RoadVitals

2004 Audi A4 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
14
Latest Oct 27, 2020
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.
7%
of 189 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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 exterior lighting

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

AirbagsEngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 2020

I WAS DRIVING TO JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA AND CAR HAD SHUT OFF ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY IN YULEE FLORIDA I WAS STUCK ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 7 HRS MY CAR IS STUCK IN FLORIDA

NHTSA ID
11366758
Incident
Oct 23, 2020
Mileage
113,000 mi
AirbagsEngineExterior lighting
Filed Aug 14, 2020
Fire reported

I ORIGINALLY HAD 3 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE I CALLED IN TO SEE ABOUT GETTING THEM FIXED FREE OF CHARGE AS EXPLAINED IN THE RECALL TECH BULLETIN .THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDED IN GETTING ALL OF MY INFORMATION THEN AFTER DOING SO TELLS ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO UPDATE MY CARS INFO SHORTLY AFTER I WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SITE OF THIS RECALL PUT IN MY CARS INFO AGAIN AND ALL THE RECALLS THAT WAS ONCE AVAILABLE FOR MY VEHICLE WAS MYSTERIOUSLY GONE.I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE AND NEVER GOT IT FIXED. NOW THE RECALL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ARE STARTING TO BE NOTICEABLE ON MY VEHICLE SUCH AS THE DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP, DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SITUATION WHAT CAN I HAVE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11349159
Incident
Mar 19, 2020
Mileage
157,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 16, 2018

THE HID XENON HEADLIGHTS HAVE DIMMED TO THE POINT WHERE DRIVING AT NIGHT COULD BECOME DIFFICULT. THERE IS A RECALL (05V096000) FOR 2004 AUDI A4'S WITH HID HEADLIGHTS BUT THIS VIN. IS NOT INCLUDED. POSSIBLY A KNOWN PROBLEM TO AUDI.

NHTSA ID
11088398
Incident
Apr 16, 2018
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 2, 2016

WHEN COLD TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE USED. DASH WILL READ OUT WITH (LEFT HEADLIGHT DIPPED) ERROR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONG THIS CAR MODEL

NHTSA ID
10817383
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
11,186 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE LIGHT BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10471519
Incident
Aug 10, 2011
Mileage
82,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 31, 2011

RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHTS DIPPED ERROR. BOTH HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING MAKING DRIVING UNSAFE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO FIX AND RESEARCH MANY OTHER AUDI OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND STILL NOT ABLE TO FIX. THE BULBS ARE WORKING FINE AS I SWAPPED THEM WITH ANOTHER AUDI OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10379681
Incident
Jan 31, 2004
Mileage
100,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 30, 2010

AUDI 2004 A4 HEADLIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10368341
Incident
Nov 10, 2010
Mileage
72,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 28, 2010

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 AUDI A4 IN NOVEMBER 2007 FROM AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. IN THE FALL OF 2008, BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS AND BOTH TAILLIGHTS ALL WENT OUT WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP AND PAID FOR SERVICE REPLACEMENT BULBS FOR ALL FOUR LIGHTS. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY CAR DASHBOARD GAVE A WARNING THAT MY REAR LEFT FOG LIGHT WENT OUT. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THAT YET, AS I DO NOT USE MY FOG LIGHTS. LAST WEEK, I GOT ANOTHER DASHBOARD MESSAGE THAT MY RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT HAS DIPPED. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS NOW MUCH MORE DIM THAN THE LEFT ONE. BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SUMMER, I HAVE VERY RARELY NEEDED TO DRIVE AT DARK USING HEADLIGHTS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR AUDI CARS WITH DIPPED FRONT HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, AND NO RESOLUTIONS OR TRUE FIXES FOR THE PROBLEM. AT A MINIMUM, IT APPEARS IT WILL CAUSE GREAT EXPENSE TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT FIXED, ONLY TO HAVE A VERY HIGH CHANCE OF THE PROBLEM RECURRING ANYWAY. SEVERAL OF THOSE WEBSITE REFERRED ME TO THIS COMPLAINT FORM. I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED THE AUDI DEALER ABOUT FIXING THIS PROBLEM, AS I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR JUST A TEMPORARY FIX. AS WE NOW GET INTO THE FALL AND WINTER MONTHS, I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10358006
Incident
Sep 25, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 29, 2010

2004 AUDI A4 3.0 REPORTING "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" WITH LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERING ON AND OFF. WITH NO KNOWN WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, PER AUDI DEALERSHIP, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ALSO GOES BAD? NOT ONLY DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER, BUT ON-COMING TRAFFIC! ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED RELATED TO AUDI HEADLIGHT ISSUE! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE & IMMEDIATELY. ~THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT'S FAILURE & THIS PROBLEM OCCURS CONTINUOUSLY... *TR

