RoadVitals

2005 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.
54
Latest Jun 18, 2026
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.
25%
of 219 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.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

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 2005 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 54 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

The 25 most recent of 54, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jun 18, 2026

The contact's husband owned a 2005 Audi A4. The contact received several recall letters and cards from the NHTSA and Audi manufacturer for a Takata Air Bag recall. The contact stated that the last notification received stated that the owner could die if the recall was not completed. The contact was adamant and would like the mailing address to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was no longer owned. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance.

NHTSA ID
11744972
Incident
Jun 18, 2026
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 6, 2025

The car is completely defective,total engine, gasket,water pump,intake manifold,airbag, transmission,torque,drive shaft, universal joints,all rear axles,wheel bearing,bought at auction Aug 19,2024, $4000, the as is was so small and on the back of a sheet we did not see it,we are senior,

NHTSA ID
11634360
Incident
Aug 21, 2024
Airbags
Filed Dec 9, 2023
Crash reported2 injuries reported

The airbags in our 2005 Audi A4 were recalled. We had the airbag replaced due to the recall in Audi of Stratham, 58 Portsmouth Ave, Stratham, NH 03885 in February 2023. On 12/8/23, my daughter was involved in a serious front-end collation with another vehicle. The airbags in the Audi did not deploy. The other vehicle (which sustained less damage) did deploy. Without the airbags, her face hit the steering wheel, causing a large laceration to her eyelid and significant bruising and swelling to her face.

NHTSA ID
11559327
Incident
Dec 8, 2023
Airbags
Filed Feb 23, 2021

DESPITE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO; I CONTINUE TO GET WARNING LIGHT AND NOW IS NOT FUNCTION. ALBANY AUDI SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AND IT WILL COST ME $150 TO DIAGNOSE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS WHO ATTEST TO PROBLEMS WITH RECALLED REPLACEMENT BAGS.

NHTSA ID
11397578
Incident
Jan 4, 2021
Airbags
Filed Sep 2, 2020
1 injury reported

ON JULY 2, 2020 I WAS IN A CITY STREET SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING WHEEL, DRIVER SIDE SEAT AND THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HITTING ME. I WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK SINCE I WAS NOT MOVING OR HAD NOT BEEN HIT. I HAD TO MOVE THE CAR OVER INTO A PARKING LOT. THE HORN WAS HONKING AND WOULD NOT STOP SO I HAD TO TAKE OUT FUSE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO SO I CALLED A FAMILY FRIEND TO COME HELP TOW THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE SINCE I WAS NOT FAR FROM IT. THEN ON JULY 5, 2020 I RECEIVED A POST CARD IN THE MAIL FROM AUDI DEALERSHIP SAYING THERE WAS A URGENT AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. SO ON JULY 6, 2020 I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND LEFT MY INFORMATION. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM THEM SINCE. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR IT HAD BEEN SITTING IN DRIVEWAY SINCE THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID
11352854
Incident
Jul 2, 2020
Mileage
145,210 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 29, 2020

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID
11351993
Incident
Jun 11, 2005
Airbags
Filed Aug 14, 2020

AIR BAG LIGHT ON,RAN CODE, STATES BAD IGNITER RAN GOOGLE SEARCH SAYS 2005 A4 QUALIFIES FOR RECALL AUDI DEALER STATES NOT ON LIST FOR AIRBAG RECALL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME

NHTSA ID
11349167
Incident
Jul 2, 2002
Mileage
71,000 mi
AirbagsEngineSteering
Filed Aug 10, 2020

NOTICED AIR BAG LIGHTS ON DIDNT THINK QUICK , ALSO I NOTUCED ELECTRICAL ISSUE HERE & THERE. ENGINE RUNS & SOUNDS LOUDER WHEN USING A/C. WHEN YOU GO TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE THERES A LOUD THUMP THUMP NOISE AT THE END FIR ABOUT 3 MINS OR SO , PROBLEMS STARTING THE ENGINE , BACK WINDSHIELD WIPER TURNS ON BY ITS SELF , A WEEK AGO THE LIGHT IN THE BAVK TURNS ON BY IT SELF. OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS NOT SURE IF ALL TIED IN TOGETHER I JUST STARTED MY PURCHASE ON 7/21/2020 FROM A CAR DEALER. HAD IT CHECKED BY 2 PEOPLE & ONE SAID AIR LEAK SHOWING FROM DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE . MY DEALER PUT ON MACHINE & SAID DIDNT SEE NOTHING WRONG. POWER STEERING GOES OUT HAVE TO FILL ALMOST EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MY DEALER SAID DONT PUT MORE CAUSE IT COULD MESS UP ENGINE. SO I DIDNT & 2 DAYS LATER DRIVING 15 -20 MPH ON RESIDENTIAL STREET IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE ITS GOING TO STOP SO I PRESUMED TO SHUT OFF ENGINE . CHEVK UNDER THE HOOD & THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS BONE DEY SMOKING SLIGHTLY , & BELT WAS PULLED OUT A& SHREDDED & IT WOULDNT EVEN TURM ON ENOUGH TO GET A FULL START & DEALER CAME & TOWED IT BACK. NOW HE SAYING I NEED A NEW ENGINE

