RoadVitals

2004 Audi A4 Tires & wheels Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the tire or wheel system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Tires & wheels 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 17, 2011
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.
8%
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.
0
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 tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system. 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. 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 tire or wheel

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 17, 2011

I HAVE A SET OF NEXEN N5000 TIRES. THESE WERE BOUGHT ON 01/02/2009 AND INSTALLED IN THE SAME MONTH. THE TIRES BOTH HAVE CRACKS AROUND THE SIDEWALL. ONE IS WORSE THAN THE OTHER BUT BOTH ARE CRACKING IN THE SAME AREA. THEY ARE ALSO NOT HOLDING AIR AS WELL AS BEFORE. THE INFORMATION ON THE TIRES IS... DOT 8EOL BEBR 4508 E4 0236273. *TR

NHTSA ID
10376950
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
60,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR ASSURANCE COMFORT TREAD TIRES (NA). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING HER VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS ALIGNMENT FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND TIRE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ID
10237468
Incident
Jul 14, 2008
Mileage
21,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed May 19, 2008

I OWN A 2004 AUDI A4 3.0 QUATTRO WITH PIRELLI P6 4SEASONS P235/34R17 TIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE STORE TO GET THE TIRES BALANCED BECAUSE THEY WERE VIBRATING. THE FIRESTONE STORE EMPLOYEE SHOWED ME THE TIRES LATER ON BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THESE WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. A TOTAL OF THREE OF THE TIRES SHOWED SOME TYPE OF DEFECT: ONE OF THE TIRES (FRONT LEFT) HAS A BIG BUBBLE IN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE, THE OTHER TWO TIRES (BOTH ARE REAR) ARE COMING APART IN THE INSIDE WALL (I CAN PROVIDE A PICTURES OF THE TIRES--THE DEFECTED TIRE WITH THE BUBBLE CAN NOT BE NOTICED UNLESS THE TIRE IS PLACED ON THE BALANCED MACHINE). BOTH REAR TIRES ARE ACTUALLY COMING APART IN THE SAME PATTERN. I STARTED RESEARCHING ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND IT APPEARS THAT THESE TIRES WERE COLLECTED AMONG OTHER ELEVEN TIRES (TWELVE TOTAL MODELS) A COLLECTION SITE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA ON OR ABOUT 2004 TO CONDUCT A STUDY. THE WEBSITE I FOUND THIS ARTICLE IS: HTTP://DIG.ABCLOCAL.GO.COM/KGO/PDF/TIRE_AGING_NHTSA.PDF (SEE APPENDIX A, AND APPENDIX E). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I CAN GET PIRELLI TO REPLACE THESE TIRES AT NO COST SINCE THESE TIRES APPEAR TO HAVE A AT LEAST 5 TO 10,000 MILES REMAINING OF LIFE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER WHICH WOULD INDEED SAVE LIVES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228170
Incident
May 13, 2008
Mileage
38,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 7, 2007

I BROUGHT MY 2004 AUDI A4 TO JACK DANIELS MOTORS IN MARCH OF 2007 TO GET NEW TIRES. THEY OF COURSE SUGGESTED PIRELLI TIRES AND REALLY DIDN'T OFFER ME ANY OTHER CHOICES. SO I SPENT $826.21 FOR NEW PIRELLI IN MARCH, 2007. WELL NOW IT'S NOVEMBER OF 2007 AND I BROUGHT MY AUDI BACK TO THEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES HAD TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THEY LOST THE THREADS AND WERE GONG BALD. WHEN I TOLD THEM I JUST PUT THE TIRES ON EIGHT (8) MONTHS AGO AND WEREN'T THEY WARRANTED, THEY TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T. WHY WOULD AUDI PUT ON TIRES THAT DIDN'T COME WITH A WARRANTY???? I CALLED PIRELLI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. . I HAVE HAD MY TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON ESPECIALLY WITH THE WINTER MONTHS UPON ME. I DID NOT GET TIRES FROM THEM, I BOUGHT TIRES THAT HAD A WARRANTY FROM AN TIRE DEALER AND THEY WEREN'T PIRELLI. I WOULD NEVER AGAIN BUY PIRELLI TIRES AND FEEL I SHOULD GET MY MONEY BACK FOR THE GARBAGE THEY PUT ON THE CAR AT SUCH A RIDICULOUSLY HIGH PRICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211103
Incident
Nov 28, 2007
Mileage
70,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 17, 2006

AS AN OWNER OF A 2004 AUDI A4 W/ PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASON 17" TIRES HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED NOT WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE TIRES. ALL OF THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 18,300 MILES ON 3/16/06. THE TIRES IN ALL FAILURES HAVE DEVELOPED BUBBLES ON THE SIDE WALLS AND/OR HAVE BLOWN OUT WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY NO INJURIES TO ANYBODY HAS OCCURRED DURING EACH INCIDENT AND THE TIRES EACH TIME HAD TO BE REPLACED AT $145.00 A TIRE. I FILED A COMPLAINT W/ BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (BBB) TO RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF COMPENSATION AND PIRELLI DID INDEED MAIL A CHECK FOR A DISCLOSED AMOUNT. I WISH MORE COMPLAINTS TO THE BBB WOULD BE FILED ALSO TO DOCUMENT THIS ON GOING PROBLEM WITH PIRELLI TIRE AND THIS ACTUAL TIRE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152952
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 11, 2006

BUBBLES IN PIRELLI P6 ALL SEASON TIRES AFTER 6000 MILES OF USE, NORMAL DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10152487
Incident
Mar 9, 2006
Mileage
23,050 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 13, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ALL FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES HAD BLOW OUTS BETWEEN 3/1/04 AND 12/1/05. AFTER EACH BLOW OUT, THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FIRST BLOW OUT OCCURRED WHEN THE CONTACT HIT A POT HOLE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONTACT HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT 40 MPH. THE THIRD OCCURRED WHEN HITTING A POT HOLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED. THE LAST BLOW OUT HAPPENED WHEN HITTING A POT HOLE AT 40 MPH. IN TWO OF THE INCIDENTS THE WHEEL WAS ALSO DAMAGED. EVERY TIRE APPEARED TO HAVE SIDEWALL DAMAGE. THE TIRES WERE REGULARLY SERVICED. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THERE WAS NO WARRANTY FOR ROAD HAZARDS.*AK UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10145122
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Mileage
2,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 28, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER HIT A POT HOLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TIRE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. *AK THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED WITH THE CONSUMERS PARENTS' VEHICLE WHICH WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME TIRES. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10117002
Incident
Feb 5, 2004
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 24, 2005

AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 AUDI A-4 EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI P-6 P235/45 R-17 TIRES. THESE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND THE VEHICLE. AT APPROXIMATELY 12000 MILES THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DEVELOPED A LARGE SIDEWALL BUBBLE. THIS TIRE WAS IMMEDIATELY REPLACED. NOW A WEEK LATER AND APPROXIMATELY 300 MORE MILES, THE SAME PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED AT THE DRIVER"S SIDE FRONT TIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10118334
Incident
Apr 11, 2005
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 31, 2004

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 AUDI A-4 EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI P-6 P235/45 R-17 TIRES. THESE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHESED FROM BELL AUDI OF RAHWAY, NJ. AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES THE REAR RIGHT TIRE DEVELOPED A LARGE SIDEWALL BUBBLE. THIS TIRE WAS IMMEDIATELY RELPACED WITH THE FULL SIZE SPARE (SAME TYPE, MODEL AND RIM). CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP, AUDI, USA AND PIRELLI WERE MET WITH LIMITED INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AT BEST. IN SUBSTANCE, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD / WOULD DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOW A APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES (3000 ON THE REPLACEMENT), THE SAME PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED AT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. CALLS ONCE AGAIN ARE APPARENTLY FALLING UPON DEAF EARS. UNDOUBTABLY WE HAVE A SAFTY ISSUE HERE (AS INDICATED BY SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS LODGED BY OTHER OWNERS OF P-6 TIRES) WHICH IS BEING INGNORE BY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AS WELL AS AUDI, USA AND ITS DEALERS. IN VIEW OF THE LACK OF RESPONSE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE SAFETY ISSUE, I'LL BE FORCED TO REPLACE ALL OF THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I'M REQUESTING THAT THE NHTSA MAKE FURTHER INQUIRIES INTO THIS MATTER. I WILL ALSO BE VERY WILLING TO PROVIDE MY DEFECTIVE TIRES TO THE NHTSA, OR ANY OTHER INDEPENDENT AGENCY, FOR TESTING, ETC. FURTHERMORE, IF THE NHTSA, OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, COMPLAINTANTS, OWNERS, DEALERS, CONSUMER GROUPS, ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING LEGAL RECOURSE PLEASE CONTACT ME AS I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO ASSIST IN ENTERING INTO A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST PIRELLI, AUDI, ETC. I AM EGERLY AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID
10104848
Incident
Dec 31, 2004
Mileage
3,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 1, 2004

PIRELLI TIRE P235/45R17 DOT XBCUC23640. TIRES ARE EXPERIENCING SIDEWALL BUBBLES.

NHTSA ID
10094824
Incident
Sep 29, 2004
Mileage
8,500 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2004

AFTER 4,500 MILES, THE FRONT TIRE DEVELOPED A BUBBLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *AK THE TIRE WAS THEN REPLACED WITH AN IDENTICAL ONE. AFTER 1500K MILES, THAT TIRE DEVELOPED THE SAME BUBBLE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10075477
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
4,500 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 28, 2004

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON MY VEHICLE BLEW OUT WITH A TOTAL OF 1400 MILES ON IT. THE BLOW-OUT WAS ON THE INSIDE WALL APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES ABOVE THE TREAD AND 4-6 INCHES IN LENGTH. IT ALSO RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE TO MY WHEEL WELL AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PROCESS THE PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM UNLESS I PAY ($275) FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE FIRST (WHICH I WILL BE REIMBURSED 3-4 WEEKS LATER) EVEN AFTER AN AUTHORIZED DEALER HAS DEEMED THE TIRE DEFECTIVE. IF I DROP THE PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM, THEN I CAN GET MY REPLACEMENT TIRE AT NO CHARGE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10082823
Incident
Jul 6, 2004
Mileage
1,400 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 22, 2004

2004 AUDI A4 WITH PIRELLI 94V M+S TIRES WITH 3754 MILES DELIVERED TO US ON APRIL 15, 2004 HAD ONE TIRE THAT RIPPED APART AT THE SIDEWALL. LUCKILY NO DAMAGE OR INJURY. *JB CLEARLY THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. ARE THERE REPORTS CONCERNING THESE TIRES? I WISH TO SUBMIT AN COMPLAINT AS THE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS AND LIABLE TO CAUSE INJURIES OR DEATH.

NHTSA ID
10082489
Incident
Jul 22, 2004
Mileage
3,754 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 16, 2004

NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE CORRECT SITE TO REPORT THIS, BUT NEW AUDI 4A WITH PIRELLI P6 4 SEASON 235/45/17 94V TIRES AND 4000 MILES EXPERIENCED FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WALL FAILURES WITH NO APPARENT REASON. WEB REVIEW INDICATES THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS SAME SITUATION IN NEW CARS WITHOUT APPARENT PRECIPITATING EVENT SUCH AS CURB OR POT HOLES. BUBBLES ONLY BUT THIS SUGGESTS TO ME A POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THIS BATCH OF TIRES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081211
Incident
Jul 16, 2004
Body & structureFuel systemSuspension+1 more
Filed Jul 10, 2004

I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2004 AUDI A4AVANTQUATTRO 1.8. ON JULY 1, WITH 2389 MILES ON THE CAR, I HAD A BLOWOUT OF MY RIGHT REAR TIRE, WHICH IS A GOODYEAR M&S R235/17 LOW PROFILE HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRE. I NEVER HAD A SENSATION OF HITTING ANYTHING ON THE ROAD, BUT HAD ONLY SECONDS TO GET FROM THE FAST LANE OF I-5 IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO, CA ACROSS 5 LANES OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND AROUND A CALTRANS MAINTENENCE CREW ON THE SHOULDER, TO SAFETY. BY THE TIME I DID, THE TIRE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WHEEL 360 DEGREES. SIX DAYS LATER, WHILE HAVING THE TIRE REPLACED AT A LOCAL TIRE STORE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AT MY NEXT OPPORTUNITY, WITH NOW 2750 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FILLER HOSE TO THE GAS TANK WAS PUNCTURED, REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE GAS TANK, AS IT IS ALL ONE PEICE, THAT THE WIRES CONNECTING THE FUEL SYSTEM TO THE CENTRAL COMPUTER WERE DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, THAT A HOLE IN THE SHEATH AROUND THE SHOCK ABSORBER ON THAT WHEEL HAD BEEN PUNCTURED, REQUIRING POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SHOCK, AND THAT THE ENTIRE WHEEL LINER ON THAT WHEEL WAS GONE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $1600-2000. NEITHER AUDI, NOR THE DEALERSHIP, THUS FAR HAS TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DESIGN FLAWS THAT CREATED THE POSSIBILITY FOR SUCH DAMAGE FROM A FLAT TIRE. I FREQUENTLY DRIVE ALONE, AND WE LIVE IN A HIGH FIRE DANGER AREA. I WAS DRIVING AROUND WITH A LEAKY GAS TANK FOR 5 DAYS BEFORE THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT EVEN WENT ON, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT A FAULTY SHOCK ABSORBER COULD HAVE CAUSED MY ALL WHEEL DRIVE TO FAIL. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10080768
Incident
Jul 1, 2004
Mileage
2,389 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 on this page last refreshed .