NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
258 reports109,000 miles · Apr 6, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE UPPER, LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS AND THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A SEVERE OIL LEAKAGE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE DURING ACCELERATION. OIL WAS FOUND IN THE SPARK PLUG CAVITIES AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRES PROTECTIVE SLEEVE WAS BRITTLE DUE TO HIGH ENGINE …
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THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE UPPER, LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS AND THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A SEVERE OIL LEAKAGE OBSERVED COMING FROM THE ENGINE DURING ACCELERATION. OIL WAS FOUND IN THE SPARK PLUG CAVITIES AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRES PROTECTIVE SLEEVE WAS BRITTLE DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10113846
80,000 miles · Mar 31, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117144
35,000 miles · Mar 27, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
EXTREME DIFFICULTYFUELING CAR - PUMP SHUTS OFF CONTINUOUSLY AND FORUMSSEEM TO INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM ABD HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER CARS. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER AND ONLY ADVICE IS TO REPLACE FUELD TANK AT A COST OF SOME $2,000 - CAR HAS 45,000 MILES
NHTSA ODI #10114810
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
92,000 miles · Feb 25, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CAR: 1998 A4 AUDI AVANT QUATTRO, BOUGHT NEW. ABS CONTROLLER MODULE FAILED IN 2004, AUDI SHOULD DO A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS. NO THERE WERE NO DEATHS OR INJURIES, IS THIS A REASON TO HAVE A RECALL WHEN PEOPLE DIE?? *NM
NHTSA ODI #10112170
756,023 miles · Feb 9, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE ,AND STAYED ON UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10111182
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
60,000 miles · Feb 6, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1998 AUDI A4 2.8 QUATTRO- MY ABS SENSOR HAS FAILED. ABS LIGHT IS ON. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10109955
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
89,000 miles · Jan 20, 2005
Air Bags
1. AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT DISPLAYED 2. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DETERMINES THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING 3. DEALER ESTIMATES AIRBAG REPLACEMENT WILL COST $1,700, BUT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE ITS FAILURE IS DUE TO MILEAGE AND WEAR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10107625
Official recalls
4Jul 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.
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.
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.
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
5EA04017 · 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
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