RoadVitals

2000 Audi A4 Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
51
Latest Feb 10, 2013
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.
53%
of 96 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.
3
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 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 brake

The 25 most recent of 51, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Feb 10, 2013

AUDI COMPLAINT AND RECALL REQUEST THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS LIKE IT SHOULD. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED I GET A SOLID AMBER ABS WARNING LIGHT ALONG WITH A FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT ACCOMPANIED WITH THREE WARNING TONES. UPON DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROL MODULE UNIT IS EXTREMELY COMMON ON 1998 TO 2001 AUDI AND VW MODELS. AUDI/VW CREATED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPAIR VW'S IN THE SAME DATE RANGE (BULLETIN 0517 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10016037), BUT IGNORED THE ISSUE WITH AUDI'S. AS PER THE VEHICLE'S OWNER'S MANUAL, IT STATES THAT WHILE THE SYSTEM IS IN THIS STATE, THE REAR BRAKES MAY LOCK UP UNDER BRAKING. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO BRAKE QUICKLY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THE COST OF REPLACING THE ABS MODULE FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS QUOTED AT OVER $1000. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THOUSANDS OF AUDI OWNERS HAVE VOICED COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THEIR CUSTOMER'S SAFETY AND A RECALL SHOULD BE REQUIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10497618
Incident
Mar 1, 2012
Mileage
98,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 9, 2011

ON MY 2000 AUDI A4 THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS. I GET A SOLID AMBER ABS WARNING LIGHT ALONG WITH A FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT ACCOMPANIED WITH THREE WARNING TONES WHEN I START THE CAR. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 1998 TO 2001 AUDI AND VW MODELS. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY RECALL, HOWEVER THERE SHOULD BE ONE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO BRAKE QUICKLY IN ALL SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WINTER CONDITIONS AND THE COST TO GET IT REPLACED IS FAR TOO MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10386972
Incident
Dec 10, 2010
Mileage
152,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 11, 2011

1. WHEN THE ABS IS ACTIVATED DURING SNOW OR ICE CONDITIONS. 2. THE BRAKES "STICK" AND THE ABS IS NOT FULLY DEACTIVATED ONCE YOUR FOOT IS OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. OFTEN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE IS STILL ENGAGED SLIGHTLY DURING DRIVING. WHEN STOPPED YOU CAN SMELL THE RUBBING BRAKES AND YOU CAN TELL THE BRAKE IS RUBBING WHILE DRIVING AS IT SLOWS DOWN THE VEHICLE. IT USUALLY UNSTICKS AFTER SEVERAL MILES OF DRIVING OR LEAVING THE CAR SIT OVERNIGHT NOT RUNNING. 3. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS, BUT THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR ABS SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10376262
Incident
Jan 11, 2011
Mileage
112,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 18, 2010

ABS MODULE FAILURE & CENTER CLUSTER FAILURE - 2000 AUDI A4 1.8T, 65,000 MILES. ABS COMES ON ALONG WITH BLINKING BRAKE LIGHTS. KNOWN AUDI ISSUE. HAVING ABS REBUILT BY MODULE MASTERS AS AUDI WANTS $$ AND ANY NEW ABS MODULE THEY WILL INSTALL WILL ALSO FAIL. CENTER CLUSTER ALSO FAILED, ALSO KNOWN AUDI ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10343834
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
65,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 7, 2009

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS FLASHING ON MY DASH BOARD. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS ABOUT $1000! MY CAR HAS ABOUT 120,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10264397
Incident
Mar 15, 2009
Brakes
Filed Feb 2, 2009

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING FAILING IN AUDI'S AND VW'S BUILT BETWEEN 1996 AND 2001. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY'VE SEEN A LOT OF. SEE MANY OWNERS DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM HERE: HTTP://AUDI-VW-ABS-RECALL.BLOGSPOT.COM/2005/07/AUDI-AND-VW-PLEASE-RECALL-CARS-BETWEEN.HTML THE ABS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT, AND IT SEEMS IRRESPONSIBLE TO ME THAT AUDI HAS FAILED TO RECALL A VERY COMMON AND KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10257246
Incident
Jan 30, 2009
Mileage
92,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 31, 2008

