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

What owners actually said

89 reports

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2002

Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING RPMS DROPPED AND VEHICLE STARTED TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. MECHANIC HAS REPLACED BOTH STARTER AND IGNITION SWITCH WITH IN 2-MONTH PERIOD. CONSUMER STATED PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8008374

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 · Feb 8, 2002

Power TrainTiresUnknown Or Other

CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYS ON, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM, ALSO THE LEFT OUTER CV BOOT WAS REPLACED, THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN, AND TIRES WERE REPLACED (GOODYEAR TIRES P205/55R16).*SLC

NHTSA ODI #8003809

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2002

Electrical System

VEHICLE EXHIBITED SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V317000. EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAIL TO FUNCTION IF KEY IN IGNITION WAS NOT MANUALLY TURNED BACKWARDS BY DRIVER. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATI…

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NHTSA ODI #8001514

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 · 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 · Oct 15, 2001

Visibility

WINDOW FAILS TO RAISE OR LOWER DUE TO BROKEN WINDOW REGULATOR PLASTIC COMPONENTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753252

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 · Aug 13, 2001

Electrical System

DEFECT IS COVERED UNDER CAMPAIGN 00V317000; MY VEHICLE FITS MANUFACTURER/MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, HOWEVER IT DOESN'T FALL WITHIN THE VIN RANGE THE DEALER IS CHECKING - I WAS CHARGED FOR THE RECALL ITEM. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR ENFORCEMENT OF RECALL, AND SUBSEQUENT REIMBURSMENT FROM THE DEALER ON CHARGES WRONGFULLY INCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #750301

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

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 ↗