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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

190 reports
82,000 miles · Mar 27, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

OUR 1999.5 AUDI AVANT QUATTRO VIN[XXX] HAS PASSED 80,000 MILES. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) CONTROLLER HAS FAILED CAUSING INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THE RESULT IS INCONSISTENT AND DANGEROUS HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE IN LOW TRACTION CONDITIONS -- THE VERY CONDITIONS AUDI QUITTER'S ARE PURCHASED FOR! REPAIR O…

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OUR 1999.5 AUDI AVANT QUATTRO VIN[XXX] HAS PASSED 80,000 MILES. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) CONTROLLER HAS FAILED CAUSING INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THE RESULT IS INCONSISTENT AND DANGEROUS HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE IN LOW TRACTION CONDITIONS -- THE VERY CONDITIONS AUDI QUITTER'S ARE PURCHASED FOR! REPAIR OF THE SYSTEM IS IN EXCESS OF 25% OF THE VALUE OF THE MARKET CAR. A SEARCH OF SEVERAL INTERNET AUDI SITES REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY CURRENT AUDI MODELS. AUDI OF AMERICA REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM UNDER RECALL. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10114836

85,000 miles · Mar 10, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED ON A 1999 AUDI A4; THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND I MUST PAY $1662.39 PLUS TAX TO REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10113902

72,000 miles · Mar 4, 2005
Steering

RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V248000 CONCERNING TIE ROD END SEAL FAILURE. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VIBRATED SEVERELY ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS RECALL WAS NOT IN THEIR DATA BASE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10113486

72,000 miles · Feb 20, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FAILURE 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

NHTSA ODI #10111833

77,000 miles · Feb 17, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE THROTTLE BODY FROZE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AT 85 MPH. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE ITSELF. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10111705

68,000 miles · Feb 12, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILS AT 68K, REAR BRAKES TEND TO LOCK UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10110414

86,100 miles · Jan 27, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #10108014

97,000 miles · Jan 23, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

AUDI A4 1999 2.8 LITER - THROTTLE STICK DURING COLD WEATHER WHEN CRUISING AT STEADY SPEED OR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM REST. DRIVERS ONLY RECOURSE IS TO PULL OVER AND SWITCH ENGINE OFF, WAIT A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE RESTART. IDENTIFIED AS MOISTURE FREEZING IN THROTTLE BODY. NOTE CURRENTLY AUDI A6 RECALL IN PLACE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10107767

75,000 miles · Jan 14, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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

NHTSA ODI #10106331

51,000 miles · Jan 12, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED. NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS POSSIBLY SAFELY RELATED FAILURE. THIS PART CONTROLS THE ABS BRAKING AND IF IT FAILS, THE ABS DOES NOT WORK. THIS COULD RESULT IN CRASHES DUE TO DRIVERS EXPECTING ABS SUPPORT DURING HARD BRAKING ONLY TO REALIZE IT IS NOT WORKING. SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD THI…

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THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED. NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS POSSIBLY SAFELY RELATED FAILURE. THIS PART CONTROLS THE ABS BRAKING AND IF IT FAILS, THE ABS DOES NOT WORK. THIS COULD RESULT IN CRASHES DUE TO DRIVERS EXPECTING ABS SUPPORT DURING HARD BRAKING ONLY TO REALIZE IT IS NOT WORKING. SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS FIXED OUTSIDE OF AUDI WARRANTY AND WE BELIEVE AUDI IS RUNNING A SILENT RECALL. THIS WEB FORUM DOCUMENTS WHAT COULD BE A SILENT RECALL BY AUDI HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=3409&TSTART=0. THIS PART COSTS AROUND $1500 NEW.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106162

Official recalls

4

20V056000 · 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

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