2004 Audi A4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel System, Gasoline (32) · Air Bags (14) · Vehicle Speed Control (12)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A4 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
168 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-06-01 · campaign 16V382000 · 194,453 vehicles
Defect: 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 20
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2014-03-07 · campaign 14E007000 · 50 vehicles
Defect: The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1
Risk: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
Service bulletins (172)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-10-04 · A0023742052680_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
Equipment 2022-06-15 · SM 48-2022 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Structure 2021-06-25 · A0021482021205_6 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this informational bulletin explains how to order replacement vin plates, safety certification labels, etc.
Equipment:electrical 2020-04-16 · A0020362002047_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this information bulletin contains instructions for technicans on how to ensure their tac call goes smoothly.
Exterior Lighting 2019-12-06 · A9419182012749_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
exterior lights, moisture accumulation 2013-2021 a3 cabriolet, 2016-2018 sportback, 2004-2005 a4 cabriolet, 2004-2008 s4 cabriolet, 2008 rs4 cabriolet, 2010-2021 a4 allroad, 2018-2021 a5 sportback, 2010-2012, 2018-2021 rs5 cabriolet, 2018-2021 s5 sportback, 2004-2006 a7, 2004-2011 s7, 2021 rs6 avan
Tires 2019-12-04 · 20AUTIRECHAINS · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
new document 2004-2020 a4 allroad, a6 allroad, a8l, r8 spyder
Showing the 6 most recent of 172 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-05-05 · Air Bags“******* delete voq ******* this complaint is being marked for deletion because it is requested by the consumer that they wish to have it removed*djr ******* delete voq ******* …”
2022-09-16 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“this took place about a week ago. the car was parked in our driveway when the fire started. my husband had returned home just 15 minutes prior to the fire starting. i noticed there was smoke coming in our living room window. then i looked at our security camas. and saw smoke pouring out from underneath the hood of my car. we tried to put the fire o…”
2021-09-29 · Visibility:windshield · 86,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 audi a4. the contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the rear windshield became detached from the soft top. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be inspected. the manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. the failure mileage was approximately 86,000.…”
2021-08-23 · Unknown Or Other“prnds appeared in red on my dash and then started blinking. went on line regarding this and read about a tcm switch or a lever switch malfunction.have an appt with mechanic on 8/26/21. from what i have read we are looking at a cost prohibitive repair of several thousands of dollars. does audi have any responsibility? apparently it is a common comp…”
2020-10-27 · Exterior Lighting · 113,000 mi“i was driving to jacksonville florida and car had shut off on me on the highway in yulee florida i was stuck on the highway for 7 hrs my car is stuck in florida…”
2020-08-14 · Exterior Lighting · 157,000 mi · 🔥 fire“i originally had 3 recalls on my vehicle i called in to see about getting them fixed free of charge as explained in the recall tech bulletin .the customer service representative proceeded in getting all of my information then after doing so tells me there are no recalls on my vehicle and proceeded to update my cars info shortly after i went back to…”
2020-02-03 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 156,000 mi“when engine is under load with a faulty fuel pump, the engine will stall whilst moving without turning motor off. only remedy is to turn engine off and on, since the fuel pump will not start itself back on after the stall.…”
2019-10-11 · Unknown Or Other · 99,872 mi“my vehicle started up fine and i was driving to work, i was idling at the red light and my car shut off and signaled the battery light. we tried to jump it thinking it was the battery like it signaled, and it wasnt so we had to tow it. the car still doesnt start. it cranks but wont start and i was in the middle of an intersection, no warning lights…”
2018-08-21 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2004 audi a4. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. audi north miami (1995 ne 142nd st, north miami, fl 33181, (305…”
2018-05-07 · Engine“my audi stopped blowing out heat first and then the check engine light came on. when i took it to get the check engine light code tested it read pressure default. not long after my air bag light came on. now my car is leaking coolant.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.