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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

22 reports
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145,000 miles · Feb 2, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

ON JANUARY 28, 2019 I WAS DRIVING TO MY MEDICAL APPOINTMENT AT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY CAR FROZE UP THEN BUCKED AND NOW NO LONGER THE TRANSMISSION WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE. UPON RESEARCH AUDI HAS KNOWN OF THIS TRANSMISSION HAVING SERIOUS FAULTS AND THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. AUDI HAS REFUSED TO DO ANY RECALL ON THES…

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ON JANUARY 28, 2019 I WAS DRIVING TO MY MEDICAL APPOINTMENT AT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY CAR FROZE UP THEN BUCKED AND NOW NO LONGER THE TRANSMISSION WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE. UPON RESEARCH AUDI HAS KNOWN OF THIS TRANSMISSION HAVING SERIOUS FAULTS AND THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. AUDI HAS REFUSED TO DO ANY RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS, EVEN AFTER A CLASS ACTION THAT WAS SETTLED, AUDI WILL NOT DO ANY RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11173668

100,000 miles · Aug 19, 2015
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD TO BE LIFTED WITH HER FOOT FOR IT TO GO BACK TO NORMAL POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND ATTEMPTING TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD TO BE LIFTED WITH HER FOOT FOR IT TO GO BACK TO NORMAL POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10749707

140,000 miles · Aug 5, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

03 AUDI A4 6 SPEED AUTO CVT TRANSMISSION, THIS VEHICLE HAS KNOWN ISSUES WITH SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR TOO SOON. WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FROM A COMPLETE STOP ON AN ON RAMP ON RT 80 I HIT THE GAS AND IT WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND BACK TO FIRST THEN LURCH FORWARD WHILE ROLLING. WHILE THIS IS GOING ON I AM TRYING T…

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03 AUDI A4 6 SPEED AUTO CVT TRANSMISSION, THIS VEHICLE HAS KNOWN ISSUES WITH SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR TOO SOON. WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FROM A COMPLETE STOP ON AN ON RAMP ON RT 80 I HIT THE GAS AND IT WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND AND BACK TO FIRST THEN LURCH FORWARD WHILE ROLLING. WHILE THIS IS GOING ON I AM TRYING TO MERGE ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH PUT MY CAR INTO THE RIGHT LANE DOING ABOUT 2 MPH WITH TRAFFIC (WHICH WOULD BE A SAFE DISTANCE IF THIS ISSUE DIDN'T HAPPEN) HAVING TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP NOT TO HIT MY CAR. THIS IS AN KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THEM SINCE NEW. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE NUMEROUS TIME AS MANY OTHERS WITH THIS VEHICLE DOES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FORUMS WITH CONSUMERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

NHTSA ODI #10746436

112,600 miles · Dec 24, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING TOSTORE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO POSITION. I APPLIED BRAKE VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO PARKING LOT AND STOP ALTHOUGH ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV LIKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR . I PUTCAR IN PARK AND IT REDLINE THE TACH WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL ALM…

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WHILE DRIVING TOSTORE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND WOULD NOT RETURN BACK TO POSITION. I APPLIED BRAKE VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO PARKING LOT AND STOP ALTHOUGH ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV LIKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR . I PUTCAR IN PARK AND IT REDLINE THE TACH WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL ALMOST CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW.VERY DANGEROUS .GLAD I WAS DRIVING INSTEAD OF MY WIFE.L BOUGHT THE CAR 2 MOS. AGO FROM CHECKERED FLAG VOLKSWAGEN USED CAR LOT AND THEY DON'T THINK THIS FALLS UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN SOMETHING THIS DANGEROUS , AND SEEING OTHER COMPLAINTS I'M GUESSING AUDI DOESN'T EITHER . AT LEAST UNTIL THE COST ANALYSIS OF DEATHS VS. REPAIR GETS A LITTLE CLOSER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668127

60,000 miles · May 22, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE AS THE ENGINE ROARED LOUDLY. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LATER RETURNED TO RESTART THE ENGINE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE ENGINE RPMS CONTINUED TO RACE AS THE ENGINE ROARED LOUDLY. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LATER RETURNED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAD BECOME LODGED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE FAILURE. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10513149

112,000 miles · Apr 2, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

I JUST EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS ISSUE OF THE GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. I TAPPED ON THE PEDAL A COUPLE OF TIMES THINKING IT MIGHT GET IT TO UNSTICK BUT HAD TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE TO BRING IT TO A STOP. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COULD HEAR THE ENGINE ROAR UP AND THE TACHOMETER GO PAST 5000 RPMS. I RE…

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I JUST EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS ISSUE OF THE GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. I TAPPED ON THE PEDAL A COUPLE OF TIMES THINKING IT MIGHT GET IT TO UNSTICK BUT HAD TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE TO BRING IT TO A STOP. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COULD HEAR THE ENGINE ROAR UP AND THE TACHOMETER GO PAST 5000 RPMS. I REACHED DOWN TO THE PEDAL WITH MY HAND AND FORCED IT BACK UP TO THE RESTING POSITION. THIS HAPPENED TWICE DURING THE SHORT TRIP AND MY COLLEAGUE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHO WITNESSED WHAT HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL OBJECTS IN THE WAY OF THE PEDAL LIKE THE FLOOR MAT ETC. I'M TALKING WITH AUDI USA TO SEE WHAT STEPS I SHOULD TAKE TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10453844

90,000 miles · May 17, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR PROBABLY HAS FAULTY TCU, BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMETIMES JERK IF GOING FROM COMPLETE STOP AND PRESSING GAS PEDAL (EVEN LIGHTLY). THE CAR AT FIRST WOULDN'T GO, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTEDLY WOULD ACCELERATE. I BELIEVE THIS IS COMMON IN AUDI, AND THEY SHOULD FIX THAT.

NHTSA ODI #10401975

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE APPROACHING LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, THEN RED, AND THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED, I APPLIED THE BREAK ON MY VEHICLE, I HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER VEHICLES, HOWEVER AS I AM APPLYING THE BREAK, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNCON…

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE APPROACHING LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, THEN RED, AND THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED, I APPLIED THE BREAK ON MY VEHICLE, I HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE OTHER VEHICLES, HOWEVER AS I AM APPLYING THE BREAK, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY, RPM WAS OVER 5000, THE BRAKES DID NOTHING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EVEN MORE, I HAD NO CHOICE AND NOWHERE TO TURN OFF TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, MY VEHICLE PLOWED INTO THE VEHICLE LOCATED IN FRONT OF ME ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS LUCKY THAT AT LEAST THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, IF MY CAR WAS THE FIRST ONE IN THE LINE, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IT AND COULD HAVE HIT THE PEDESTRIANS CROSSING THE ROAD. THIS IS THE WORST DEFECT IN A VEHICLE, AND A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379289

99,600 miles · Nov 26, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING FROM GA TO NC THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I COULD FEEL THE ACCELERATOR MOVE AWAY FROM MY FOOT AND I HAD PRESSED THE CLUTCH AND BREAK TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I NOTICED THE TACHOMETER WAS ABOVE 5000 RPM AND I TURN OFF THE CAR AND COASTED INTO A GAS STATION. I CHECKED THE FLOORMATS AND THE ACCE…

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WHILE DRIVING FROM GA TO NC THE CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I COULD FEEL THE ACCELERATOR MOVE AWAY FROM MY FOOT AND I HAD PRESSED THE CLUTCH AND BREAK TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I NOTICED THE TACHOMETER WAS ABOVE 5000 RPM AND I TURN OFF THE CAR AND COASTED INTO A GAS STATION. I CHECKED THE FLOORMATS AND THE ACCELERATOR AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND CAUTIOUSLY CONTINUED MY TRIP. EVERYTHING SEEMED OKAY UNTIL I WAS CLOSE TO MY DESTINATION. THEN I EXPERIENCED THE SAME UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. AGAIN, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CAR WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUDI DEALER IN NC AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO FAULTS AND THEREFORE NO PROBLEM. THEY SUSPECTED THE FLOORMATS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367907

146,000 miles · Sep 11, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 60MPH, REMOVED FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL, BUT GAS PEDAL DID NOT COME UP AND CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. PRESSED ON BRAKES, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP CAR WITH JUST BRAKES. HAD TO USE HANDBRAKE AS WELL TO STOP CAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAITING ON DIAGNOSIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355007

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.