NHTSA ID
11348420
Incident
Aug 5, 2020
Mileage
175,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Aug 19, 2018

AFTER 10 YEARS OF USE, TURNING LEFT THE RUBBER WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVER SIDE MAKES A POP NOISE. NOT FROM DRIVING ERRADIC BUT FROM TYPICAL WEAR AND TEAR. ALSO, THERE IS AN MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT COMES ON BUT WHEN PLUGGED UP TO A CODE READER, NO PROBLEMS ARE FOUND. CARS WONT PASS SMOG WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON, SO THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN. IF THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WHY WOULD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON? I THINK COMPUTERS IN LUXURY CARS BACK THEN WERE A BIT TOO ADVANCED FOR THEIR TIME AND WEREN'T VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT. AIR BAG HAD A RANDOM DEPLOYMENT WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD AND UNSCREWED THE PRESSURE ON THE RADIATOR FLUID. GOING TO NEED THIS VIN ADDED TO THE RECALL FOR AIRBAGS TO GET A NEW ONE.

NHTSA ID
11120940
Incident
Aug 18, 2018
Mileage
56,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 10, 2018

TAMARA RECALL. I HAVE TRIED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET THIS REPLACED AS THE YEAR AND MAKE OF MY VEHICLE ARE IN THE TARGET AREA FOR POSSIBLE DEFECT. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD BY THE LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH I PRESENTED THEM WITH PAPERWORK. I SPOKE WITH THEM AGAIN TODAY AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE NO TIMEFRAME FOR REPAIR AND OUT ME ON A CALL LIST. THIS IS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. I AM A PARENT AND I WORK IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE. THIS GREATLY CONCERNS ME AS I HAVE SEE TRAUMATIC INJURIES ON A REGULAR BASIS.

NHTSA ID
11084271
Incident
Apr 10, 2018
Airbags
Filed Apr 4, 2018
Crash reported

CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID. OR DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11083351
Incident
Apr 4, 2018
Mileage
59,000 mi
AirbagsEngineFuel system
Filed Feb 8, 2018
Crash reported

'TAKATA RECALL' I MADE APPOINTMENTS AND REGISTERED TO GET MY AIRBAG REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN JUNE I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE ELMWOOD PARK LOCATION AND WHEN I GOT THEIR THE GUY LIED AND SAID THE COMPUTERS ARE DOWN HE DIDN'T WANT TO HELP ME. THEY HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE AND DON'T WANT TO FIX IT IT IS NOW 2018 AND NO ONE FROM AUDI CALLED ME AND MY VEHICLE IS REGISTERED WITH THEM. SO MY AIR BAG CAN RUPTURE AT ANY TIME I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 1/4/17 I WAS INTENTIONALLY REAR ENDED BY A WHITE BMW AND I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY 8 YEAR OLD NEPHEW AND MOM WHO WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED. NOT ONLY THAT MY GAS TANK FUEL INJECTOR THE AIR PRESSURE IS OFF CAUSING IT TO STOP CONSTANTLY WHILE GETTING GAS. THIRD I HAD THIS P2005 AND P2006 ERROR CODE WHICH IS THE INTAKE AIR EXCHANGE MANIFOLD FLAP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WHICH IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR WHEN I WENT TO GET IT REPLACED COSTING ME 1,800 THE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE SAME ERROR CODE IS BACK 2 MONTHS LATER NOTHING WAS FIXED ON MY CAR PERIOD AND ON 10/31/17 I WENT TO AUDI IN UPPER SADDLE RIVER AND THEY DID NOT FIX IT EITHER OF FIND A DEALER WITH THE AIRBAG NEAR BY THAT HAS THE PARTS TO REPLACE IT THO COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY PASSENGERS THEIR LIFE AND THIS ISN'T UNACCEPTABLE FOR AUDI TO TREAT CUSTOMERS LIKE THAT REGARDLESS OF MY VEHICLE BEING OLD NEW OR BROUGHT FROM A THIRD PARTY DEALERSHIP ALL AUDI OWNERS SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY AND REMEDIES BE ADDRESS ACCORDING TO LAW AND RECALL. BEING THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS ISSUED CUSTOMER PREFERENCE IS NULL AND VOID BECAUSE SAFETY AND WEALTH HAS NO BEARING IN WHO GETS FIRST DIBS ON AIRBAGS NO AUDI OWNER SHOULD GET PREFERENCE OVER THE OTHER WHETHER IT BE THEY BROUGHT THEIR CAR DIRECTLY FROM THE AUDI DEALERSHIP OR NOT AND THAT THE IMPRESSION I'M GETTING AND BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE NOT ALL CUSTOMERS AND OWNER ARE TREATED EQUALLY

