Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Steering complaints

10 reports

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Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2003

SteeringSuspension

REPEATED FRONT SUSPENSION/STEERING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURES. *JB *PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10039150

66,642 miles · Feb 3, 2003

Exterior LightingSteering

THE TIE RODS OF BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE DAMAGED. THE RUBBER CAP WAS BROKEN ON BOTH AND THE TIE RODS HAD A LOT OF PLAY AT THE JOINT UNDERNEATH. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED CAUSING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LAMP FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10004571

71,000 miles · Jan 9, 2003

SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL. ALSO SEALER BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK, DAMAGING BRAKE PADS AND DISC. VEHICLE CRASHED DAMAGING FRONT END. DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10001737

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2002

Steering

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AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA RECALLED THEIR 1999 MODEL A4S FOR FAILURE OF THE TIE RODS. I OWN A 1996 A4 WITH TIE RODS THAT FAILED AND AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED TIE RODS UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE WAS EXACTLY AS OUTLINED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ALL AUDI DEALERS. I READ RECENTLY IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THAT AN OWNER WITH A 1998 A4 EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THE RECALL SHOULD COVER ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE A4. I REQUESTED AND SAVED THE DAMAGED TIE RODS IF YOU WOULD HAVE INTEREST IN SEEING THEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS A SEVERE DANGER TO OPERATERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY AUDI. DT

NHTSA ODI #769518

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2002

Steering

CONTROL RODS LOOSE ACCORDING TO AUDI DEALER. CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. INDPT SHOP ALSO NOTED THAT TIE RODS WERE ALSO SO LOOSE THEY WERE HAZARDOUS AND INDICATED ON RECEIPT TO SHOW AUDI

NHTSA ODI #758204

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2002

Steering

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING BOX MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL, ALSO SEALER BROKE WHICH RESULTED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, STEEING RACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLOWED OUT GASKET SEAK, THE MINERAL OIL SPRAY OUT UNDER PRESSURE TOWARD THE INSIDE OF FDRONT WHEEL SOAKING…

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NHTSA ODI #8001330

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001

Electrical SystemSteering

ABSOLUTELY THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT I HAVE SPENT OVER $6000 IN REPAIRS AND GONE JUST 40K MILES! STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR WHEN I CALLED THE 1-800 LINE THEY WERE NO HELP AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH ANYBODY IN A HIGHER POSTION. WHEN I SAID CAN I WRITE A LETTER THEY SAID SURE BUT IT COMES TO US AND T…

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NHTSA ODI #748336

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000

SteeringSuspension

MANY OTHER AUDI A-4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT PREMATURE WEAR OF TIE RODS AND CONTROL ARMS IN VERMONT. AUDI OF AMERICA AND LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO COVER PROBLEM ALTHOUGH VOLUNTARY RECALL IN EFFECT FOR NEWER AUDIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737122

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2000

Electrical SystemSteeringSuspension

PROBLEMS IS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #874177

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2000

Steering

INNER TIE RODS WERE LOOSE AND WORN OUT WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING. RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #864524

Official recalls

06V403000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 23, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AS A RESULT OF A PROBLEM IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ANCHOR POINT OF THE SPRING MAY CRACK. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW IGNITION SWITCH WITH AN OPTIMIZED ANCHOR POINT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES THE REMEDY PROGRAM UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 00V317).

00V317000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Oct 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING CAN FRACTURE AT THE RETURN SPRING ANCHOR POINT. FRACTURE OF THE HOUSING COULD CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

97V175000 · Air Bags:frontal

Oct 8, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DISCHARGE OF STATIC ELECTRICITY UNDER LOW HUMIDITY CONDITIONS CAN ACTIVATE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS OR EXITS THE VEHICLE AND FORMS AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BY TOUCHING CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STEERING WHEEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG UNDER THESE CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND WIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG.

96V088000 · Electrical System:horn

May 23, 1996

THE HORN CAN WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL GROUND CONTACT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD PREVENT A DRIVER FROM SOUNDING A WARNING BY USING THE HORN INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND CONTACT SPRING WHICH WILL ENHANCE THE ELECTRICAL GROUND CONNECTION.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