT THE CAR OFF THEN CUT IT BACK ON AND IT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT TOOK 3 TIMES OF CUTTING THE CAR OFF AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #10723730

69,224 miles · May 31, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME STUCK. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME STUCK. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR MAT RETENTION SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE FLOOR MAT TO BECOME LODGED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,224.

NHTSA ODI #10460129

90,668 miles · Aug 3, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION: VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER ENTERING HIGHWAY. DRIVER PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). TACHOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE UNTIL IT RED-LINED. DRIVER PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE THROTTLE RELEASED WITH A POPPING NOISE. DRIVER OBSERVED THE THROTTLE AND THE MAT …

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UNINTENDED ACCELERATION: VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER ENTERING HIGHWAY. DRIVER PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). TACHOMETER CONTINUED TO INCREASE UNTIL IT RED-LINED. DRIVER PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE THROTTLE RELEASED WITH A POPPING NOISE. DRIVER OBSERVED THE THROTTLE AND THE MAT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE PUSHING ON THE THROTTLE BUT THE MAT WAS NOT SECURED IN PLACE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT AND SERVICED REGULARLY). THEY RAN DIAGNOSTIC SCAN, NO FAULTS IN SYSTEM. OWNERS WROTE AND CALLED AUDI CUSTOMER CARE AND WERE INFORMED CAR IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. WEATHER WAS HOT AND DRY (JULY).

NHTSA ODI #10417489

35,000 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

2005.5 (MIDYEAR) AUDI A4 2.0T WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL FOR APPROXIMATELY 15-25 SECONDS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURRED EVEN THOUGH NO PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR QUICKLY PICKED UP SPEED, REACHING SPEEDS OF 90+…

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2005.5 (MIDYEAR) AUDI A4 2.0T WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL FOR APPROXIMATELY 15-25 SECONDS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURRED EVEN THOUGH NO PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR QUICKLY PICKED UP SPEED, REACHING SPEEDS OF 90+ MPH ON A CROWDED URBAN HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. A COLLISION WAS BARELY AVOIDED. THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION TO THE GAS PEDAL (I.E THERE WAS NO MAT OR DEBRIS IN THE WAY). FURTHERMORE, THERE WAS LIMITED BRAKE FUNCTION AT THIS TIME. AFTER 15-25 SECONDS THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE ISSUES: 1. UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION TO REDLINE WITH NO CONTROL OVER THE ACCELERATOR 2. BRAKING FUNCTION FAILED TO OVERRIDE THE ACCELERATOR FUNCTION (AS EXPLAINED BY MY DEALER. IF YOU BRAKE WHILE ACCELERATIONS, THE BRAKES WIN, WHICH DID NOT OCCUR IN THIS CASE.) I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY MU AUDI SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360302

49,500 miles · Apr 18, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A REPEAT COMPLAINT, BUT MS. DEMETER SAYS IT IS NOT ON FILE. 2005 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET, 6 CYLINDER (NORMALLY ASPIRATED). SUDDEN PERSISTENT ACCELERATION. I WAS RAPIDLY ACCELERATING FROM ABOUT 25 MPH GOING UP A HILL TRYING TO MAKE A GREEN LIGHT ABOUT .2 MILE AWAY. WHEN I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, I RELEASE…

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I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A REPEAT COMPLAINT, BUT MS. DEMETER SAYS IT IS NOT ON FILE. 2005 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET, 6 CYLINDER (NORMALLY ASPIRATED). SUDDEN PERSISTENT ACCELERATION. I WAS RAPIDLY ACCELERATING FROM ABOUT 25 MPH GOING UP A HILL TRYING TO MAKE A GREEN LIGHT ABOUT .2 MILE AWAY. WHEN I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, I RELEASED THE PEDAL BUT THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. FIRM BRAKE PRESSURE SLOWED THE CAR, BUT IT REACCELERATED UNTIL I BROUGHT IT TO A STOP. I MADE SURE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS IN THE "OFF" POSITION, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOT USED IT. I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES TO THE NEXT MAJOR INTERSECTION, WHERE I STOPPED FOR ALIGHT. WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, AND IT REDLINED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND REACHED DOWN TO SEE IF THE FLOOR MAT WAS OUT OF PLACE. I GAVE IT A PULL BUT DID NOT FEEL IT OVER THE GAS PEDAL. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, AND SLOWLY ACCELERATED AWAY FORM THE INTERSECTION. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED, EVEN WHEN I TRIED TO REPRODUCE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326238

12,500 miles · Jul 5, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE - DESPITE THE FACT THAT I REMOVED BY FOOT FROM THE THROTTLE. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO GET THE CAR TO STOP AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE ACCELERATOR DISENGAGED BUT THEN RE-ENGAGED (BY ITSELF) AND THEN DISENGAGED THREE OR FOUR TIMES IN THREE TO FOUR INTERVALS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161435

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.