THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND FLICKERS ON MY AUDI A4 QUATTRO T 2005 AND IT HAS HAPPENED DAILY AND IVE BEEN READING ABOUT IT IN BLOGS AND NOTHIN. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
219 reportsWIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT, WHEN ERROR MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARED, AND SHE NOTICED LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT NOT WORKING. REPLACED WITH NEW BULB AND STILL NOT WORKING. A FEW MONTHS LATER, NOW BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR
FRONT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON EITHER SIDE AND I GET A HEADLIGHT DIPPED ERROR ON MY DASH. AS A RESULT EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT LIGHT GOES OUT COMPLETELY. PROBLEM OCCURS DAILY AND THE ONLY WAY OF TURNING LIGHTS ON BACK AGAIN IS TO COMPLETE TURN LIGHTS OF OFF THEN ON AGAIN. A SAFETY ISSUES WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING.
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 02/11/2012 AND THAT VERY EVENING WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE LIGHTS, MY RIGHT LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS REALLY UNNERVED ME AS I WAS IN AN AREA WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. AND DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I INSTINCTIVELY TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAI…
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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 02/11/2012 AND THAT VERY EVENING WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE LIGHTS, MY RIGHT LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS REALLY UNNERVED ME AS I WAS IN AN AREA WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. AND DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I INSTINCTIVELY TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, AND THIS MADE THEM COME BACK ON. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT NIGHT. I FEEL THIS IS A BLATANT SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AS I HAD FAMILY MEMBERS IN MY CAR AND THEIR WELL BEING WAS COMPROMISED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM VIA THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS TO BE RAMPANT ON AUDI'S AND THE DEALERSHIPS DON'T EITHER KNOW WHAT TO DO OR DON'T WANT TO DO IT AS FOR THE EXPENSE OF THE PARTS.I SPOKE WITH NO LESS THAN 8 AUDI DEALERSHIPS AROUND THE PA NORTHEAST AND NO ONE COULD POSITIVELY SAY WHAT WOULD BE THE PROBLEM. I AM HAVING THE BULB REPLACED AT MY COST BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND HAVE NO WARRANTY. NOW I KNOW WHY I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE IT AT A GOOD COST. LAST OWNER WAS PROBABLY CRAZY OVER THIS. BY ALL ACCOUNTS, EVEN REPLACING THE BULB MIGHT NOT WORK. THERE ARE NO LESS THAN 4 TSB'S OUT ON THIS PROBLEM. WHY AUDI GETS AWAY WITH THIS IS A TRAVESTY AND THIS SHOULD BE REMEDIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY AUDI A4 FLICKER AND THEN I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING THAT THE "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" AND THEN IT TURNS OFF. I THEN HAVE TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON TO GET THE LIGHT TO RETURN. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING MANY COMPONENTS OF THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND NOTHING HAS REMEDIED THE ISSUE. THE DEALER D…
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THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY AUDI A4 FLICKER AND THEN I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING THAT THE "HEADLIGHT DIPPED" AND THEN IT TURNS OFF. I THEN HAVE TO TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON TO GET THE LIGHT TO RETURN. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING MANY COMPONENTS OF THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AND NOTHING HAS REMEDIED THE ISSUE. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM EITHER. *TR
MY AUDI A4 CURRENTLY HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. WHEN I TURN IT ON, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WILL START FLICKERING AND THEN DIP, GETTING A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT SPECIFIES THE HEADLIGHT HAS DIPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND TENDS TO HAPPEN EARL…
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MY AUDI A4 CURRENTLY HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT. WHEN I TURN IT ON, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WILL START FLICKERING AND THEN DIP, GETTING A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT SPECIFIES THE HEADLIGHT HAS DIPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND TENDS TO HAPPEN EARLY AFTER DRIVING, USUALLY WHEN ROADS ARE UNEVEN OR GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED REPLACING THE BULBS AT THE COST OF OVER $700. THEY DID NOT GAURANTEE IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS I DROVE OFF THE LOT. APPARENTLY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY AND HAZARD ISSUE AS IT OCCURS WHILE I AM DRIVING. IF YOU TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN IT BACK ON, THEY WILL SOMETIMES STAY ON BUT MORE OFTEN WILL FLICKER AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE VS. WEAR AND TEAR AND WOULD LIKE AUDI TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TT
