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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

Power Train complaints

43 reports
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44,000 miles · Nov 18, 2005
Electrical SystemPower Train

ON NOVEMBER 14TH MY A4 1.8 STALLED, WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, A COIL WAS REPLACED...WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME IT WOULD THUMP AND JERK UP AROUND 60 MPH. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT COULD AGAIN BE ANOTHER COIL BUT WERE NOT PERMITTED TO REPLACE ALL THE COILS THE DAY BEFORE BECAUSE MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T PAY FOR AN…

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ON NOVEMBER 14TH MY A4 1.8 STALLED, WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, A COIL WAS REPLACED...WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME IT WOULD THUMP AND JERK UP AROUND 60 MPH. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT COULD AGAIN BE ANOTHER COIL BUT WERE NOT PERMITTED TO REPLACE ALL THE COILS THE DAY BEFORE BECAUSE MANUFACTURER WOULDN'T PAY FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN THE FAULTY COIL...EVEN THOUGH THEY FIGURED MORE MIGHT FAIL...WELL, IT TURNS OUT IT WAS THE "THROTTLE" - THEY RESET IT AND I PICKED UP THE CAR AND STARTED DRIVING HOME WHEN IT THUMPED AND JERKED AGAIN...TURNED AROUND AND RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER...THIS ALL HAPPENED ON THE 15TH...IT IS NOW THE 18TH AND AFTER WORKING WITH THEIR ENGINEERS, THEY FEAR THEY MAY NOW NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION...I AM JUST GLAD THAT I HAVE A LOANER CAR AND THAT I HAVE 5K MORE MILES ON MY WARRANTY...I THINK I AM GOING TO BY THE EXTENDED SINCE THIS IS 3 HUGE PROBLEMS IN 5 WEEKS TIME! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10143143

52,000 miles · Jun 1, 2005
Power Train

THE VEHICLE IS AN AUDI A4 3.0 (NON-QUATTRO). I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS THE FOLLOWING...... WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND THE CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. IF I WAS PARALLEL PARKED, I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND IN BACK OF ME OR POSSIBLY A PERSON. I KNOW FOR SURE THERE…

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THE VEHICLE IS AN AUDI A4 3.0 (NON-QUATTRO). I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS THE FOLLOWING...... WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND THE CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. IF I WAS PARALLEL PARKED, I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND IN BACK OF ME OR POSSIBLY A PERSON. I KNOW FOR SURE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS I HAVE SEEN IT ON AUDI MESSAGE BOARDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO SINCE THE SITUATION IS HARD TO REPEAT AT WILL.

NHTSA ODI #10123814

7,500 miles · Nov 24, 2003
Power Train

MY 2003 AUDI A4 3.0 WITH CVT TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED NEW 2/2004, HAS 8000 MILES ON IT. DURING THE PAST 2 WEEKS (THE PAST 500 MILES) I HAVE NOTED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM 4 DIFFERENT TIMES: UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS NOT TO "ENGAGE" AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. UNFORTUNATELY, D…

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MY 2003 AUDI A4 3.0 WITH CVT TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED NEW 2/2004, HAS 8000 MILES ON IT. DURING THE PAST 2 WEEKS (THE PAST 500 MILES) I HAVE NOTED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM 4 DIFFERENT TIMES: UPON PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS NOT TO "ENGAGE" AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. UNFORTUNATELY, DURING 3 OF THOSE OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE WAS ON A DOWNWARD INCLINE AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A STREET WITH TRAFFIC. I THEREFORE COASTED INTO TRAFFIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE; I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE TRAFFIC COMING FROM MY LEFT. AFTER WAITING A FEW LONG SECONDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EVENTUALLY SEEM TO "ENGAGE", AND I WOULD BE ON MY WAY. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047482

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.