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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

219 reports
70,000 miles · Oct 23, 2012
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE LIGHTS AND NOTICED THAT THEY WERE FOGGY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE LIGHTS AND NOTICED THAT THEY WERE FOGGY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10481513

98,000 miles · Oct 22, 2012
Exterior Lighting

5 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK AS I DO EVERYDAY, THE ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED", LOSING ONE SIDE OF THE LIGHTING TO THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS EACH DAY AFTERWARD WHENEVER DRIVING IN THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENING WHEN LIGHTS WOULD BE REQUIRED. A FEW MONTHS AFTER, THE RIGHT SIDE …

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5 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK AS I DO EVERYDAY, THE ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ "LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED", LOSING ONE SIDE OF THE LIGHTING TO THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS EACH DAY AFTERWARD WHENEVER DRIVING IN THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENING WHEN LIGHTS WOULD BE REQUIRED. A FEW MONTHS AFTER, THE RIGHT SIDE HAD DIPPED AS WELL. I LOOKED UP SOME POSSIBLE SCENARIOS OF WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS ISSUE AND FOUND A FEW THINGS BUT HAVE NOT PINPOINTED THE ISSUE; WILL HAVE TO TRY THE DEALERSHIP SOON. 1) CHANGE OUT THE BULBS (BI-XENON) 2) CHANGE OUT THE BALLASTS 3) SOME OTHER ISSUE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE AND MANY OTHERS AS ONE DAY BOTH LIGHTS WILL GO DARK WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WILL SURELY INDUCE SOME TYPE OF ACCIDENT. I HOPE THAT THE DOT WILL STRONGLY CONSIDER FORCING AUDI TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS THIS IS A PREVENTABLE SITUATION. THANK YOU, *TR

NHTSA ODI #10481344

38,513 miles · Sep 3, 2012
Power Train

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 376 THROUGH SQUIRRELL TUNNEL THE CAR STARTED TO HOP. SPUTTER AND JUST STOPPED. THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING. AFTER 5 MINUTES THE CAR RESTARTED AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED.THIS CAUSED A HORRIFIC TRAFFIC JAM AND ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473629

112,000 miles · Aug 11, 2012
Exterior Lighting

RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED WARNING. RIGHT HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER AND THEN SHUT OFF. I SUSPECT A FAULTY IGNITER BALLAST. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2005.5-2008 XENON HEADLIGHTS. CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470272

69,224 miles · May 31, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME STUCK. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME STUCK. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR MAT RETENTION SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE FLOOR MAT TO BECOME LODGED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,224.

NHTSA ODI #10460129

110,000 miles · May 24, 2012
Power Train

THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM IT SEEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). APPARENTLY MOST AUDI VEHICLES WILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT AND THE REPAIRS ARE COSTING THE CONSUMERS BIG MONEY. A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER COSTS AROUND 1100-1200.00 DOLLARS AND THEY ARE USED TO SEEING THIS PROBLEM AND DON'T THINK ITS A BIG DEAL... WHY SHO…

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THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM IT SEEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM). APPARENTLY MOST AUDI VEHICLES WILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT AND THE REPAIRS ARE COSTING THE CONSUMERS BIG MONEY. A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER COSTS AROUND 1100-1200.00 DOLLARS AND THEY ARE USED TO SEEING THIS PROBLEM AND DON'T THINK ITS A BIG DEAL... WHY SHOULD WE PAY IF ITS A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE AWARE ABOUT AND ULTIMATELY COMES DOWN TO A BAD SERVICE BY THEM KNOWING AND NOT HELPING PAY FOR A REGULAR PROBLEM CAUSED BY THEM??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459588

20,000 miles · Apr 13, 2012
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT FLICKERS AND GOES OUT "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10455216

73,000 miles · Apr 5, 2012
Electrical System

HEADLIGHT DIPPED WARNING CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE BULB GOING OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT COMING BACK ON. FROM BLOGS THERE SEEMS TO BE NO FIX AND PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM HERE AND ITS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454285

58,000 miles · Mar 28, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE HIS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE HIS VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10453344

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2012
Exterior Lighting

PROBLEM: LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS FREQUENTLY, AND OFTEN SHUTS OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT HAS BEEN EVALUATED BY SEVERAL AUDI DEALERS, AND AT LEAST 2 ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT HAVE FAILED. THE LIGHT BULB IS NOT BROKEN, SINCE IT TURNS BACK ON AFTER SWITCHING LIGHTS OFF. THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT DURING COLD WEATHER. WHEN I…

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PROBLEM: LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS FREQUENTLY, AND OFTEN SHUTS OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT HAS BEEN EVALUATED BY SEVERAL AUDI DEALERS, AND AT LEAST 2 ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT HAVE FAILED. THE LIGHT BULB IS NOT BROKEN, SINCE IT TURNS BACK ON AFTER SWITCHING LIGHTS OFF. THE PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT DURING COLD WEATHER. WHEN IT HAPPENS, A WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING A "DIPPED HEADLIGHT." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450034

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.