IllustrationHEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF FOR NO REASON. FOGLIGHTS WILL ALSO CYCLE ON AND OFF. NO SOLUTION. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *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
140–25K
4025–50K
6150–75K
2175–100K
25100–150K
4150K+
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 reportsDIPPED HEADLIGHT / FLICKER / PROBLEM VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. HID HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER THEN GOES OFF COMPLETELY. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. *TR
AUDI A4 2005 HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. *TR
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
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
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
2005 AUDI CABRIOLET; BACK WINDOW CAME UNGLUED; DEALER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY. SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE FLORIDA HEAT; TALKING WITH AN UPHOLSTERY, HE REPORTED 5 AUDI CABRIOLET'S COMING IN THE LAST WEEK WITH SEPARATED BACK WINDOW JUST HERE IN NAPLES, FL. ALSO THE ECU TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS OUT, WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE…
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2005 AUDI CABRIOLET; BACK WINDOW CAME UNGLUED; DEALER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY. SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE FLORIDA HEAT; TALKING WITH AN UPHOLSTERY, HE REPORTED 5 AUDI CABRIOLET'S COMING IN THE LAST WEEK WITH SEPARATED BACK WINDOW JUST HERE IN NAPLES, FL. ALSO THE ECU TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE IS OUT, WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE, INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHING; DEALER OF COURSE SAID IT IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM, WHICH I CAN SEE FROM MY RESEARCH IT IS! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4 2.0T. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BROKE AND THE EN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4 2.0T. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAM SHAFT BROKE AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED TO COVER A PERCENTAGE OF THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
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
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
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.