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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Audi A4 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2003 Audi A4 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 210 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Audi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Audi A4, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2003 Audi A4 owner complaints

Owners have filed 210 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Audi A4, describing incidents dated December 15, 2002 to October 11, 2024.

Most-cited components

  • Fuel/Propulsion System 51 complaints
  • Power Train 43 complaints
  • Electrical System 32 complaints
  • Engine 24 complaints
  • Exterior Lighting 23 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 22 complaints

Of the 210 complaints on file, 10 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 210 complaints, owners report 12 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11619369 · Filed

    Crank case ventilation hose breaks and engine runs poorly part#06C103235B

  • ODI #11499857 · Filed

    Water pump failed inside lights sometimes work and signal lights aren’t accurate

  • ODI #11494969 · Filed

    Radio intermediate goes out hitting bumps speedometer stopped working the number ninth digit is not pulling up when I search vehicle information Replaced engine vehicle only had 20,000 miles

Read all 210 complaints

Owner-reported

2003 Audi A4 mileage at failure

175 of the 210 complaints on file for the 2003 Audi A4 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Fuel/Propulsion SystemMedian 55,000 milesMiddle half 45,000–80,000 milesBased on 42 complaints
Power TrainMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 55,000–100,000 milesBased on 37 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

Water Pump may cause Failure of Timing Belt

NHTSA #14E007000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Engine · NHTSA notice

Reported March 7, 2014 · The Gates Corporation

Potentially affected: 50 vehicles

Repair completion: 2% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified May 1, 2014

Defect description

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, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

Safety consequence

A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

FUEL PUMP

NHTSA #07V375000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump · NHTSA notice

Reported August 28, 2007 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 34,358 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign M7 JL · Owners notified September 28, 2007 · Vehicles built August 1, 2002 – April 30, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

Safety consequence

IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 20007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. THIS RECALL IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V017).

Notes

VW RECALL NO. M7 AND AUDI RECALL NO. JL.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FUEL PUMP

NHTSA #06V017000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump · NHTSA notice

Reported January 23, 2006 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 74,000 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign M7 & JL · Owners notified April 10, 2006 · Vehicles built September 1, 2002 – March 31, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 - MARCH 2003, EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

Safety consequence

IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

Notes

VW RECALL NO. M7 AND AUDI RECALL NO. JL.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

XENON HEADLAMPS

NHTSA #05V096000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported March 15, 2005 · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC

Potentially affected: 9,965 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign JH · Owners notified April 11, 2005 · Vehicles built January 1, 2003 – February 28, 2004 (per NHTSA)

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 consequence

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.

Notes

VW RECALL NO. JH. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Audi A4 model years

Check your 2003 Audi A4 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Audi A4 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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