RANDOMLY, AND AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS, THE LEFT OR RIGHT LIGHT WILL FLICKER AND GO OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL SAY "DIPPED LIGHT". THE LIGHTS MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN ON TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS ON DARK CURVY HIGHWAYS. SO FAR BOTH HAVE NOT GONE OUT TOGETHER. DEALERS HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT …
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RANDOMLY, AND AT ALL DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITIONS, THE LEFT OR RIGHT LIGHT WILL FLICKER AND GO OUT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL SAY "DIPPED LIGHT". THE LIGHTS MUST BE TURNED OFF THEN ON TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS ON DARK CURVY HIGHWAYS. SO FAR BOTH HAVE NOT GONE OUT TOGETHER. DEALERS HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX IT AS THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES OR CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, AND SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE EVENING. *TR
THE LEFT HEADLAMP WILL FLICKER AND THEN DIP TOWARDS THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING, A DASHBOARD WARNING SAYS "LEFT HEADLAMP DIPPED". THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE AUDI DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, AND TELL ME THE FAULT DOES NOT GENERATE A COMPUTER CODE FOR THEM TO CHECK. IT HAS STARTED HAPPENING ON A MORE…
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THE LEFT HEADLAMP WILL FLICKER AND THEN DIP TOWARDS THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING, A DASHBOARD WARNING SAYS "LEFT HEADLAMP DIPPED". THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE AUDI DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, AND TELL ME THE FAULT DOES NOT GENERATE A COMPUTER CODE FOR THEM TO CHECK. IT HAS STARTED HAPPENING ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS, AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND ON DIFFERENT ROAD CONDITIONS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING EITHER DURING THE DAY OR DURING THE NIGHT EITHER ONE OF THE LIGHTS WILL START FLICKERING AND THEN EVENTUALLY GO OUT COMPLETELY. WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE THE FREEWAY ONE NIGHT THE RIGHT SIDE STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY...I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN TURNED THEM ON AND THE LIGHT WORKED PERFECTLY…
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WHILE DRIVING EITHER DURING THE DAY OR DURING THE NIGHT EITHER ONE OF THE LIGHTS WILL START FLICKERING AND THEN EVENTUALLY GO OUT COMPLETELY. WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE THE FREEWAY ONE NIGHT THE RIGHT SIDE STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY...I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN TURNED THEM ON AND THE LIGHT WORKED PERFECTLY FINE FOR 5 MINS OR SO AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN! *TR THE NEXT DAY AS I WAS GOING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING (WHILE IT WAS STILL A LITTLE DARK) THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN...BUT THIS TIME WITH THE LEFT SIDE. IT STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEN IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND TURNED THEM BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WORKED AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED AN AUDI DEALER AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN TO GET THIS ISSUE FIXED...THEY QUOTED ME AT $180 FOR THE BULB AND A GRAND TOTAL OF $450 FOR THE BULB PLUS INSTALLATION. I JUST RECENTLY BOUGHT THE CAR AND IVE BEEN READING ONLINE ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS.... I THINK ITS ONLY FAIR TO HAVE A RECALL DUE TO A POOR DESIGN BECAUSE I DONT THINK ITS VERY SAFE FOR ME OR ANYONE TO DRIVE WITH ONE HEADLIGHT AND THEN HAVING THE CHANCE OF THE OTHER HEADLIGHT GOING OUT AT THE SAME TIME!
WHEN THE CAR GETS COLD, THE LATCH ON THE TRUNK WON'T CATCH. SO, YOU CAN HAVE THE TRUNK LATCH CLOSED WHEN YOU LEAVE THE GARAGE. BUT WHEN YOU PARK IN A COLD OUTDOOR LOT, THE LATCH WILL COME UNDONE, AND YOU CAN'T LATCH THE TRUNK ON THE WAY HOME. SO WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND HIT A BUMP, THE TRUNK LID RATTLES AROUND. BUT THIS ONLY HAP…
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WHEN THE CAR GETS COLD, THE LATCH ON THE TRUNK WON'T CATCH. SO, YOU CAN HAVE THE TRUNK LATCH CLOSED WHEN YOU LEAVE THE GARAGE. BUT WHEN YOU PARK IN A COLD OUTDOOR LOT, THE LATCH WILL COME UNDONE, AND YOU CAN'T LATCH THE TRUNK ON THE WAY HOME. SO WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND HIT A BUMP, THE TRUNK LID RATTLES AROUND. BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD. THE SERVICE GUYS AT MY AUDI DEALER SAID, "YEAH, THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS." IF THEY KNOW ABOUT IT, WHY DON'T THEY FIX IT? THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE FAULTY TRUNK LATCHES. IT SEEMS A SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE THE TRUNK FLY OPEN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR
Official recalls
318V427000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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