Total Complaints
266 filings
AUDI A4 · model year
266 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005AUDIA4 carries 266 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 5 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 A4 is exterior lighting with 97 filings, followed by air bags (48) and electrical system (24). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2005 A4. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
266 filings
Crashes Reported
13 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 97 |
| AIR BAGS | 48 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 24 |
| POWER TRAIN | 10 |
| ENGINE | 10 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 6 |
| STEERING | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 4 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 3 |
| TIRES | 3 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 3 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 3 |
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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, N
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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/s
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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, th
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,
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,
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,
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 damage) did deploy. Without the airbags, her face hit the steering wheel, causing a large laceration to her eyelid and significant bruising and swelling to her face.
Came to a stop sign car completely cut off and wouldnât start again.
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 the right side/passenger side. All new parts were installed.
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.
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 WOULD NOT STOP SO I HAD TO TAKE OUT FUSE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO SO I CALLED A FAMILY FRIEND TO COME HELP TOW THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE SINCE I WAS NOT FAR FROM IT. THEN ON JULY 5, 2020 I RECEIVED A POST CARD IN THE MAIL FROM AUDI DEALERSHIP SAYING THERE WAS A URGENT AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. SO ON JULY 6, 2020 I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND LEFT MY INFORMATION. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM SINCE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR IT HAD BEEN SITTING IN DRIVEWAY SINCE THIS HAPPENED.
Mileage: 145,210
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON
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
Mileage: 71,000
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 ON BY IT SELF. OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS NOT SURE IF ALL TIED IN TOGETHER I JUST STARTED MY PURCHASE ON 7/21/2020 FROM A CAR DEALER. HAD IT CHECKED BY 2 PEOPLE & ONE SAID AIR LEAK SHOWING FROM DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE . MY DEALER PUT ON MACHINE & SAID DIDNT SEE NOTHING WRONG. POWER STEERING GOES OUT HAVE TO FILL ALMOST EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MY DEALER SAID DONT PUT MORE CAUSE IT COULD MESS UP ENGINE. SO I DIDNT & 2 DAYS LATER DRIVING 15 -20 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE ITS GOING TO STOP SO I PRESUMED TO SHUT OFF ENGINE . CHEVK UNDER THE HOOD & THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS BONE DEY SMOKING SLIGHTLY , & BELT WAS PULLED OUT A& SHREDDED &
Mileage: 175,000
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 ON BY IT SELF. OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS NOT SURE IF ALL TIED IN TOGETHER I JUST STARTED MY PURCHASE ON 7/21/2020 FROM A CAR DEALER. HAD IT CHECKED BY 2 PEOPLE & ONE SAID AIR LEAK SHOWING FROM DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE . MY DEALER PUT ON MACHINE & SAID DIDNT SEE NOTHING WRONG. POWER STEERING GOES OUT HAVE TO FILL ALMOST EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MY DEALER SAID DONT PUT MORE CAUSE IT COULD MESS UP ENGINE. SO I DIDNT & 2 DAYS LATER DRIVING 15 -20 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE ITS GOING TO STOP SO I PRESUMED TO SHUT OFF ENGINE . CHEVK UNDER THE HOOD & THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS BONE DEY SMOKING SLIGHTLY , & BELT WAS PULLED OUT A& SHREDDED &
Mileage: 175,000
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 ON BY IT SELF. OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS NOT SURE IF ALL TIED IN TOGETHER I JUST STARTED MY PURCHASE ON 7/21/2020 FROM A CAR DEALER. HAD IT CHECKED BY 2 PEOPLE & ONE SAID AIR LEAK SHOWING FROM DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE . MY DEALER PUT ON MACHINE & SAID DIDNT SEE NOTHING WRONG. POWER STEERING GOES OUT HAVE TO FILL ALMOST EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MY DEALER SAID DONT PUT MORE CAUSE IT COULD MESS UP ENGINE. SO I DIDNT & 2 DAYS LATER DRIVING 15 -20 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE ITS GOING TO STOP SO I PRESUMED TO SHUT OFF ENGINE . CHEVK UNDER THE HOOD & THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS BONE DEY SMOKING SLIGHTLY , & BELT WAS PULLED OUT A& SHREDDED &
Mileage: 175,000
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. IF THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WHY WOULD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON? I THINK COMPUTERS IN LUXURY CARS BACK THEN WERE A BIT TOO ADVANCED FOR THEIR TIME AND WEREN'T VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. AIR BAG HAD A RANDOM DEPLOYMENT WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD AND UNSCREWED THE PRESSURE ON THE RADIATOR FLUID. GOING TO NEED THIS VIN ADDED TO THE RECALL FOR AIRBAGS TO GET A NEW ONE.
Mileage: 56,000
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. IF THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WHY WOULD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON? I THINK COMPUTERS IN LUXURY CARS BACK THEN WERE A BIT TOO ADVANCED FOR THEIR TIME AND WEREN'T VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. AIR BAG HAD A RANDOM DEPLOYMENT WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD AND UNSCREWED THE PRESSURE ON THE RADIATOR FLUID. GOING TO NEED THIS VIN ADDED TO THE RECALL FOR AIRBAGS TO GET A NEW ONE.
Mileage: 56,000
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. IF THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WHY WOULD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON? I THINK COMPUTERS IN LUXURY CARS BACK THEN WERE A BIT TOO ADVANCED FOR THEIR TIME AND WEREN'T VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. AIR BAG HAD A RANDOM DEPLOYMENT WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD AND UNSCREWED THE PRESSURE ON THE RADIATOR FLUID. GOING TO NEED THIS VIN ADDED TO THE RECALL FOR AIRBAGS TO GET A NEW ONE.
Mileage: 56,000
TAMARA RECALL. I HAVE TRIED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET THIS REPLACED AS THE YEAR AND MAKE OF MY VEHICLE ARE IN THE TARGET AREA FOR POSSIBLE DEFECT. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD BY THE LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I PRESENTED THEM WITH PAPERWORK. I SPOKE WITH THEM AGAIN TODAY AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE NO TIMEFRAME FOR REPAIR AND OUT ME ON A CALL LIST. THIS IS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. I AM A PARENT AND I WORK IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE. THIS GREATLY CONCERNS ME AS I HAVE SEE TRAUMATIC INJURIES ON A REGULAR BASIS.
CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID. OR DEPLOY.
Mileage: 59,000
'TAKATA RECALL' I MADE APPOINTMENTS AND REGISTERED TO GET MY AIRBAG REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN JUNE I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE ELMWOOD PARK LOCATION AND WHEN I GOT THEIR THE GUY LIED AND SAID THE COMPUTERS ARE DOWN HE DIDN'T WANT TO HELP ME. THEY HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE AND DON'T WANT TO FIX IT IT IS NOW 2018 AND NO ONE FROM AUDI CALLED ME AND MY VEHICLE IS REGISTERED WITH THEM. SO MY AIR BAG CAN RUPTURE AT ANY TIME I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 1/4/17 I WAS INTENTIONALLY REAR ENDED BY A WHITE BMW AND I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY 8 YEAR OLD NEPHEW AND MOM WHO WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED. NOT ONLY THAT MY GAS TANK FUEL INJECTOR THE AIR PRESSURE IS OFF CAUSING IT TO STOP CONSTANTLY WHILE GETTING GAS. THIRD I HAD THIS P2005 AND P2006 ERROR CODE WHICH IS THE INTAKE AIR EXCHANGE MANIFOLD FLAP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR WHEN I WENT TO GET IT REPLACED COSTING ME 1,800 THE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE SAME ERROR COD
Mileage: 158,978
'TAKATA RECALL' I MADE APPOINTMENTS AND REGISTERED TO GET MY AIRBAG REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN JUNE I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE ELMWOOD PARK LOCATION AND WHEN I GOT THEIR THE GUY LIED AND SAID THE COMPUTERS ARE DOWN HE DIDN'T WANT TO HELP ME. THEY HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE AND DON'T WANT TO FIX IT IT IS NOW 2018 AND NO ONE FROM AUDI CALLED ME AND MY VEHICLE IS REGISTERED WITH THEM. SO MY AIR BAG CAN RUPTURE AT ANY TIME I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 1/4/17 I WAS INTENTIONALLY REAR ENDED BY A WHITE BMW AND I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY 8 YEAR OLD NEPHEW AND MOM WHO WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED. NOT ONLY THAT MY GAS TANK FUEL INJECTOR THE AIR PRESSURE IS OFF CAUSING IT TO STOP CONSTANTLY WHILE GETTING GAS. THIRD I HAD THIS P2005 AND P2006 ERROR CODE WHICH IS THE INTAKE AIR EXCHANGE MANIFOLD FLAP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR WHEN I WENT TO GET IT REPLACED COSTING ME 1,800 THE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE SAME ERROR COD
Mileage: 158,978
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.