1998 Audi A4 Owner Complaints

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

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

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

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

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

THE AMBER ABS WARNING LIGHT GLOWS WHILE THE RED BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS. I UNDERSTAND NEWER AUDI MODELS HAVE JUST BEEN RECALLED FOR ABS ISSUES, BUT MY 1998 A4 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. BRAKING APPEARS NORMAL, AND WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION IS SPORADIC.

NHTSA ID

10954021

Incident

Feb 6, 2017

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HAD THE TURBO REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE STALLING. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10927229

Incident

Mar 2, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED A BURNING WIRE ODOR UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND VARIOUS OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V317000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 201,000.

NHTSA ID

10459880

Incident

May 24, 2012

Mileage

201,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AMBER REFLECTOR HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED POORLY AND DECREASED VISION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E049000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

NHTSA ID

10454292

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

Mileage

190,000 mi

I HAVE HAD A RECENT DISCUSSION WITH AUDI CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER IN WAYZATA, MN AT 11:55AM. THIS IS REGARDING A DEFECT IN MY MODEL YEAR 1998 AUDI A4 2.8., OR AUDI A4 2.8 MANUFACTURED JUNE OF 1997. I RESEARCHED THE WEB AND SAW HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE LIGHT SWITCH. I TURNED MY LIGHT SWITCH ON AND THE LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM DO NOT WORK. THE TEMPORARY HIGH BEAM WORKS. I SAW MANY OTHER 1998 AUDI OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM; EVEN MORE SIMILAR WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAD A 1998 MODEL YEAR CAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1997. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN IS A LITTLE AMBIGUOUS STATING MODEL YEARS AND MANUFACTURE DATES. MY CAR FALLS WITHIN THE MANUFACTURE DATE BUT NOT THE RECALL DATE. THE RECALL IS OPEN HOWEVER 1998 MODELS, WHICH ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE, ARE NOT INCLUDED. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT CARS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO AUGUST OF 1997 EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE MODEL YEAR 1998 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453798

Incident

Mar 30, 2012

ON A 1998 A4 QUATTRO AUDI, IT IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCH FAILS, THE FIRST TIME WAS 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN SWITCH PACKAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, AND THIS TIME I WAS ON A HIGHWAY AROUND 11:00 PM WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL, IN THIS CAR IF THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK, ALSO THE FOG LIGHTS DON'T WORK TOO, SO SUDDENLY YOU END AT THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A HIGHWAY WITH NO LIGHTS AT ALL. THIS DEFINITELY IS A HIGH RISK SITUATION BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT DRIVE WITH OUT HEADLIGHTS IT IS LIKE BLIND DRIVING. I BEEN SEARCHING ON THE WEB AND IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY COMMON FAILURE ON THIS CAR BUT THERE IS NO RECALL AT ALL FOR THIS YET. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437558

Incident

Nov 16, 2011

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE CONTROL MODULATOR UNIT FAILED, AND NOW I HAVE BRAKES THAT DO NOT WORK. AT THE SLIGHTEST PEDAL PRESSURE, ALL 4 WHEELS WILL HAVE A STRONG PULSATING, GIVING YOU ABOUT 1/3 OF THE BRAKING PRESSURE THAT IS NEEDED. VOLKSWAGENS USED A NEARLY IDENTICAL PART, AND THEIR ABS CONTROLLER IS UNDER RECALL, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY NHTSA, CANNOT FORCE AUDI OF AMERICA TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10424468

Incident

Sep 3, 2011

Mileage

97,555 mi

FAULTY ABS MODULE IN MY 1998 AUDI A4 1.8T. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT TO THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS IN MANY OF THESE SIMILAR YEAR AUDIS AND VWS, AND IT APPEARS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT CAN CAUSE DEADLY ACCIDENTS, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI. *TR

NHTSA ID

10390185

Incident

Mar 10, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE NOTICE THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS A MECHANIC AND TRIED TO SCAN INFORMATION FROM THE ABS MODULAR AND WAS UNABLE TOO. HE STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED SEPTEMBER 28, 2005. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 270,000.

NHTSA ID

10356938

Incident

Sep 28, 2005

Mileage

133,500 mi

THE ABS CONTROL UNIT ON MY AUDI A4 FAILED AFTER 95,000 MILES. I HAVE NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKING AND AUDI HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PART SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SEARCHING THROUGH AUDI FORUMS I FOUND THIS FAILURE TO BE VERY COMMON AND EVERYONE HAD NO ABS UNTIL THE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED WHICH COST AN AVERAGE OF $1500+. THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, I STARTED THE CAR ONE DAY AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON MY DASH. I TESTED THE ABS AND FOUND THAT IT INDEED DOES NOT PREVENT MY BRAKES FROM LOCKING UP. NEARLY THREE YEARS LATER, THE PART HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO THE HIGH COST TO REPAIR IT.

