RoadVitals

1998 Audi A4 Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags 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.
16
Latest Jan 27, 2022
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.
6%
of 258 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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 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 airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2022

Recall 69bt was not accomplished at McDaniels Audi of Charleston dealer. They indicated they had replaced airbag with 8D0898201A kit.

NHTSA ID
11449188
Incident
Jan 27, 2022
Airbags
Filed Oct 5, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owned a 1998 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH with his 12-year-old son sitting in the passenger seat, he crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries, however, his son sustained a broken rib and was transported to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The contact recently received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V056000 (AIR BAGS). The dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ID
11435574
Incident
Oct 5, 2006
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 7, 2021

Takata recall. The contact owns a 1998 Audi A4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V056000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11423780
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Airbags
Filed Apr 28, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V056000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11414346
Incident
Apr 28, 2021
AirbagsBrakesEngine
Filed Jun 1, 2017

THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON EVER SINCE I HAD THE VEHICLE, THINKING THAT IT MAY BE A FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER AS SEEING VERY COMMON PROBLEMS IN MANY WEBSITES. ANOTHER MAIN CONCERNED IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINE DESIGN CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OIL SLUDGE. MY CONCERN IS FOR FUTURE PREVENTION MEASURES.

NHTSA ID
10992681
Incident
May 18, 2017
Mileage
158,238 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 20, 2005

1. AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT DISPLAYED 2. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DETERMINES THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING 3. DEALER ESTIMATES AIRBAG REPLACEMENT WILL COST $1,700, BUT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE ITS FAILURE IS DUE TO MILEAGE AND WEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10107625
Incident
Jan 5, 2005
Mileage
89,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 12, 2004
Crash reported

SIDE IMPACT AT 30 MPH FRONT SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10099889
Incident
Oct 17, 2004
Mileage
114,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 8, 2004

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED 14 TIMES.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE SOME HOW DAMAGED THE CONNECTORS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10091697
Incident
Jun 16, 1999
Mileage
9,144 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 9, 2003

THE PASSENGER SIDE ARBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 40-45MPH ON A SECONDARY ROAD. THERE WAS NO COLLISION AT THE TIME AND NO EVIDENCE OF POTHOLES OR ROAD DEBRIS. THE DEALER SCANNED THE COMPUTER AND RETRIEVED "CRASH DATA" AND CLAIMED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WORKED AS EXPECTED. THEY NOTED A SMALL DENT UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COLUMN OF THE CAR WHICH THEY CLAIMED WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THEY REFERRED ME TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ADJUSTER EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION - NO DENT OR OTHER DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM IN THE CAR IS DISABLED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041549
Incident
May 20, 2003
Mileage
79,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 4, 2002
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING, A BRICK HIT BOTTOM OF VEHICLE AND DRIVER?S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING MINOR BURNS AND BRUISES TO THE DRIVER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR HAD BEEN HIT BY THE BRICK CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *YD

NHTSA ID
786018
Incident
Apr 15, 2002
Airbags
Filed Sep 7, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60-65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED THAT STRIKER UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE SHOWED SIGNS THAT VEHICLE RAN OVER SOMETHING. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
896024
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Airbags
Filed Oct 20, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WENT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. SHE HEARD A POPPYING NOISE, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND THERE WAS A BAD SMELL. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, AND AIRBAG WENT OFF ON ITS OWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
873510
Incident
Oct 20, 2000
Airbags
Filed Aug 10, 1999

AFTER RUNNING OVER A POTHOLE AT 30MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
844752
Incident
Aug 4, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jul 26, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. NO PASSENGER OR PARCEL ON PASSENGER'S SEAT, DRIVERS BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AUDI CONTINUES TO DENY A PROBLEM EXISTED. AUDI'S OWN DOCUMENTATION DESCRIBES A NO PASSENGER LOCK OUT SWITCH TO PREVENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WHEN NO PASSENGER OR (HEAVY PARCEL?) IS PRESENT. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE CAR, HAD MY SEAT BELT BUCKLED, PRETENSIONER FOR MY SEAT BELT FIRED BUT MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AN INTERLOCK, BY DEFINITION, IS EITHER ON OR OFF. AN INTERLOCK OR LOCK OUT DEVICE DOES NOT ACT AS A "MAYBE ON" OR "MAYBE OFF" GATE.

NHTSA ID
709208
Incident
Jan 19, 1998
AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Dec 17, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVINGTHE ABS BRAKING SYSTM WHICH IS ACTIVATED MALFUNCTIONED, HAVING NO BRAKING ABILITY, AND CAUSING A FRONTAL IMPACT. THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY BUT NOT ALL THE WAY. ALSO, SEATBELT TENSIONER MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH DID NOT HOLD PROPERLY THE OCCUPANT, AND OCCUPANT SUSTAINED A BROKEN BONE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
832455
Incident
Dec 2, 1998
Airbags
Filed Nov 13, 1998

VEHICLE BRUSHED CURB CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRE SIDEWALLS WHEN FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAG OCCURED.

NHTSA ID
542600
Incident
Oct 27, 1998

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

Data on this page last refreshed .