NHTSA ID
10352634
Incident
Aug 20, 2010
Mileage
74,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 1, 2010

"INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR AND A HALF OF OWNERSHIP, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAS MALFUNCTIONED (TURNED OFF), WITH NO CONSISTENT CAUSE APPARENT. THE SPECIFIC ERROR MESSAGE THAT APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN IS "RIGHT HEADLIGHT DIPPED". THIS CONDITION IS BOTH UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL - AS MANY STATES WILL ISSUE A TRAFFIC VIOLATION FOR DRIVING WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 7-8 TIMES, THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS, THEN GOES OUT, BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED, THEN BE FINE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AT A TIME. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM ON AT LEAST 3 VISITS, AND HAS CLAIMED THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED/GUESSED THAT IT IS THE XENON LIGHT BULB ITSELF, HOWEVER IT HAS CHECKED OUT FINE EACH TIME, AND AS MENTIONED, HAS FUNCTIONED FLAWLESSLY AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE WITH MERELY A RESTART OF THE VEHICLE. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED, HOWEVER THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO PERFORM A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ON AT LEAST ONE VISIT. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE (CONVERSATIONAL, AND VIA INTERNET OWNERS' FORUMS) SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF AUDI'S MODEL RANGE AND YEARS." *TR

NHTSA ID
10341062
Incident
Jul 1, 2010
Mileage
135,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 22, 2010

I OWN A 2004 AUDI A4 AND LAST YEAR MY PASSENGERS SIDE HEADLIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER AND WOULD EVEN GO OUT AS I WAS DRIVING! MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! I AM ON MANY AUDI FORUMS AND THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF THE SAME ISSUE! DO YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN! AND LAST TIME I WENT TO AUDI TO FIX MY RIGHT (DRIVERS SIDE) HEADLIGHT IT COST ME OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. I JUST DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT RIGHT NOW AND I THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT AUDI CUSTOMERS ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE NHTSA OR AUDI ARE DOING NOTHING TO SOLVE IT. I KEEP THIS CAR UP IN IMMACULATE CONDITION WITH FOLDER AND FOLDERS OF SERVICE PAGES SO ITS NOT FROM NEGLECT AND EVERYONE ELSE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT IS BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO TURN MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BACK ON WHEN IT GOES OUT IS TO PULL OVER SHUT MY LIGHTS AND TURN THEM BACK ON THEN IT COMES BACK ON AND WILL EITHER STAY ON FOR A LITTLE BIT AND THEN START FLICKERING AGAIN AND GO OUT AGAIN. I AM TAKING MY LIFE IN MY HANDS DRIVING THIS CAR AND ITS MY ONLY CAR TO COMMUTE WITH. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED VERY SOON! *TR

NHTSA ID
10339610
Incident
Dec 1, 2009
Exterior lighting
Filed May 13, 2010

LEFT XENON HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER, AND AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MORE DAYS, IT WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I REPLACED THE BULB, BUT THE HEADLIGHT STILL DOES NOT WORK. EVERYTHING I HAVE READ ONLINE INDICATES THE BALLAST OR IGNITER MIGHT NEED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, GIVEN THAT THE HEADLIGHTS SPONTANEOUSLY STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330297
Incident
Apr 30, 2010
Mileage
101,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 1, 2008

1. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERS 2. IT THEN TURNS ITSELF OFF 3. THE MESSAGE "LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" APPEARS 4. THE MESSAGE IS CHANGED TO A SIGN INDICATING THAT THE LIGHTBULB HAS FAILED. 5. HEADLIGHT COMPLETELY OUT NOW 6. REPLACED BULB TWICE 7. AUDI NOW SUGGESTS ITS IGNITER 8. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ON THIS SITE HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/T593349-AUDI_A4_LEFT_DIPPED_HEADLIGHT_PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10250258
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 22, 2008

2004 AUDI A4 HAS HAD SEVERAL REPAIR PROBLEMS. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE PROBLEMS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS A BULB. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT GO DOWN. AN ELECTRICAL PART ON THE CONVERTIBLE WAS REPLACED, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAD BURNED OUT AND THE CRANK PULLEY WAS REPLACED.. *JB THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP REPLACEMENT CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE HEADLINER AS WELL THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAD A LEAK. UPDATED 02/07/11

NHTSA ID
10247008
Incident
Sep 13, 2008
Mileage
19,102 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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .