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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

210 reports
29,000 miles · Mar 17, 2004
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WASHER FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND EACH TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10062427

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

85 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Visibility

THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS WHEN IT RAINS. ALL FOUR DOORS FILL WITH UP WATER. WHEN I OPEN ANY DOOR A QUART OR MORE POURS OUT OF EACH DOOR, DOOR SILLS ARE ALWAYS WET. IN THE WINTER, WATER FREEZES ON THE DOOR SILLS AND CAN'T OPEN DOOR OR HAVE TROUBLE (CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR IF I CAN'T GET IN IT!) TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO GET IT F…

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THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS WHEN IT RAINS. ALL FOUR DOORS FILL WITH UP WATER. WHEN I OPEN ANY DOOR A QUART OR MORE POURS OUT OF EACH DOOR, DOOR SILLS ARE ALWAYS WET. IN THE WINTER, WATER FREEZES ON THE DOOR SILLS AND CAN'T OPEN DOOR OR HAVE TROUBLE (CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR IF I CAN'T GET IN IT!) TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS TO AUDI SPEC.'S AND DID NOTHING! CALLED AUDI CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING AND ALSO I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A MANAGER TO RETURN MY PHONE CALL FOR A WEEK NOW. I HAVE LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES, STILL NO RETURN PHONE CALL (GREAT AUDI SEVERCE!). FROM THIS WATER DAMAGE THE MIRRORS ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THEIR HOLD POSITIONS AND I'AM ALSO AFAID FROM ALL THE MOISTER IN THE DOORS THAT THE ELECTRONICS WE START TO CORROSION PROCESS AND WHO PAYS FOR THAT IN THE LONG RUN? I WOULD THINK THE LEAST THEY COULD HAVE REPLACED THE WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND ALL THE DOORS. MY AUDI IS 6 MONTHS OLD WITH 1800 MILES, FOUR DOORS RUSTING AWAY, AND THE DEALERSHIP AND AUDI WANTS TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I EVEN SHOWED THEM THE RUST AT BOTTOM OF DOORS. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ICE BUILDS UP SO MUCH AND CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR, IS THIS A SAFTY ISSUE? I'M JUST TIRED OF GETTING MY SHOES AND FEET WET GETTING INTO A $40,000 CAR, THEN HAVE TO GO GET CHANGED, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS IS OK? I JUST NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE IN WHICH WATER IS ALLOWED TO GET INTO THE CAR'S DOOR BEFORE. I WOULD LIKE TO MEET THE ENGINEER WHO DESIGNED THIS FEATURE!

NHTSA ODI #10070247

5,800 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or OtherCrash

WHILE PARKING THE 2003 A4 AUDI THE CAR HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND RAN INTO A BUILDING.

NHTSA ODI #10069092

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

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

AUDI A4 QUATRO. I WAS ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR. SLOWING TO A STOP WAS HIT FROM THE REAR @ 55MPH BY A FORD TRUCK F550. TRUCK #4 SLAMMED INTO MY REAR CAR #3 WHICH SLAMMED INTO CAR #2 & FINALLY CAR #1. *AK MY TRUNK ENDED UP IN MY BACK SEAT, MY FRONT LOOKED LIKE AN ACORDIAN. THOUGH I AM ALIVE. MY DRIVER AIRBAG & DRIVER CURTAIN D…

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AUDI A4 QUATRO. I WAS ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR. SLOWING TO A STOP WAS HIT FROM THE REAR @ 55MPH BY A FORD TRUCK F550. TRUCK #4 SLAMMED INTO MY REAR CAR #3 WHICH SLAMMED INTO CAR #2 & FINALLY CAR #1. *AK MY TRUNK ENDED UP IN MY BACK SEAT, MY FRONT LOOKED LIKE AN ACORDIAN. THOUGH I AM ALIVE. MY DRIVER AIRBAG & DRIVER CURTAIN DID NOT DEPLOY!! MY SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME BACK. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT THAT I BROKE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH MY HEAD AND I CONTINUED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEVERE CONCUSION, CAN NOT WORK & OF COURSE HAVE A WONDERFUL CASE OF WHIPLASH! AUDI CONSUMER IS TRYING TO TELL US THAT THE "PASSANGER" AIR BAG WENT OFF BECAUSE THE SEATBELT WAS NOT CLOSED! HOW STUPID! I THOUGHT BEING HIT @ THAT SPEED WITH SUCH A FORCE TO CREATE A CHAIN REACTION INTO THREE CARS..THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED & THE DRIVER SEATBELT SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED ME FROM HITTING MY STERNUM ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WHICH, BY THE WAY WAS BENT BY MY BODY! ON THE FORCE OF MY CAR HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME...I BROKE MY SEAT & WAS IN A PRONE POSITION WHEN THE FIREDEPARTMENT CAME TO CUT ME OUT OF MY CAR. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE @ WHAT SPEED AN AIRBAG SHOULD DEPLOY! SHOULD THEY NOT DEPLOY WITH BACK HIT, AS WELL AS, A FRONT HIT? EVEN THOUGH I WAS SLOWING TO 5MPH, I HAD AMPLE ROOM BETWEEN MY CAR & THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WWAS HIT @55MPH AND THE FORD F550 DID NOT EVEN BRAKE OR ATTEMPT TO STOP. THUS MY SPEEN BECAME MORE THAN 5MPH.

NHTSA ODI #10033324

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2003
Parking BrakeCrash

THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO HOLD AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *JB *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015152

11,000 miles · Jun 10, 2003
Electrical SystemSteering

MY 2003 AUDI A4 FAILED TO START ON DECEMBER 24TH, 2002 AND MAY 2ND, 2003. BOTH TIMES I WAS LEFT STRANDED. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK, IGNITION CYLINDER, AND STEERING COLUMN. AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURED A SECOND TIME, THEY REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 5,000 AND 11,000 MILES AND S…

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MY 2003 AUDI A4 FAILED TO START ON DECEMBER 24TH, 2002 AND MAY 2ND, 2003. BOTH TIMES I WAS LEFT STRANDED. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK, IGNITION CYLINDER, AND STEERING COLUMN. AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURED A SECOND TIME, THEY REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 5,000 AND 11,000 MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 2 TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021376

4,800 miles · May 13, 2003
Steering

WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO LEFT OR RIGHT AND GRINDING/GROANING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN 4 TIMES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10018630

300 miles · Feb 4, 2003
Visibility

2003 AUDI A4 3.0 QUATTRO. THE CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH OUTSIDE MIRRORS. BOTH MIRRORS AREN'T ADJUST TO ITS POSITION THAT IS SET IN MEMORY. EVERYTIME THE CAR WAS USED BY MY SPOUSE, I HAVE TO MANUALLY READJUST BOTH MIRROS INSTEAD OF AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST BY WHAT WAS PROGRAMMED IN MEMORY. MORE OVER, THE DRIVER OUTSIDE MIRROR JUST CH…

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2003 AUDI A4 3.0 QUATTRO. THE CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH OUTSIDE MIRRORS. BOTH MIRRORS AREN'T ADJUST TO ITS POSITION THAT IS SET IN MEMORY. EVERYTIME THE CAR WAS USED BY MY SPOUSE, I HAVE TO MANUALLY READJUST BOTH MIRROS INSTEAD OF AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST BY WHAT WAS PROGRAMMED IN MEMORY. MORE OVER, THE DRIVER OUTSIDE MIRROR JUST CHANGE IT POSITION AFTER 1 OR 2 DAYS OF DRIVING. IT IS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE I FEEL EVERYTIME WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR WITH A WORRY THAT THE MIRROR ISN'T IN ITS POSITION THAT I SET.

NHTSA ODI #10005300

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.