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2005 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 2005 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

165 reports with mileage · 54 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DIPPED HEADLIGHT WARNING AND HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING. BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR SERVICE SAID MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED $200-350 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE ENTIRE BUMPER OFF. I AM DRIVING THIS CAR BECAUSE MY FORMER 2001 A6 CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO HEADLIGHT PANEL IN WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR. CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN LEAV…

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DIPPED HEADLIGHT WARNING AND HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING. BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR SERVICE SAID MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED $200-350 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE ENTIRE BUMPER OFF. I AM DRIVING THIS CAR BECAUSE MY FORMER 2001 A6 CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO HEADLIGHT PANEL IN WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR. CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN LEAVENING JUST THE FRAME. AUDI COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS, OFFER ME A $2000 INCENTIVE FOR A NEW OR USED AUDI/VOLKSWAGEN. AFTER READING ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS DUE TO LIGHT FLICKERING I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY A4. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323749

68,000 miles · Aug 28, 2009
Electrical SystemFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4 WHICH WAS PURCHASED JANUARY 30, 2006. HE STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WHEN SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SAW BLACK SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. SOMEONE PASSING BY ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A STANDARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE WAS NEAR THE BA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4 WHICH WAS PURCHASED JANUARY 30, 2006. HE STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES WHEN SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND SAW BLACK SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. SOMEONE PASSING BY ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A STANDARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE WAS NEAR THE BATTERY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 68,000. UPDATE 12/14/09 *CN UPDATED 12/16/09*JB

NHTSA ODI #10282082

60,000 miles · May 4, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE LIGHTS ON MY AUDI A4 3.2 QUATTRO WILL FLICKER AND SOMETIMES GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME. IF I STOP AND PULL OVER THE LIGHTS WILL GO BACK ON, BUT THE LIGHTS WILL FLICKER. SOME DAYS I HAVE THE PROBLEM FREQUENTLY- SOMETIMES I'LL GO FOR A STRETCH OF 5-7 DAYS WITH NO PROBLEMS AT NIGHT. AFTER RECENT RESEARCH I HAVE BEEN…

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THE LIGHTS ON MY AUDI A4 3.2 QUATTRO WILL FLICKER AND SOMETIMES GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME. IF I STOP AND PULL OVER THE LIGHTS WILL GO BACK ON, BUT THE LIGHTS WILL FLICKER. SOME DAYS I HAVE THE PROBLEM FREQUENTLY- SOMETIMES I'LL GO FOR A STRETCH OF 5-7 DAYS WITH NO PROBLEMS AT NIGHT. AFTER RECENT RESEARCH I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO THIS SITE TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AND MAKE SOMEONE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MULTIPLE AUDI OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ALSO. I WAS REFERRED FROM FIXYA.COM- AND I HOPE THAT A SOLUTION WILL BE FOUND FOR AUDI OWNERS. THE PROBLEMS THE LIGHTS CAN CAUSE ARE DISTRACTIONS FOR OTHER DRIVERS, AND IT MAY LEAD TO A TICKET OR ANOTHER TRAFFIC VIOLATION FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE LIGHTS FLICKER AND A DIPPED LIGHT WARNING WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH AND IT HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE FOR MY VEHICLE IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267625

25,500 miles · Jun 15, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE GARAGE. CAR WAS NOT RUNNING, KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION AND ENGINE WAS COLD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10193468

Official recalls

3

18V427000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 22, 2018

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.

17V032000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 11, 2017

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

16V382000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 1, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service 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.