2005 Audi A4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (95) · Air Bags (42) · Power Train (9)
🧭 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
165 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-06-22 · campaign 18V427000 · 237,947 vehicles
Defect: 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 deployme
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-01-11 · campaign 17V032000 · 33,421 vehicles
Defect: 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, Volkswag
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. 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.
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 (334)
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:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-28 · DC_AudiRingsV12 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
inside the rings | volume 12, spring 2023
Air Bags 2023-03-13 · TRMDMV_MA_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the massachusetts dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,907 audi owners in the state of massachusetts on march 13, 2023.
Air Bags 2023-03-13 · TRMDMV_NM_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the new mexico dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 389 audi owners in the state of new mexico on march 13, 2023.
Air Bags 2023-02-13 · TRMDMV_CO_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the colorado dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,174 audi owners in the state of colorado on february 13, 2023.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-02-10 · DC_Rings_VOL10 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
takata recall and 3g turndown
Showing the 6 most recent of 334 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-18 · Air Bags“the contact's husband owned a 2005 audi a4. the contact received several recall letters and cards from the nhtsa and audi manufacturer for a takata air bag recall. the contact stated that the last notification received stated that the owner could die if the recall was not completed. the contact was adamant and would like the mailing address to be r…”
2025-01-06 · Engine“the car is completely defective,total engine, gasket,water pump,intake manifold,airbag, transmission,torque,drive shaft, universal joints,all rear axles,wheel bearing,bought at auction aug 19,2024, $4000, the as is was so small and on the back of a sheet we did not see it,we are senior,…”
2023-12-09 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“the airbags in our 2005 audi a4 were recalled. we had the airbag replaced due to the recall in audi of stratham, 58 portsmouth ave, stratham, nh 03885 in february 2023. on 12/8/23, my daughter was involved in a serious front-end collation with another vehicle. the airbags in the audi did not deploy. the other vehicle (which sustained less damag…”
2023-07-17 · Engine“came to a stop sign car completely cut off and wouldn’t start again. …”
2022-08-10 · Exterior Lighting“headlights flickering. must turn off the headlights and turn them back on for this issue to go away. all headlight components were replaced including the bulb and this issue still is there. the audi dealerships seem to not know how to fix this issue. this issue is only on the left side/driver side. the dealer could not duplicate this issue on …”
2021-02-23 · Air Bags“despite the passenger air bag being replaced a few years ago; i continue to get warning light and now is not function. albany audi says there is no recall and it will cost me $150 to diagnose. i have spoken with several mechanics who attest to problems with recalled replacement bags.…”
2020-09-02 · Air Bags · 145,210 mi“on july 2, 2020 i was in a city street sitting at a stop light waiting for it to turn green when all of a sudden the steering wheel, driver side seat and the driver side curtain airbags deployed hitting me. i was in a state of shock since i was not moving or had not been hit. i had to move the car over into a parking lot. the horn was honking and w…”
2020-08-14 · Air Bags · 71,000 mi“air bag light on,ran code, states bad igniter ran google search says 2005 a4 qualifies for recall audi dealer states not on list for airbag recall this is a safety issue and should be repaired at no cost to me…”
2020-08-10 · Steering · 175,000 mi“noticed air bag lights on didnt think quick , also i notuced electrical issue here & there. engine runs & sounds louder when using a/c. when you go to shut off vehicle theres a loud thump thump noise at the end fir about 3 mins or so , problems starting the engine , back windshield wiper turns on by its self , a week ago the light in the bavk turns…”
2018-08-19 · Unknown Or Other · 56,000 mi“after 10 years of use, turning left the rubber wheel bearing on the driver side makes a pop noise. not from driving erradic but from typical wear and tear. also, there is an mph check engine light that comes on but when plugged up to a code reader, no problems are found. cars wont pass smog with check engine lights on, so this is a major concern. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.