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 · Jun 19, 2001

Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVLEING AT 20-25 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, CRASHED INTO A WALL. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WILL INSPECT VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #890667

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2001

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WET BRAKING PROBLEMS. EXTREMELY LONG TIME FOR BRAKE TO ENGAGE WHEN WET. CAUSES UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AS BRAKE DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN WET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746275

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001

Electrical System

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND CAUSED STARTER TO GO. VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AT ALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #886707

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001

Electrical System

RECALL 00V317000; PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING HAS FRACTURED AT RETURN ANCHOR POINT, VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED EXACT SYMPTOMS LISTED IN RECALL(00V317) SUMMARY. VEHICLE NOT SELECTED FOR RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #881515

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

Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2000

Suspension

OVER THIS PAST YEAR, I HAVE REPLACED 3 CONTROL ARMS, DEALER POINTS TO DESIGN FLAW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737995

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2000

Electrical System

CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER AND AUDI USA ABOUT PROBLEM AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 00V317000). I WAS INFORM THAT MY CARS VIN WAS NOT ON THEIR LIST TO BE REPAIR FOR THIS RECALL. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM MY CAR WAS BUILT IN 5/1996 AND WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737566

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WHEN DRIVING IN VERY WET CONDITIONS, THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES HAVE ANY EFFECT. THIS CAN BE UP TO 2 SECONDS OR SO, AND DEPENDING ON DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME YET, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737283

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

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 ↗