SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 12, 2003
REPEATED FRONT SUSPENSION/STEERING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURES. *JB *PH *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10039150
- Incident
- Sep 19, 2003
1996 Audi A4 Steering Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Oct 12, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 89 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 3, 2003
THE TIE RODS OF BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE DAMAGED. THE RUBBER CAP WAS BROKEN ON BOTH AND THE TIE RODS HAD A LOT OF PLAY AT THE JOINT UNDERNEATH. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED CAUSING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LAMP FAILED. *NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 10004571
- Incident
- Oct 21, 2002
- Mileage
- 66,642 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 9, 2003
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL. ALSO SEALER BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK, DAMAGING BRAKE PADS AND DISC. VEHICLE CRASHED DAMAGING FRONT END. DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT *NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 10001737
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2001
- Mileage
- 71,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 10, 2002
AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA RECALLED THEIR 1999 MODEL A4S FOR FAILURE OF THE TIE RODS. I OWN A 1996 A4 WITH TIE RODS THAT FAILED AND AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED TIE RODS UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE WAS EXACTLY AS OUTLINED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ALL AUDI DEALERS. I READ RECENTLY IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THAT AN OWNER WITH A 1998 A4 EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THE RECALL SHOULD COVER ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE A4. I REQUESTED AND SAVED THE DAMAGED TIE RODS IF YOU WOULD HAVE INTEREST IN SEEING THEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS A SEVERE DANGER TO OPERATERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY AUDI. DT
- NHTSA ID
- 769518
Steering
Filed Feb 13, 2002
CONTROL RODS LOOSE ACCORDING TO AUDI DEALER. CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. INDPT SHOP ALSO NOTED THAT TIE RODS WERE ALSO SO LOOSE THEY WERE HAZARDOUS AND INDICATED ON RECEIPT TO SHOW AUDI
- NHTSA ID
- 758204
- Incident
- Jan 15, 2002
Steering
Filed Jan 2, 2002
WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING BOX MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL, ALSO SEALER BROKE WHICH RESULTED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, STEEING RACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLOWED OUT GASKET SEAK, THE MINERAL OIL SPRAY OUT UNDER PRESSURE TOWARD THE INSIDE OF FDRONT WHEEL SOAKING BRAKE PADS AND COATING DISC, VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER.*SLC
- NHTSA ID
- 8001330
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2001
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 12, 2001
ABSOLUTELY THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT I HAVE SPENT OVER $6000 IN REPAIRS AND GONE JUST 40K MILES! STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR WHEN I CALLED THE 1-800 LINE THEY WERE NO HELP AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH ANYBODY IN A HIGHER POSTION. WHEN I SAID CAN I WRITE A LETTER THEY SAID SURE BUT IT COMES TO US AND THE DECISION IS FINAL ABOUT YOUR WARRANTTY DEFECTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 748336
- Incident
- Jun 11, 2001
SteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 1, 2000
MANY OTHER AUDI A-4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT PREMATURE WEAR OF TIE RODS AND CONTROL ARMS IN VERMONT. AUDI OF AMERICA AND LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO COVER PROBLEM ALTHOUGH VOLUNTARY RECALL IN EFFECT FOR NEWER AUDIS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 737122
- Incident
- Aug 23, 2000
ElectricalSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 30, 2000
PROBLEMS IS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 874177
- Incident
- Jan 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Jun 29, 2000
INNER TIE RODS WERE LOOSE AND WORN OUT WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING. RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *AK *ML
- NHTSA ID
- 864524
- Incident
- Jun 27, 2000
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .