Known Recalls

Model year record

2004 Audi A4

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 225 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V382000

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module

Component
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
194,453
Reported to NHTSA
2016-06-01
Owners notified
2017-04-28

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V096000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected
9,965
Reported to NHTSA
2005-03-15
Owners notified
2005-04-11

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT XENON HEADLAMP REFLECTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Fuel system, gasoline3561,000 mi
Air bags1896,000 mi
Exterior lighting1480,000 mi
Electrical system1241,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump1257,650 mi
Vehicle speed control1252,447 mi
Tires921,000 mi
Engine7106,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling763,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine754,800 mi
Tires: sidewall73,754 mi
Air bags: frontal656,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission640,200 mi
Unknown or other669,802 mi
Fuel/propulsion system590,700 mi
Power train541,000 mi
Visibility574,500 mi
Fuel system, other482,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal428,686 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system368,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic348,500 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls348,000 mi
Visibility: windshield345,000 mi
Air bags: side/window23,600 mi
Electrical system: ignition265,483 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system28 mi
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift23,000 mi
Steering247,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer252,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel170,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1100 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys149,500 mi
Equipment114,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap12,389 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: fuel pump168,350 mi
Power train: clutch assembly129,000 mi
Seat belts: front132,000 mi
Service brakes146,946 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light148,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion: rack127,000 mi
Structure119,102 mi
Structure: body190,000 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars122 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields12,389 mi
Suspension: rear: shock absorber12,389 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear119,102 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer: linkages1—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer190,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages18,000 mi

The 2003 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.