NHTSA ID
11071674
Incident
Jan 4, 2018
Mileage
158,978 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 28, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V032000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI MANHATTAN, 800 11TH AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10019) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11050978
Incident
Jan 11, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 9, 2017

TAKATA RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS ISSUED ON MAY 27, 2016. ONE YEAR AND A HALF LATER, AUDI HAS FAILED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG OR TO PROVIDE A SAFE LOANER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11044784
Incident
May 27, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 6, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. AIRBAGS ARE ON BACKORDER. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RECEIVED ENOUGH TO REPLACE RECALLED ONES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS

NHTSA ID
11043873
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 3, 2017

TAKATA RECALL- WENT TO AUDI DALLAS AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THEE PROBLEM. I ASKED WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE THE FIX AVAIALABLE, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE A DATE.

NHTSA ID
11043071
Incident
May 9, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 1, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. A RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY 2017 FOR A TAKATA AIRBAG IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE CALLED TWO DEALERS REPEATEDLY DURING 2017, IN ITHACA AND CICERO, HOWEVER REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS REMAIN UNAVAILABLE. SINCE I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE, I HAVE STOPPED CARRYING PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS IMPEDED USE OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO PUT ANOTHER PERSON AT RISK OF INJURY.

NHTSA ID
11041883
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 30, 2017

TAKATA RECALL WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY OF 2017 AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR 10 MONTHS WITH NO RESOLUTION IN SIGHT. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI AND THERE IS NO EXPECTED AVAILABILITY DATE OR REMEDY. I JUST RECEIVED A MESSAGE COMPANY HAS FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY AND UNSURE WHAT RECOURSE EXISTS.

NHTSA ID
11041452
Incident
Jan 30, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 2017

TAKATA RECALL REMEDY IS NOT AVAILABLE. WE NEED TO GET THIS FIXED ASAP.

NHTSA ID
11040446
Incident
Mar 22, 2005
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - RECEIVED POST CARD FROM TK HOLDINGS INC. INFORMING ME ABOUT THE CHAPTER 11 CASE, AND THE RECALL WHICH WAS INSTITUTED ON JANUARY 11, 2017, OF WHICH I WAS NEVER INFORMED. I AM NOW INFORMED AND ACCORDING TO THE LATEST INFORMATION - RECALL INCOMPLETE REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE. SO, IN THE MEANTIME, APPARENTLY I'M DRIVING A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. NOTHING , AS OF YET, HAS HAPPENED AND I CERTAINLY WILL STRIVE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

NHTSA ID
11039799
Incident
Oct 25, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 23, 2017

2005 AUDI A5. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONTAL PASSENGER AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
11035010
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 19, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V032000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AUDI DANBURY (25 SUGAR HOLLOW RD, DANBURY, CT 06810 (203) 744-5202) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CASE WAS OPENED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11034544
Incident
Oct 19, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 19, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. WE WERE FIRST NOTIFIED IN MARCH, 2017 OF THE FRONTAL AIRBAG RECALL. THE LETTER FROM AUDI AT THAT TIME ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE WITH PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND FOR THAT REASON THE CAR HAS REMAINED IN THE GARAGE SINCE THAT TIME. AUDI INITIALLY ADVISED PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER. I HAVE JUST BEEN ADVISED THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL AND TIMING OF PART REPLACEMENT IS UNKNOWN. I HAVE A $35,000 CAR WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT THAT IS UN-USABLE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH A "CUSTOMER ADVOCATE" AT AUDI USA AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AS WELL. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
11034543
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jul 11, 2017

TAKATA RECALL-AS OF TODAY, I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY RECALL OR REMEDY INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER

NHTSA ID
11004686
Incident
Jul 11, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 2017

TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN OVER ONE YEAR SINCE I WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THE AUDI RECALL LINE SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE RECEIVED NO INFORMATION. WHEN I HAVE ASKED WHEN I CAN EXPECT THE REPAIR TO BE READY, I AM TOLD THAT PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE AND THEY'LL SEND ME A LETTER AT SOME POINT. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL IN THE LEAST. I HAVE NOT ALLOWED ANYONE TO RIDE IN MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE OF THE RECALL, AND THIS TIME DELAY IS VERGING ON RIDICULOUS!

NHTSA ID
11002519
Incident
May 27, 2016

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 .