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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
65,000 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Exterior Lighting

AUDI A4 2.0T AVANT - 2005. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE XENON LIGHTS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. TODAY I HAD CARS PULLING OVER IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE. THIS OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM CAN BE SEEN AT: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3977997 -AND- HTTP://FORUMS.AUDI…

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AUDI A4 2.0T AVANT - 2005. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE XENON LIGHTS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. TODAY I HAD CARS PULLING OVER IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE. THIS OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM CAN BE SEEN AT: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3977997 -AND- HTTP://FORUMS.AUDIWORLD.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=23809262 THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320061

40,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Exterior Lighting

LEFT HEAD LIGHT FLICKERS, DIPPED HEAD LIGHT WARNING COMES ON DASH, LIGHT SHUTS OFF. VERY DANGEROUS WHILE TRAVELING DARK WINDY ROADS. TURNING LIGHTS OFF THEN ON GETS THE LIGHT TO WORK AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320005

54,000 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Exterior Lighting

MY AUDI A4 2005.5 LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10317904

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2010
Latches/locks/linkages

I OWN AN AUDI A4 2.0. THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM OF LOCKING UNEXPECTEDLY AND LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED. THE FIRST 2 TIMES I WAS CHECKING MY MAIL AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY BUT FOUND LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR. FORTUNATELY BEING NEAR THE HOME, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE DUPLICATE KEY AND GET IN. THE MOST RECENT…

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I OWN AN AUDI A4 2.0. THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM OF LOCKING UNEXPECTEDLY AND LEAVING THE DRIVER STRANDED. THE FIRST 2 TIMES I WAS CHECKING MY MAIL AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY BUT FOUND LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR. FORTUNATELY BEING NEAR THE HOME, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE DUPLICATE KEY AND GET IN. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING TO WARM THE CAR WHILE SHE WAS CLEANING THE SNOW. FORTUNATELY A POLICEMAN STOPPED AND HELPED HER UNLOCK THE CAR BUT THE SITUATION WAS BAD AND COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. EACH TIME I TOOK THE CAR, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS A VISIT TO THE DEALER TODAY. THEY SAID THAT AUDI IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM AND HAS PUT OUT A BULLETIN JUST NOW, ON 02/05/10. CHANGING THE ENTIRE LOCKS FOR THE CAR AT $1,500 WAS THE RECOMMENDED SOLUTION. NOW THE CARE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WHEN IT WAS WITHIN THE 50K WARRANTY PERIOD. I CHECKED ON GOOGLE. WHEN YOU SEARCH FOR "LOCKED-OUT AUDI" YOU SEE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF LOCK MALFUNCTION. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE FIXED IRRESPECTIVE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED OR ELSE A DRIVER CAN GET STRANDED IN A VERY UNFORTUNATE UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315749

53,000 miles · Feb 21, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

PRIOR TO STALLING, THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOW NOISE, WHICH I HAVE HEARD BEFORE AS A NORM ON COLD DAYS TO WARM UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312498

400,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Exterior Lighting

DIPPED HEAD LIGHT MESSAGE WITH HEADLIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF THEN GOES OUT.....IF YOU TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND PUT THEM BACK ON IT WORKS AGAIN. WAS JUST ON AN AUDI FORM WEB SITE AND I'D SAY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO FIX FROM AUDI. IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE YOUR HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT…

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DIPPED HEAD LIGHT MESSAGE WITH HEADLIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF THEN GOES OUT.....IF YOU TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND PUT THEM BACK ON IT WORKS AGAIN. WAS JUST ON AN AUDI FORM WEB SITE AND I'D SAY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO FIX FROM AUDI. IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE YOUR HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311830

58,400 miles · Jan 29, 2010
Exterior Lighting

"INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. OVER THE COURSE OF A FOUR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS MALFUNCTIONED (TURNED OFF), WITH NO CONSISTENT CAUSE APPARENT. THE SPECIFIC ERROR MESSAGE THAT APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN IS "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". THIS CONDITION IS BOTH UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL - AS MANY STATES…

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"INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. OVER THE COURSE OF A FOUR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS MALFUNCTIONED (TURNED OFF), WITH NO CONSISTENT CAUSE APPARENT. THE SPECIFIC ERROR MESSAGE THAT APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN IS "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT". THIS CONDITION IS BOTH UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL - AS MANY STATES WILL ISSUE A TRAFFIC VIOLATION FOR DRIVING WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 30 TIMES, THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS, THEN GOES OUT, BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED OR THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THEN COULD BE FINE FOR A WHILE. NOW THAT IT IS COLD OUTSIDE THE PROBLEM IS MUCH WORSE. HAVEN'T TRIED REPLACING PARTS YET SINCE INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND AFTER MUCH EXPENSE THE PROBLEM JUST COMES BACK OR IS NOT RESOLVED. STILL LOOKING FOR THE CORRECT SOLUTION. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE (CONVERSATIONAL, AND VIA INTERNET OWNERS' FORUMS) SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF AUDI'S MODEL RANGE AND YEARS." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303126

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2010
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005.5 AUDI A4 EQUIPPED WITH XENON HEADLIGHTS SUFFER FROM INTERMITTENT FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS CAN BEGIN TO FLICKER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FLICKERING CAN GET WORSE AND ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT. A WARNING READING EITHER "LEFT OR RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS ON THE CAR. THE OTHER HEADLIGHT THA…

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HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2005.5 AUDI A4 EQUIPPED WITH XENON HEADLIGHTS SUFFER FROM INTERMITTENT FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS CAN BEGIN TO FLICKER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FLICKERING CAN GET WORSE AND ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT. A WARNING READING EITHER "LEFT OR RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS ON THE CAR. THE OTHER HEADLIGHT THAT DID NOT FAIL TYPICALLY REMAINS ON AND CONTINUES TO FUNCTION PROPERLY ALTHOUGH IT HAS ALSO FAILED LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO FUNCTIONAL HEADLIGHTS ON TWO OCCASIONS. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE CYCLED OFF THEN BACK ON THE HEADLIGHTS TURN BACK ON AND MAY FUNCTION PROPERLY OR MAY FLICKER AND FAIL AGAIN. THE PROBLEM BEGAN UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS VERY INFREQUENT. THE PROBLEM NOW OCCURS 50% OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. TYPICALLY WHILE EXPERIENCING THE FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS I FIND THAT THE SAFEST WAY TO DRIVE IS ONE FAILED HEADLIGHT AS THERE IS THEN NO FLICKERING OF HEADLIGHTS WHICH I WOULD ASSUME IS HIGHLY DISTRACTING TO OTHER DRIVERS. A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR LEFT OR RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT RETURNS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESULTS WITH NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING AUDI TO CORRECTLY REPAIR THE PROBLEM. AS THE XENON HEADLIGHTS ARE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ON THE CARS THE PERCENTAGE OF CARS WITH XENON BULBS AND HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS MIGHT BE FAIRLY HIGH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10302142

80,000 miles · Jan 16, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

ENGINE WAS STARVED OF FUEL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. APPARENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. POLICE HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC UNTIL VEHICLE COULD BE TOWED. $600 REPAIR TO REPLACE AUDI OEM FUEL PUMP. I KNOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BY LOOKING AT CARFAX REPORTS. PUMP WAS PREMATURELY DEFECTIVE. MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT FUE…

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ENGINE WAS STARVED OF FUEL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. APPARENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE WITH NO WARNING. POLICE HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC UNTIL VEHICLE COULD BE TOWED. $600 REPAIR TO REPLACE AUDI OEM FUEL PUMP. I KNOW OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BY LOOKING AT CARFAX REPORTS. PUMP WAS PREMATURELY DEFECTIVE. MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT FUEL FILTER WAS CLEAN AND FUNCTIONING (NOT CHANGED). ALSO, CAR NOW SHOWS FAULTY FUEL LEVEL READINGS (MAYBE UNRELATED). INCIDENT DATE 12/21/2009. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299952

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2010
Exterior Lighting

2005 AUDI A4 QUATTRO. "RIGHT DIPPED LIGHT". RIGHT BULB GOES OUT AND I GET THE WARNING. ITS BEEN HAPPENING RANDOMLY AND WILL NOT STOP. TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS AND BACK ON SOMETIMES CORRECTS THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299805

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.