NHTSA vehicle safety data
2004 Audi A4 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2004 Audi A4 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 189 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 2004 Audi A4, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2004 Audi A4 owner complaints
Owners have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Audi A4, describing incidents dated August 7, 2003 to May 5, 2023.
Most-cited components
- Fuel/Propulsion System 56 complaints
- Air Bags 26 complaints
- Engine 25 complaints
- Tires 16 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 16 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 16 complaints
Of the 189 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 189 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11520694 · Filed
******* 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 *******
ODI #11484914 · Filed
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…
ODI #11434910 · Filed
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…
Owner-reported
2004 Audi A4 mileage at failure
167 of the 189 complaints on file for the 2004 Audi A4 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | Median 60,000 miles | Middle half 45,000–75,000 miles | Based on 56 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
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Audi A4 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Preliminary Evaluation PE08-027: ENGINE STALLING - FUEL PUMP FAILURE
Closed August 6, 2008
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
NHTSA #16V382000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice
Reported June 1, 2016 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Potentially affected: 194,453 vehicles
Repair completion: 33.12% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Owners notified April 28, 2017 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Recall group: Takata airbag inflators
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 consequence
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.
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.
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.
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 2004 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.
Check an Audi VIN