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2003 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 2003 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

177 reports with mileage · 33 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports6 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

17 reports
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53,000 miles · Nov 25, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

COOLING STARTED TO LEAK INTO A SPARKPLUG, NO OVERHEATING OCCURRED AND CAR WAS TAKING TO DEALER, TO FIND OUT THE ENGINE WAS CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209859

52,125 miles · Mar 22, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 03 AUDI A4T QUATTRO IN JUNE OF 03. THE DEALER IS GREAT AND THANK GOD THEY VALUE THEIR CUSTOMERS BECAUSE MY CAR HAS GIVEN THEM ALOT PRACTICE ON EVERYTHING. I THINK GERMANY SENT US A DUD! SINCE BUYING THE CAR I HAVE NEEDED VARIOUS ITEMS REPLACED: A NEW COMPUTER, (REPLACED BY THE DEALER), A NEW FUEL SYSTE…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 03 AUDI A4T QUATTRO IN JUNE OF 03. THE DEALER IS GREAT AND THANK GOD THEY VALUE THEIR CUSTOMERS BECAUSE MY CAR HAS GIVEN THEM ALOT PRACTICE ON EVERYTHING. I THINK GERMANY SENT US A DUD! SINCE BUYING THE CAR I HAVE NEEDED VARIOUS ITEMS REPLACED: A NEW COMPUTER, (REPLACED BY THE DEALER), A NEW FUEL SYSTEM WAS NEEDED BECAUSE MY CAR STALLED IN THE LEFT LANE OF A HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (LATER RECALLED BY AUDI BUT AFTER I NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND HAVE THE CPMPONENT FIXED ALONG WITH OTHER ITEMS SUPPOSEDLY ATTACHED TO THE SYTEM), AND MOST RECENTLY 2 SEPARATE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN FIXED BUT HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN 1100 MILES OF EACH OTHER. FIRST DIAGNOSIS OF THE NOISE AND SHIMMY WHILE DRIVING WAS TIRE BALANCE AND LATER RACK AND PIN STEERING AND AFTER ALL THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE SHIMMY AT 65MPH + IS ALONG WITH THE WHINNING IN THE CAR THE FIRST 10 MILES FO EACH DAY (AFTER IT IS WARMED UP OR EVEN IF IT IS A WARM DAY). AND WHAT SUPPOSEDLY WAS FIRST THOUGHT TO BE A COIL IS NOW A MYSTERY. THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR OVER 2 DAYS AND ARE STILL UNSURE AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON. THANK GOD I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY!

NHTSA ODI #10185923

59,000 miles · Jan 24, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 20MPH AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INGITION COILS FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AUDI WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR T…

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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 20MPH AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INGITION COILS FAILED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AUDI WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BASED ON A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10180609

55,400 miles · Jan 19, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED AN 2003 AUDI A4 1.8 T PRE-OWNED AT 26K MILES IN OCT 2004. I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE AT 30, 40 AND 50K AT ROGER BEASLEY AUDI IN AUSTIN, TX. ON JAN 16, 2006 , AT 55450 MILES, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHICH TURNED O…

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I PURCHASED AN 2003 AUDI A4 1.8 T PRE-OWNED AT 26K MILES IN OCT 2004. I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE AT 30, 40 AND 50K AT ROGER BEASLEY AUDI IN AUSTIN, TX. ON JAN 16, 2006 , AT 55450 MILES, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND OIL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE SLUDGE PROBLEM AND ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $2500. I WAS MADE AWARE ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 8 YRS FOR SLUDGE ISSUE AUDI AND VW HAD ISSUE BACK IN 2004 BUT DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THERE'S NO RECORD OF OIL CHANGE AT 20K. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE PRE-OWNED, I'M UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY OIL CHANGE DOCUMENTATION FOR 20K SERVICE. TO SUM THIS ALL UP, THERE'S A RECORD OF OIL CHANGES DURING 10K (PREVIOUS OWNER GOT SERVICE DONE AT A DEALERSHIP), 30K, 40K AND 50K MAINTENANCE. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI CUSTOMER RELATION DEPT W/O ANY SUCCESS. IF I PAY THIS REPAIR OUT OF POCKET, I'M AFRAID THERE MIGHT BE OTHER ISSUE RELATING TO THIS AFTER ENGINE IS CLEAN OUT OF ALL SLUDGE. WITH MANY CONSUMERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME DILEMMA, I THINK AUDI SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148067

32,000 miles · Oct 31, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR INCIDENTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 20 MPH. THERE WAS THE DISTINCT ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BUT NO SMOKE. HE PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE V…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR INCIDENTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 20 MPH. THERE WAS THE DISTINCT ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BUT NO SMOKE. HE PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION COIL IN CYLINDER THREE. THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SAME SYMPTOMS LATER RETURNED AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER AND HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL IN CYLINDER ONE. HE OFFERED NO EXPLANATION OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10141302

26,000 miles · Apr 5, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS HEAVY OIL SLUDGE. THE OIL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAD ONLY 26,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR. AUDI RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGES EVERY 10,000 MILES WITH SYNTHETIC OIL. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED BEFORE THE 10000…

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THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS HEAVY OIL SLUDGE. THE OIL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAD ONLY 26,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR. AUDI RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGES EVERY 10,000 MILES WITH SYNTHETIC OIL. I HAD THE CAR SERVICED BEFORE THE 10000 AND 20000 MILE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, AT AUDI DEALERSHIPS. AUDI HAS NOT REIMBURSED THE COST OF REPAIRING THE ENGINE, DESPITE THEIR WARRANTY EXTENSION TO COVER THE COST OF OIL SLUDGE DAMAGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10116436

3,568 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT BURST SPRAYING FREON ALL OVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT. REPAIRS WERE ATTEMPTED FOUR TIMES AND AFTER THE FOURTH TIME, I NOW HAVE WATER FROM THE AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM DRAINING INTO THE CAR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, JUST BELOW THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10070918

Official recalls

3

07V375000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Aug 28, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 20007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. THIS RECALL IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V017).

06V017000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Jan 23, 2006

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 - MARCH 2003, EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

05V096000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Mar 15, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT XENON HEADLAMP REFLECTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.