2003 Audi Cabriolet Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Audi Cabriolet, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure225.0%
- Electrical112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Fuel system112.5%
- Steering112.5%
- Transmission112.5%
- Visibility112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED AN AUDI BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING QUALITY. I HAVE A BROKEN HING ON MY GLOVE BOX THAT RARELY IS USED (EST $450), OIL LEAK FROM A CAM SHAFT CHAIN ADJUSTER SEAL (EST $517), BROKEN TRUNK BIN (EST $675), AND NOW A RADIO THAT DOESN'T WORK AND AUDI WANTS ($1,900) SO I CAN GET RADIO RECEPTION. I AM SHOCKED THESE ITEMS HAVE ALREADY WORN OUT ON A CAR THAT HAS ONLY 50,500 MILES AND IS ONLY USED FOR PLEASURE. *TT
2003 AUDI A4 CABRIO. VERY LOW MILEAGE, LOW USE. REAR WINDOW DELAMINATES FROM CANVAS ROOF, RAIN WATER COMES IN & SHORTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED AN AUDI BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING QUALITY. I HAVE A BROKEN HING ON MY GLOVE BOX THAT RARELY IS USED (EST $450), OIL LEAK FROM A CAM SHAFT CHAIN ADJUSTER SEAL (EST $517), BROKEN TRUNK BIN (EST $675), AND NOW A RADIO THAT DOESN'T WORK AND AUDI WANTS ($1,900) SO I CAN GET RADIO RECEPTION. I AM SHOCKED THESE ITEMS HAVE ALREADY WORN OUT ON A CAR THAT HAS ONLY 50,500 MILES AND IS ONLY USED FOR PLEASURE. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED AN AUDI BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING QUALITY. I HAVE A BROKEN HING ON MY GLOVE BOX THAT RARELY IS USED (EST $450), OIL LEAK FROM A CAM SHAFT CHAIN ADJUSTER SEAL (EST $517), BROKEN TRUNK BIN (EST $675), AND NOW A RADIO THAT DOESN'T WORK AND AUDI WANTS ($1,900) SO I CAN GET RADIO RECEPTION. I AM SHOCKED THESE ITEMS HAVE ALREADY WORN OUT ON A CAR THAT HAS ONLY 50,500 MILES AND IS ONLY USED FOR PLEASURE. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN THIS CARS GAS TANK GOES BELOW A HALF TANK, THE GAS CHAMBER DOES NOT ALLOW GAS TO FLOW INTO THE TANK. FOR SOME REASON,THE GAS PUMP RELEASES OR WORSE THE FUEL OVERFLOWS. THE SAFETY OR RISK HERE IS THAT ONE CAN GET STRANDED, BE IN A STRANGE TOWN, FAR FROM HOME LATE AT NIGHT, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO FILL THE TANK. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY LOCAL DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS BUT WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
2003 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET STEERING WAS EXTREMELY NOISY FROM DATE OF PURCHASE ON. GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BY AUDI SERVICE 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. AT ONE POINT, A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING CAUSED DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. AUDI MECHANICS AND DEALER ADMITTED TO FAULTY POWER STEERING IN SOME A4 CABRIOLET MODELS BUT WILL NOT OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE. AFTER ALMOST 4 MONTHS I'M STILL WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT CAR. *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2003 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 3.0 WITH CVS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE REPLACED ONE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF OVER 7,500 DOLLARS. THE CAR ONLY HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED BY AUDI DEALERSHIP IN TORONTO , CANADA. THE DEALER TRIED TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR THE REPAIR AND AFTER SEVERAL ARGUMENTS ONLY PARTIALLY COVERED THE COSTS. THE CAR NOW HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT AND AGAIN I AM EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE PRND LIGHTS FLASH BACK AND FORTH AND THE TRANSMISSION IS WINING AND SHAKY AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. OBVIOUSLY AUDI HAS DONE A POOR JOB OF DESIGNING THIS TRANSMISSION AND REPAIR COSTS ARE RIDICULOUS. I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH DASH BOARD LIGHTS , BRAKE LIGHTS BURNING OUT REGULARLY AND POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. MY ADVICE. DON'T BUT AN AUDI UNLESS YOU PLAN ON SELLING IT BEFORE THE WARRANTY IS UP AND IF YOU LIKE SARCASTIC TREATMENT AT DEALERSHIP LEVEL THEN THESE CARS ARE FOR YOU. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
2003 AUDI A4 CABRIO. VERY LOW MILEAGE, LOW USE. REAR WINDOW DELAMINATES FROM CANVAS ROOF, RAIN WATER COMES IN & SHORTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .