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1998 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 1998 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

102 reports with mileage · 156 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. 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.

6 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports

Service Brakes, Air complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

I HAVE A 1998 AUDI A4 AVANT, 2.8 V6, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AFTER 45K MILES THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE ("BRAIN") FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 91K MILES THE ABS BRAIN FAILED. WAS THERE, OR WILL THERE BE, A RECALL ON THESE ITEMS?

NHTSA ODI #10129336

82,500 miles · Jul 12, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED UP ON THE DASH, CHECKED THE OWNERS BOOK AND IT TOLD YOU TO CANTACT THE AUDI DEALER. CONATACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT COSTS A LOT ON MONEY, QUOTE FOR THE PART WAS $2711.00, NOT INSTALLED. WENT TO THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A BIG ISSUE, AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. POOR DESIGN AN…

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ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED UP ON THE DASH, CHECKED THE OWNERS BOOK AND IT TOLD YOU TO CANTACT THE AUDI DEALER. CONATACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT COSTS A LOT ON MONEY, QUOTE FOR THE PART WAS $2711.00, NOT INSTALLED. WENT TO THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A BIG ISSUE, AND THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. POOR DESIGN AND A VERY EXPENSIVE PART, WHO IS MAKING MONEY OUT OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. MILES ON THE CAR 82K

NHTSA ODI #10128487

82,000 miles · Jun 20, 2005
Service Brakes, AirVehicle Speed Control

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, NO MODIFICATIONS TO VEHICLE, AT 80K MILES THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILS AND THE ABS NO LONGER WORKS. THE BRAKES ARE PRONE TO LOCKING UP. THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE VEHICLE WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY IS $1200. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE UNTIL I CAN SAVE FOR THE REPAIR. ADDITIONALLY, TH…

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NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, NO MODIFICATIONS TO VEHICLE, AT 80K MILES THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILS AND THE ABS NO LONGER WORKS. THE BRAKES ARE PRONE TO LOCKING UP. THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE VEHICLE WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY IS $1200. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE UNTIL I CAN SAVE FOR THE REPAIR. ADDITIONALLY, THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING OUT OF THE BLUE AT 55K MILES. THIS MODULE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED EITHER DUE TO COST.

NHTSA ODI #10125758

119,000 miles · Mar 22, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

ABS CONTROL UNIT ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED, IN WHICH I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP VIA THE TRIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WHICH ALLOWED ME TO DOWNSHIFT, AND FINALLY USING THE EBRAKE...CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN TOTAL BRAKE LOSS IF THE ABS UN…

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ABS CONTROL UNIT ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED, IN WHICH I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP VIA THE TRIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WHICH ALLOWED ME TO DOWNSHIFT, AND FINALLY USING THE EBRAKE...CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN TOTAL BRAKE LOSS IF THE ABS UNIT FAILED, WHICH MADE NO SENSE SINCE THE PUMP WAS SPEWING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER MY ENGINE...I ASSURED THEM THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT AUDI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS REPAIR, WHICH RUNS IN THE RANGE OF $2500...THEY TOLD ME THAT THAT SHOULDNT HAVE HAPPENED, AND BECAUSE OF THE HIGH MILEAGE ON MY CAR, THEY WERENT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THOUSANDS OF AUDI OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM...I BELIEVE AUDI SHOULD BE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT, AND ISSUE A RECALL ASAP, BEFORE OTHER AUDI OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME SCARY ORDEAL I DID ON THE HIGHWAY...THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10114477

108,000 miles · Feb 8, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

(1) FAULTY DESIGN OF ABS CONTROLLER, 2) FAILURE OF SAID ABS CONTROLLER, (3) ABS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10110147

120,000 miles · Jan 30, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED ON 1998 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.8. THIS ~$2000 PART RAISES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, AS ITS FAILURE RESULTS IN LOSS OF ABS BRAKING AND TRACTION CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108247

65,000 miles · Jan 12, 2005
Service Brakes, AirService Brakes, Hydraulic

AFTER ONLY 65000 MILES ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO REPLACE MAJOR ABS COMPONENTS BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS FAILURES. THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION OF WHEN IT WILL FAIL. A BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON, THEN GO OFF, INDICATING THERE IS TROUBLE, BUT AT TIMES THE LIGHT WILL BE OFF AND IT IS NOT UN…

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AFTER ONLY 65000 MILES ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO REPLACE MAJOR ABS COMPONENTS BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS FAILURES. THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE IS NO INDICATION OF WHEN IT WILL FAIL. A BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON, THEN GO OFF, INDICATING THERE IS TROUBLE, BUT AT TIMES THE LIGHT WILL BE OFF AND IT IS NOT UNTIL YOU BEGIN TO BRAKE THAT YOU REALIZE THE ABS IS NON-FUNCTIONAL. AUDI HAS BEEN VERY SLOW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, REQUIRING A 2 WEEK WAIT JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THEN REQUIRING $2300 TO MAKE A 6 YEAR OLD CAR SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106199

98,000 miles · Jan 11, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

ABS UNIT FAILED ON 1998 AUDI A4 2.8L QUATTRO. REPAIR COST IS > $2000 FOR A RARELY USED ELECTRONIC MODULE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10106107

65,000 miles · Dec 9, 2004
Exterior LightingService Brakes, AirSuspension

CONTROL ARMS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE GONE BAD IN THE LAST YEAR. I DONT THINK THAT IS RIGHT FOR THE PARTS TO FAIL LIKE THAT.. I BOUGHT THE AUDI CAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A SAFE AND RELIABLE CAR, WHEN ALL IT HAS BEEN FOR ME IS A MONEY TRAP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10102412

59,000 miles · Nov 19, 2004
Service Brakes, Air

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INITIALLY CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THEN BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THAT I GET INTO THE CAR. MY ABS DOES NOT WORK. A LOCA AUDI DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR OF CAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ABS CONTROL MODULE ($1100.0…

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MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INITIALLY CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, THEN BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THAT I GET INTO THE CAR. MY ABS DOES NOT WORK. A LOCA AUDI DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR OF CAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ABS CONTROL MODULE ($1100.00) AND THREE HOURS OF LABOR AT $78.00 AN HOUR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100222

Official recalls

4

22V471000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jul 1, 2022

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.

99V248000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting

Sep 13, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.

99V131001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 21, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A CONTROL VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FULLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 F UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT VACUUM TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A VACUUM BY-PASS SYSTEM INTO VEHICLES OPERATED IN THESE STATES WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT VACUUM FOR FULL BRAKE ASSIST UNDER ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.

98V134000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Jun 22, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE BACKFIRES DURING A COLD-START, AN AIR SCREEN WHICH IS LOOSELY SEATED IN THE AIR FLOW METER CAN BECOME DAMAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SCREEN PIECES COULD ENTER THE INTAKE AIR FLOW SYSTEM AND PREVENT THE THROTTLE PLATE FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RETAINING RING TO HOLD THE AIR SCREEN IN PLACE.

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

5

EA04017 · STUCK-OPEN Throttle

Opened Jun 30, 2004 · Closed Feb 10, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

VWOA HAS RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 28,300 MY 1998-99 A6 VEHICLES IN COLD WEATHER STATES THAT EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST RATE OF THROTTLE ICING INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (04V-495).THE FAILURE RATE IN THE A4 AND PASSAT VEHICLES IS MUCH LOWER THAN IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE EXPERIENCE IN THE A4 AND PASSAT VEHICLES.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS FOR THE AUDI A4 OR VW PASSAT VEHICLES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY A CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.

PE02008 · Brake And Clutch Pedal Bracket

Opened Jan 23, 2002 · Closed Jul 12, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

No summary supplied.

EA00021 · Degraded Braking In Wet Weather

Opened Aug 11, 2000 · Closed Mar 29, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE00016 · Degraded Braking Wet Weather Condition

Opened Apr 4, 2000 · Closed Aug 11, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

RQ99008 · Power Brake Booster Vacuum BY-PASS

Opened Jun 1, 1999 · Closed Nov 14, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available