IllustrationFAILURE OF ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER-BEGAN AS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT FLASHING-NOW LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME-HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE ON AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN-REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER-PART IS $2000. *JB
1999 Audi A4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most A4 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Audi A4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
625–50K
4050–75K
2875–100K
19100–150K
5150K+
100 reports with mileage · 90 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 81 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 →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
81 reportsABS CONTROL UNIT FAILS AT 68K, REAR BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP. *JB
THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 86000 MILES EVENTHOUGH THE UNIT HAS BEEN VERY SELDOM HAVE BEEN ACTUATED. IT COST ME $2000 FOR AN ITEM THAT HAS BEEN RARELY USED OR ACTUATED IN MY CAR.*AK
THE ABS SYSTEM IN MY VEHICLE FAILED OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY TRIGGER FOR IT. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS BLINKING IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A RESULT, THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE QUOTE TO FIX THE PART WAS ABOUT $1500. *JB
FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER-BEGAN AS BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT FLASHING OCCASIONALLY-NOW LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME-HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS COMMON FAILURE ON AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN-REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER-PART IS $2200.*AK
99V131001/BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM VALVE. THE OWNER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECTS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH REMAIN ACTIVATED; MECHANIC SAYS ABS COMPUTER MODULE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR - $1500. I HAVE READ OF OTHER REPORTS OF SAME DEFECT IN SAME MODEL/YEAR BUT NO SERVICE BULLETIN I CAN FIND.*AK
FAILURE OF A BOSCH 5.3 ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (PART # 8E0 614 111A) IN A 1999 AUDI 1.8 TURBO QUATTRO WITH 53,000 MILES.
ABS PUMP FAILURE. AT APPROX. 71000 MILES, THE ABS CONTROLLER/PUMP FAILED ON MY 1999 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO AND READ ABOUT WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THE EXACT SAME FAILURE WITH THE SAME ABS PUMP/CONTROLLER. HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=3409&TSTART=0 AND HTTP://FORUMS…
Read full complaint
ABS PUMP FAILURE. AT APPROX. 71000 MILES, THE ABS CONTROLLER/PUMP FAILED ON MY 1999 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO AND READ ABOUT WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THE EXACT SAME FAILURE WITH THE SAME ABS PUMP/CONTROLLER. HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=3409&TSTART=0 AND HTTP://FORUMS.AUDIWORLD.COM/A4/MSGS/1743701.PHTML . APPARENTLY, AUDI KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL.*AK
THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL. *JB....*AK
Official recalls
420V056000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 31, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 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 inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.
00V414000 · Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting
Dec 6, 2000
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.
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.
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