HELLO: RECENTLY I HAD A FAILURE WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2000 AUDI A4, 2.8L. THIS FAILURE WAS VERIFIED BY THE AUDI DEALER IN WILMINGTON, DE. FROM THE DEALER AND ACCORDING TO MANY ARTICLES, THIS FAILURE IS COMMON WITH THIS MAKE. SO COMMON, THAT AUDI/VW DID A RECALL ON VW'S, BUT NOT ON AUDI'S. THIS IS NOT FAIR AND I AM HEAR TO VOICE MY SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236522
Incident
May 1, 2008
Mileage
99,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 10, 2008

ABS INTERMITTENT. SYSTEM GOES FROM FINE, TO INOPERATIVE WITH NO WARNING. DETAILS: INTERMITTENTLY GET THREE BEEPS FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WITH THE YELLOW ABS LIGHT LIT STEADILY, AND THE RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BLINKING. WHILE THE SYSTEM IS IN THIS STATE, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS NOT AVAILABLE VIA DIAGNOSTIC INTERFACE, AND THE ABS IS INOPERATIVE. SHOP DIAGNOSTICS SAYS: 01203 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 03-10 - NO SIGNAL - INTERMITTENT DETAILS OF AFFECTED EQUIPMENT: ABS CONTROL MODULE IS 8E0-614-111-A (BOSCH ABS/EDS VERSION 5.3). *TR

NHTSA ID
10233824
Incident
Jun 3, 2008
Mileage
105,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 15, 2006

MY VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM THE MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT COMING ON AND MY BRAKE LIGHT BLINKING. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THOUGH IT WAS FIXED THE LIGHTS KEEP DISPLAYING. THIS I BELIEVE IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST OTHER OWNERS OF MY VEHICLE AS WELL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10173537
Incident
Nov 6, 2006
Mileage
80,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 2006

ABS MODULE/SENSOR FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY WITH OTHER AUDI OWNERS AND HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED ON SITES SUCH AS MYCARSTATS.COM. BASICALLY THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING, ACCOMPANIED BY A BEEP. AFTER INITIAL RESEARCH, I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THE MODULE HAD FAILED AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. LOCAL AUDI DEALER QUOTED 1500 FOR THE MODULE PLUS LABOR. LUCKILY, I FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE BY SENDING THE FAULTY MODULE TO MODULEMASTER.COM. THIS COMPANY SPECIALIZES IN REPAIRING DEFEKTIVE CIRCUITRY. THE LABOR IS WARRANTIED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND COSTS 300.00 (INCLUDING SHIPPING AND MISC. STUFF). THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVEABLE WHILE THE MODULE WAS OUT. THEIR WEBSITE CONTAINED A VIDEO ON HOW TO PROPERLY ACCESS THE MODULE, REMOVE IT, AND REPLACE IT ONCE IT WAS REPAIRED. ALL IN ALL, I SAVED MYSELF '1200 PLUS LABOR'. I WOULD LIKE EXPRESS MY DISGUST WITH ALL AUDI DEALERS WHO SELL THEIR MODULES FOR THESE OUTRAGEOUS PRICES. ONE THING NONE OF THEM ADMITT TO IS THAT THE REASON WHY THESE BOSCH MODULES FAIL IS BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFEKT IN THE CIRCUITRY. SO THEIR $1200 MODULES WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL TOO. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171506
Incident
Oct 2, 2004
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 7, 2006

2000 AUDI A4 WITH ONLY 51000 MILES. ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON LOUD BEEP AND FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT IN PANEL. WILL COST 1200.00 TO FIX. MANY PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER YEAR MODELS BY AUDI. *NM

NHTSA ID
10164672
Incident
Jun 5, 2006
Mileage
50,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 22, 2006

ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILING AT 80K MILES. INCREASING THE RISK FOR REAR BRAKES TO LOCK UP THE WHEELS POSSIBLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT UNDER HEAVY BRAKING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10153466
Incident
Mar 20, 2006
Mileage
89,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 8, 2006

I EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF ABS IN A 2000 AUDI A4 AVANT QUATTRO. THIS IS THE WELL-KNOWN AND WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROL MODULE UNIT. THE UNIT SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED WITHOUT ANY REASON, AT ABOUT 80K MILES. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THE ABS DOES NOT WORK AND THE PART TO REPLACE IT IS ABOUT $1500. I HAVE YET TO REPLACE OR REPAIR IT AT THIS POINT, HOPING VW/AUDI WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT (A RECALL WOULD BE NICE). *JB

NHTSA ID
10149698
Incident
Jun 14, 2005
Mileage
85,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 24, 2005

