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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

101 reports
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45,000 miles · Nov 28, 2010
Exterior Lighting

THE PASSENGER SIDE XENON HEADLIGHT UNIT FLICKERS OFF AND ON AND EVENTUALLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. TURNING HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON WHILE TEMPORARILY RELIEVE THE PROBLEM (SOMETIMES LESS A FEW SECONDS, OTHERS TIME 30 MIN OR HOUR). WHEN PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO , TIME BETWEEN THE PROBLEM WAS LONG (WEEKS). THE PROBLEM…

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THE PASSENGER SIDE XENON HEADLIGHT UNIT FLICKERS OFF AND ON AND EVENTUALLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. TURNING HEADLIGHTS OFF AND ON WHILE TEMPORARILY RELIEVE THE PROBLEM (SOMETIMES LESS A FEW SECONDS, OTHERS TIME 30 MIN OR HOUR). WHEN PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO , TIME BETWEEN THE PROBLEM WAS LONG (WEEKS). THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE AT NIGHT. WHEN PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED (CAR UNDER WARRANTY, ~45K MILES), NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE AN ISSUE BY THE DEALERSHIP AS THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED AT THE POINT OF INSPECTION. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. FROM THINGS I'VE READ, AUDI FAILED TO PROGRAM FAULT TESTS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS, MAKING THE PROBLEM HARD TO DIAGNOSE. ADDITIONALLY, MANY AUDI OWNERS SPENT LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TRYING TO REPLACE BULBS AND REPLACE BALLASTS (VERY EXPENSIVE) ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM PERSIST. I'VE ENCOUNTERED A COUPLE OWNERS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY HAD CHARRED CONNECTORS OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AFFILIATED WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM (FIRE HAZARD?). THE DEFECTIVE NATURE OF THE SYSTEM IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP FACILITATE AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE PROGRAM FROM AUDI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10368004

47,500 miles · Nov 24, 2010
Exterior Lighting

LEFT XENON HEADLAMP WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. IT STARTED BEING A PROBLEM ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR USED. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE INTERMITTENT OPERATION HAS RETURNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367816

85,000 miles · Nov 22, 2010
Exterior Lighting

AUDI A4 (2005) - AUDI IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE "DIPPED HEADLIGHTS" IN THEIR VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT OFFER A FIX TO OWNERS. IF ONE DOES AN INTERNET SEARCH YOU CAN FIND LITERALLY DOZENS OF SITES DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE AND PEOPLE TRYING TO GET A RESOLUTION. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES ONE OR BOTH OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS TO…

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AUDI A4 (2005) - AUDI IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE "DIPPED HEADLIGHTS" IN THEIR VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT OFFER A FIX TO OWNERS. IF ONE DOES AN INTERNET SEARCH YOU CAN FIND LITERALLY DOZENS OF SITES DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE AND PEOPLE TRYING TO GET A RESOLUTION. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES ONE OR BOTH OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER AND GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AND REPEATS EVEN WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. ASIDE FROM IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE, IT'S ALSO CAUSING OWNERS IN THE FORM OF DRIVING VIOLATIONS, ETC...AND YET AUDI USA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS WELL KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367193

59,500 miles · Nov 8, 2010
Exterior Lighting

BOUGHT 2005 AUDI 3.2 QUATTRO A4 WITH 57500 MILES HAVE DRIVEN APROX 3000 MILES AND HEADLIGHTS HAVE STARTED TO FLICKER AND THE LEFT HIGHBEAM IS STARTING TO FAIL. I GET ERROR MESSAGE THAT HEADLIGHT HAS DIPPED. IT THEN SHOWS HEADLIGHT FAILED SYMBOL. I TURN LIGHTS OFF AND ON AND HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON. I SEE FROM ONLINE RESEARCH THA…

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BOUGHT 2005 AUDI 3.2 QUATTRO A4 WITH 57500 MILES HAVE DRIVEN APROX 3000 MILES AND HEADLIGHTS HAVE STARTED TO FLICKER AND THE LEFT HIGHBEAM IS STARTING TO FAIL. I GET ERROR MESSAGE THAT HEADLIGHT HAS DIPPED. IT THEN SHOWS HEADLIGHT FAILED SYMBOL. I TURN LIGHTS OFF AND ON AND HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON. I SEE FROM ONLINE RESEARCH THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI OWNERS WITH NO FIX FROM AUDI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365040

85,000 miles · Oct 30, 2010
Exterior Lighting

DIPPED HEADLIGHT ON 2005 AUDI A4. HAD ISSUE WITH LEFT HEADLIGHT WHICH AUDI USA EVENTUALLY REPLACED, NOW RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS DOING THE SAME AND AUDI REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363006

62,000 miles · Oct 28, 2010
Exterior Lighting

AUDI A4 (2005) - AUDI IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE "DIPPED HEADLIGHTS" IN THEIR VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT OFFER A FIX TO OWNERS. IF ONE DOES AN INTERNET SEARCH YOU CAN FIND LITERALLY DOZENS OF SITES DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE AND PEOPLE TRYING TO GET A RESOLUTION. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES ONE OR BOTH OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS …

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AUDI A4 (2005) - AUDI IS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE "DIPPED HEADLIGHTS" IN THEIR VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT OFFER A FIX TO OWNERS. IF ONE DOES AN INTERNET SEARCH YOU CAN FIND LITERALLY DOZENS OF SITES DEDICATED TO THIS ISSUE AND PEOPLE TRYING TO GET A RESOLUTION. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES ONE OR BOTH OF THE HID HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER AND GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AND REPEATS EVEN WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. ASIDE FROM IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE, IT'S ALSO CAUSING OWNERS IN THE FORM OF DRIVING VIOLATIONS, ETC...AND YET AUDI USA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS WELL KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362744

26,000 miles · Oct 19, 2010
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2005 AUDI A4 2.0T QUATTRO AVANT AND A 2006 AUDI A4 2.0T QUATTRO SEDAN. ON BOTH CARS, THE XENON DIRECTIONAL LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING WITH MESSAGE "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT." LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN ONLY AFTER TURNING SWITCH TO OFF POSITION, WAITING TEN SECONDS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON. PROBLEM IS INTE…

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I HAVE A 2005 AUDI A4 2.0T QUATTRO AVANT AND A 2006 AUDI A4 2.0T QUATTRO SEDAN. ON BOTH CARS, THE XENON DIRECTIONAL LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING WITH MESSAGE "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT." LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN ONLY AFTER TURNING SWITCH TO OFF POSITION, WAITING TEN SECONDS AND TURNING THEM BACK ON. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT OCCURS EVERY DAY. AUDI DEALERS HAVE REPLACED XENON BULBS, IGNITERS AND PIGTAIL TO LAMPS, ADVISING THAT WIRES GET VERY HOT. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND CONSTITUTES GREAT DANGER ON DARK ROADS. THIS HAS BEEN RECURRENT ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS WITHOUT A SOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361163

80,000 miles · Oct 15, 2010
Exterior Lighting

DIPPED LOWER RIGHT HEADLAMP. I HAVE HAD THE BULB REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID THAT WOULD BE THE REASON FOR IT TO FLICKER AND GO ON AND OFF. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION. LOOKING AT ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS A RECALL NEEDS TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360677

87,000 miles · Oct 8, 2010
Exterior Lighting

JUST PURCHASED A 2005.5 AUDI A4. HEADLIGHT SOMETIMES WILL FLICKER AND GOES OUT. DASHBOARD SAID DIPPED RIGHT HEADLIGHT OR DIPPED LEFT HEADLIGHT. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS AUDI AND MY AUDI DEALER IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. OVER 75% HAVE THESE CARS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR …

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JUST PURCHASED A 2005.5 AUDI A4. HEADLIGHT SOMETIMES WILL FLICKER AND GOES OUT. DASHBOARD SAID DIPPED RIGHT HEADLIGHT OR DIPPED LEFT HEADLIGHT. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS AUDI AND MY AUDI DEALER IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. OVER 75% HAVE THESE CARS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEMS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY SON AS HIS FIRST CAR AND HAS BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME. HE WAS RESTRICTED ONLY CAN DRIVE IN THE DAY TIME AND ALSO CAUSING US A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE. BY REPORTING THIS I HOPE SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND HAVE AUDI STEP UP TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359853

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2010
Exterior Lighting

HELLO, I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A4 WHICH HAS THE XENON LIGHTS, THEY SHUT OFF ABOUT EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT AND CAUSES A HUGE DRIVING DISTRACTION AND THE PARTS THEY SAY WILL FIX IT ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TEND TO NOT FIX IT AT ALL, I HAD WHAT THEY SAID FIXED THE PROBLEM ONLY LAST FOR A MONTH AND THEY STARTED TO DO THE SAME TH…

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HELLO, I HAVE A 2006 AUDI A4 WHICH HAS THE XENON LIGHTS, THEY SHUT OFF ABOUT EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT AND CAUSES A HUGE DRIVING DISTRACTION AND THE PARTS THEY SAY WILL FIX IT ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TEND TO NOT FIX IT AT ALL, I HAD WHAT THEY SAID FIXED THE PROBLEM ONLY LAST FOR A MONTH AND THEY STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359306

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.