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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
120,000 miles · May 10, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND SWITCHING LANES, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE THEN SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IMPACTING THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE. THE AIR …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND SWITCHING LANES, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE THEN SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IMPACTING THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REAR PASSENGERS SEAT BELT RESTRAINED A CHILD PASSENGER TIGHTLY WHO THEN RECEIVED ASH MARKS AND LIGHT ABRASIONS FROM THE IMPACT. THE DRIVERS HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CAUSE EXTENSIVE HEAD ACHES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CHILD PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER WERE TAKEN FOR MEDICAL TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10864155

40 miles · May 6, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE A 2003 AUDI A4 I WAS SIDESWIPED RECENTLY CAUSING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DRIVER SIDE DAMAGE WHICH ONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED I'M SUFFERING FROM THE INJURY

NHTSA ODI #10863528

129,000 miles · Sep 13, 2015
Engine

GASKET LEAKAGE, IN TWO SEPARATE AREAS IN UPPER GASKET, PER MECHANIC. CAR IS NOW IN REPAIRS. BASED UPON READING THE ONLINE RECALLS ON THE OFFICIAL NHTSA PAGE, THIS IS PART OF THE RECALL FOR AUDI A4 2000-2006. UNITED STATES

NHTSA ODI #10763413

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

200,003 miles · Aug 7, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,003.

NHTSA ODI #10747057

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

140,000 miles · Aug 5, 2015
Power Train

2003 AUDI A4 WITH 6 SPEED CVT TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND VERY FAST EVEN IF YOU EASE DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AND JERKS. I HAVE CAME CLOSE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME . I HAVE R…

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2003 AUDI A4 WITH 6 SPEED CVT TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND VERY FAST EVEN IF YOU EASE DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AND JERKS. I HAVE CAME CLOSE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME . I HAVE READ SEVERAL SITES INCLUDING THE AUDI AND VOLKS WAGON FORUMS AND THERE ARE ALSO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AUDI SHOULD CORRECT.

NHTSA ODI #10746428

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

73,000 miles · Sep 11, 2014
Power Train

STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. LIGHT TURNED GREEN. ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE- BUT CAR JUST JERKED AND ROCKED BACK AND FORTH AND THEN ROLLED BACKWARD- ALMOST ROLLING INTO CAR BEHIND ME. HAD TO CALL 911 TO REDIRECT TRAFFIC AND GET A TOW TRUCK. 2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 7/12/14: PICKED CAR UP FROM SERVICE SHOP. DRIVING HO…

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

NHTSA ODI #10632848

95,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10618038

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.