RECENTLY THE ABS AND BRAKE ALARM CAME ON AND WHEN I WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED THE SERVICE MAN SAID THERE WAS A FOUR WEEK BACK ORDER ON THE ABS MODULE. HE SAID THAT THIS PART IS GOING BAD IN ALL THE AUDI A4'S AND SOME A 6'S AND HE CAN'T EVEN GET THE PART FROM A JUNKED AUDI. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146031
Incident
Dec 6, 2005
Mileage
165,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2005

ABS BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN UNSAFE ABS BRAKE FUNCTION. NEED TO REPLACE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM BASED ON A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET. *JB

NHTSA ID
10140616
Incident
Oct 20, 2005
Mileage
83,850 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 5, 2005

AUDI A4 2000 1.8T (1) ABS LIGHT FLASHING. BROUGHT TO DEALER. QUOTED $600 FOR REPAIR KIT, $1500 FOR NEW MODULE. BOTH PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE LABOR. SEARCHED INTERNET AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER AUDI A4 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. (2) ABS IS NOW INTERMITTENT ON MY CAR AND WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY. (3) CAN'T CORRECT RIGHT AWAY B/C MY AUDI DEALERSHIP IS 6 MONTHS BACK ORDERED. I ASSUME BECAUSE SO MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10138756
Incident
Oct 5, 2005
Mileage
65,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 3, 2005

ABS COMPUTER FAILS, RESULTING IN ABS SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138361
Incident
Oct 2, 2005
Mileage
85,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 12, 2005

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. SEARCHED FORUMS AND INFO BOARDS AND IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10136159
Incident
Aug 15, 2005
Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 2005

ABS MODULE FAILING AND OR LOOSING COMMUNICATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10135782
Incident
May 25, 2005
Mileage
90,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 4, 2005

ABS LIGHT IS ON, AND BRAKE LIGHT IS BLINKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD MY ABS MODULE IS FAULTY. AFTER LOOKING AT THE FORUMS ONLINE IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT THOUSANDS OF AUDI/VW OWNERS ARE GETTING. COST OF REPAIR IS VERY HIGH. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL YET???*JB

NHTSA ID
10135298
Incident
Apr 27, 2005
Mileage
49,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 28, 2005

EARLIER MODEL AUDI A4 AUTOS HAVE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO THE FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. FAILURE TO REPAIR IMMEDIATELY AT A COST OF UP TO $3000 (IF AUDI CAN FIND PARTS) WILL RESULT IN REAR WHEEL LOCKUP AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. AUDI WARNS/ADMITS OF THIS IN ITS OWNERS MANUAL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10134432
Incident
Aug 28, 2005
Mileage
88,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 5, 2005

BRAKES POWER ASSIST FAIL AT / JUST AFTER STARTUP WHEN SELECTING REVERSE OR DRIVE WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE AUDI EXCHANGE IN HIGHLAND PARK, IL LAST YEAR. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, AT THE TIME AS I WAS UNAWARE THAT IT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE A/C WAS ON AND AT LOW SPEED AFTER INITIAL START UP. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN THIS SUMMER WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MOVE OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. THE RESULT WAS THAT I HIT ANOTHER CAR AT LOW SPEED CAUSING NO DAMAGE TO EITHER.

NHTSA ID
10127432
Incident
Jun 28, 2005
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 3, 2005

CAR HAS ONLY 62,000 MILES, BUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROLLER FAILED. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE; REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10108481
Incident
Jan 2, 2005
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 2005

FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE...CAUSE LOSS OF ABS BRAKING IN 2000 AUDI A4 WITH ON 60K MILES. THIS HAS CAUSE MANY CLOSE CALLS AS IT IS $1500 TO REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10105786
Incident
Jan 4, 2005
Brakes
Filed Dec 20, 2004

PASSENGER FRONT BRAKE PAD SEPATATED FROM THE METAL BACKING PLATE WHILE WITHIN SERVICE SPECIFICATION (0.25 IN OF PAD) AND RESULTED IN LONG BRAKING DISTANCES AND GREATLY REDUCED PEDAL PRESSURE. PEDAL PRESSURE COULD NOT BE RECOVERED UNDER REPETITIVE BRAKE ACTUATIONS. THE CAR BECAME UNSAFE TO OPERATE AT ANY SPEED. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE. AUDI OF AMERICA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART UNDER AUDI ASSURED WARRANTY STATING THAT THIS IS NOT RELATED TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10104117
Incident
Dec 14, 2004
Mileage
46,000 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .