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

Suspension complaints

19 reports

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Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2011

Suspension

WHILE DRIVING WEST ON PENNSYLVANIA RT. 401 I DROVE OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, WHERE A DRAIN IS BURIED UNDER THE ROAD, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LOWER A ARM SNAPPED IN HALF AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND THE CAR TO GRIND TO A HALT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10397830

100,000 miles · Jul 1, 2005

Suspension

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1996 AUDI A4 - AUDI A4 FRONT CONTROL ARMS ALL FAIL AT AROUND 100,000 MILES. ALL 8 OF MINE WERE REPLACED. AUDI SENT OUT A TSB FOR 2 OF THE 8 CONTROL ARMS AND ARE JERKING PEOPLE AROUND WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT. THEY WANT PEOPLE TO PROVE THAT ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WAS DONE, YET THE PARTS IN QUESTION ARE NOT REPAIRABLE OR SERVICEABLE. ACCORDING TO MY AUDI DEALER, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HASN'T GOTTEN ANY BETTER, EVEN WITH THE LATEST MODELS. THESE COST BETWEEN $300 - $500 EACH TO REPLACE FOR A TOTAL OF $3000 FOR ALL 8. THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM COLLECTING ON THIS AND THIS SHOULD COVER ALL 8, SINCE ALL 8 FAIL INSTEAD OF ONLY 2. THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LETTER AND PAPERWORK THAT I PROVIDED TO THEM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OVER 6 MONTHS AGO. EVERY AUDI A4 HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. AUDI SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THE POOR DESIGN AND THE BOGUS TSB LETTER THAT THEY SENT TO OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI #10127234

95,000 miles · Mar 25, 2005

Suspension

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE BALL JOINTS SEPERATED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10115883

45,000 miles · Jun 30, 2004

Suspension

FRONT END CONTROL ARMS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THEM ON THE FRONT END AT LEAST ONCE. I NOW HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I AM CONCERNED WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DON'T REPLACE IT. THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL OWNERS, AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10079090

30,000 miles · Nov 7, 2003

Suspension

WHEN VEHICLE REACHED 30,000 MILES CONTROL ARMS DRIED OUT AND CREATED AN ANNOYING SOUND. A BLACK RUBBER COMPOUND WAS ADDED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10046626

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2003

SteeringSuspension

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

NHTSA ODI #10039150

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2003

Suspension

MY AUDI A4 HAD 3 TIMES REPLACED FRONT CONTROL ARMS , WHEN TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS , DEALER POINTED TO DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037482

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2001

Suspension

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ACCORDING TO MY DEALER, THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS OF MY A4 IS WORN OUT AT JUST 59000 MILES. FROM AUDIWORLD.COM, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER A4 OWNERS (REGARDLESS OF THEIR CARS' MODEL YEAR) WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR CONTROL ARMS REPEATEDLY (SOME FAILED WITHIN 15000MILES). IT SEEMS THAT MANY DEALERS TOLD MANY OWNERS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND THAT THERE IS A PART SHORTAGE BECAUSE OF THIS. SOME OUT-OF-WARRANTY OWNERS CLAIM THAT AUDI HAS EITHER PROVIDED THE PARTS FREE, OR AT HALF PRICE, WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT AUDI REALIZES THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. MANY OWNERS BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING CONTROL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME YET, BUT I AM BECOMING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753473

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2001

Suspension

FRONT PASSENGER CONTROL ARM HAS BEEN REPLACED AND FAILED FOUR TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #750974

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001

Suspension

CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES HAVE FAILED AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #740494

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 ↗