NHTSA ID

10307355

Incident

Apr 1, 2007

Mileage

95,000 mi

1998 AUDI A4 2.8 - DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY, IN 7 DEGREE TEMP, CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ( FEELS LIKE IT IS DRIVING ITSELF) EVEN AFTER FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND FULL FORCE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR AT WHICH POINT IT WENT INTO HIGH REV AND ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THIS CAR ALSO HAD 2 SIMILAR INCIDENT (ONCE WHEN NEW) AND ONCE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. AFTER MUCH BACK AND FORTH WITH AUDI, THEY TOOK THE CAR IN, AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AS A PRECAUTION I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED AND THE THROTTLE BODY CABLE REPLACED SO FELT THE CAR WAS SAFE. (ALL AT MY EXPENSE) *TR

NHTSA ID

10304665

Incident

Jan 3, 2010

CONTROL ARM ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 FRACTURED WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. AUDI TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA # 10016418, #11242004 COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: 22. SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM BULLETIN NUMBER: 11242004 BULLETIN DATE: NOV 2004 VEHICLE: 1,998 AUDI A4 SUMMARY: SERVICE ACTION JE CAMPAIGN-CHECK/REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. AUDI HAS FOUND THAT IN RARE CASES, ONE OR BOTH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES CAN EXHIBIT WEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE DAMAGE TO THE RUBBER BO ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10016418 ). *TR

NHTSA ID

10299063

Incident

Dec 30, 2009

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 70,000 MILES SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. HOWEVER SHE NOTED THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 90,000. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE ENGINE REBUILT BY A INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10292390

Incident

Aug 16, 2009

Mileage

74,000 mi

TIE ROD FAILURE RESULTING IS A COMPROMISE OF STEERING CONTROL AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA 99V248000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290010

Incident

Jun 20, 2009

Mileage

170,000 mi

HI. I HAVE A 1998 AUDI A4 6 CYLINDER QUATRO5 SPEED. IT HAS 97K MILES. THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A COMMON FAILURE. APPROX. $1700 REPAIR AT THE DEALER. I UNDERSTAND THAT VW HAS HAD A RECALL FOR EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PART. IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A RECALL SHOULD EXTEND THE AUDI USING THE SAME PART, WHICH HAS A HIGH FAILURE RATE. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY AUDI. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY A PART AND SAFETY ISSUE WOULD BE RECALLED FOR VW BUT NOT FOR AUDI? HERE IS A LINK TO FURTHER INFORMATION: THANKS! HTTP://AUDI-VW-ABS-RECALL.BLOGSPOT.COM/2005/07/AUDI-AND-VW-PLEASE-RECALL-CARS-BETWEEN.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284675

Incident

Sep 20, 2009

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED THREE TIMES WITHIN THREE YEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. THE WIPERS WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE MOTOR FAILED AGAIN IN 2007 AND 2008. THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED EACH TIME AT THE COST OF $496. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10254239

Incident

Jun 10, 2006

Mileage

98,000 mi

REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AT 114000 MILES- CRACKED IN HALF, FRONTS PROBABLY NEXT. VEHICLE'S LIFE HAS BEEN IN THE NORTHEAST SUBJECT TO HEAVY USE OF ROAD SALT; SEEMS SPRING COMPOSITION SIMILAR TO THE BRAKE ROTORS AND COIL SPRINGS ON FORD PRODUCTS THAT PROMPTED A SIMILAR RECALL. AN ISSUE LIKE THIS ISN'T EXPECTED FROM AUDI, AND IS DISAPPOINTING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242986

Incident

Aug 10, 2008

Mileage

115,110 mi

OUT OF NOWHERE, ABS LIGHT ON, BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING. TOOK TO SHOP, THEY STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE ABS MODULE TO LOCK OUT COMMUNICATIONS; 1400 + FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE CAR; I FIND IT OUTRAGEOUS THE ELECTRONIC MODULE IS OUTSIDE, SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SALT. PLEASE SEE MY COMPLAINT ON COIL SPRINGS AS WELL. RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THIS IS USUAL AND CUSTOMARY FOR THIS MODEL, I FEEL NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP UP HERE AND CALL AUDI ON THE TABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242985

Incident

Jul 18, 2008

Mileage

114,788 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER READOUT IS UNREADABLE. DISPLAY HAS DIMMED OVER TIME. VEHICLE: 1998 AUDI A4 QUATTRO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233438

Incident

Jul 7, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE FAILED, AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE COST WOULD EXCEED $1,100 BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10232381

Incident

Jun 2, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi