RoadVitals

1999 Audi Quattro

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
21
Latest Feb 13, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

Overview

Our database contains 21 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Audi Quattro, most frequently naming the brakes, steering and fuel system categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes618.8%
  • Steering412.5%
  • Fuel system412.5%
  • Electrical39.4%
  • Engine39.4%
  • Body & structure26.3%
  • Suspension26.3%
  • Airbags13.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 13, 2009

I HAVE A 1999 AUDI A4 QUATRO. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR JUST OVER 3 YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH 5 TIMES. THE SWITCH IS POORLY DESIGNED. ELECTRICAL HEAT MELTS A PLASTIC PART IN THE SWITCH CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND THE HEADLIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. THIS IS A DANGER DUE TO THE POTENTIAL OF FIRE AND ALSO THE LOSS OF LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE WEB AND I AM NOT THE ONLY AUDI OWNER WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258597
Incident
Feb 10, 2009
Airbags
Filed Nov 28, 2006

I HAVE AN 99 AUDI A6 QUATTRO AND MY ABS MODULE IS BAD NOW I HAVE BEEN READING ON ALOT OF FORUMS THAT EVERYONE AT ONE TIME IS HAVING TO REPLACE IT, IF TRUE WOULDN'T THE DEALER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING FAULTY MODULES. *NM

NHTSA ID
10174636
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
74,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2006

1999 AUDI A4 QUATTRO ABS LIGHT /BRAKE LIGHT. ABS LIGHT PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP (NORMALLY) THE ABS UNIT WOULD JUMP IN AND ACT AS IF I WAS SKIDDING, WHEN OBVIOUSLY I WASN'T. AT THIS POINT ABS LIGHT WAS NOT ON. AFTER ABOUT A MONTH OF THIS FUNNY ABS ACTUATION MAYBE ONCE A WEEK, THE ABS LIGHT DECIDED TO COME ON AND STAY ON ALONG WITH A BLINKING BRAKE LIGHT AND BEEPING. AT TIMES IT WOULD SHUT OFF, BUT WOULD COME BACK ON AT SOME POINT DURING THAT DAY. I HAD THE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. NOW IT ALWAYS BLINKS WHEN RUNNING.DIAGNOSTICS SHOW NO PROBLEM. THERE SEEMS TO BE TOO MANY POSTINGS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER SAID THEY COULD REPAIR IT AT A COST OF APPROX. $1600.00 . DEALER SAID EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. I HAVE NOT HAD THE WORK DONE YET BECAUSE OF THE COST. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171735
Incident
Aug 25, 2006
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 4, 2006
Crash reported

I WAS PULLING MY AUDI QUATRO A6 (1999 MODEL) INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY LOCAL BARNES & NOBLE LOCATED ON RICHMOND AVENUE IN STATEN ISLAND, NY. I WAS PULLING IN VERY SLOWLY INTO A HANDICAPPED SPACE WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED TO WHAT FELT LIKE 60 MPH. MY FOOT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT JUMPED OVER THE CONCRETE BARRIER AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL. EVEN THEN, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. THE WITNESS (A STORE EMPLOYEE) WAS FLABERGHASTED. SHE CAME OVER TO ME AND SAID "I JUST WATCHED YOUR CAR GO CRAZY, YOU WERE GOING 5 MILES AN HOUR!" SHE TOLD THE SAME THING TO THE POLICE WHO TOOK THE REPORT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS SHAKEN TO THE CORE. I COULD'VE HIT SOMEONE, OR GOTTEN HURT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR 2.5 YEARS AGO (PRE-OWNED) AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, BUT NOW I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. WHEN I CAME HOME AND DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. THAT IS HOW I CAME ACROSS YOUR NAME AND INFORMATION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A FORM I NEED TO FILL OUT, OR A STATEMENT I NEED TO SIGN. I AM WILLING TO MAIL YOU MY POLICE STATEMENT AND MORE INFORMATION IF YOU NEED IT. I HOPE THAT MY EXPERIENCE CAN HELP PREVENT FUTURE, SIMILAR ACCIDENTS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10151798
Incident
Feb 22, 2006
Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 2005

THE ABS BRAKE MODULE ON MY CAR GAVE OUT AND HAS LED TO VERY POOR BRAKING, ALMOST CAUSING 2 ACCIDENTS. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM IN THE 1999 AUDI A4 (I FOUND THIS AT HTTP://AUTOS.MSN.COM/RESEARCH/VIP/RELIABILITY.ASPX?YEAR=1999&MAKE=AUDI&MODEL=A4: "AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE IS FAILURE OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE (ABS) CONTROL MODULE. FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE MAY RESULT IN ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATION. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS ESTIMATED AT $2,228.00)"). *JB

NHTSA ID
10135773
Incident
Sep 6, 2005
Mileage
69,995 mi
Engine
Filed May 23, 2005

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITANTLY. EGV VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 50 K MILES ON IT. COST: $ 1500. NO CAR SHOULD NEED AN EGV (EMISSION CONTROL DEVICE) REPLACED AFTER ONLY 50 K MILES. AUDI WILL NOT COVER COST OF REPLACEMENT!

NHTSA ID
10121887
Incident
May 20, 2005
Mileage
50,150 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 26, 2005

POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WITH FUEL SENDING UNIT. EXPERIENCED 7 RECALLS SINCE THE PURCHASED OF 1999 AUDI QUATTRO. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PERIODICALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD START, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILD UP ON CERTAIN ENGINE PARTS. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS FINALLY RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10109732
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Mar 5, 2004

CONTROL ARMS FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAIL FREQUENTLY. ON 2/29/04 A CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE REPLACED 7 SO FAR, WITH 2 MORE NEEDING TO BE DONE. SOME ARE ON THE SECOND TIME IN THE 1.5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THERE WERE 4 OTHER SAME MODEL CARS IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME THING THAT DAY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS DANGEROUS AND IS KNOWN BY AUDI, OR SHOULD BE KNOWN BY THEM. AT TIMES, YOU CAN'T GET THE PART BECAUSE THEY FAIL SO FREQUENTLY. MY SHOP RECOMMENDED FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HE SEES IT EVERY DAY. AT $200 A CONTROL ARM, IT GETS VERY EXPENSIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10060535
Incident
Feb 29, 2004
Mileage
134,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB-44-08-14

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

AUDI: WHEEL BOLTS REQUIRE TORQUE ADJUSTMENT. TORQUE STICKS AND TORQUE EXTENSION BARS ARE NOT APPROVED BY AUDI OF AMERICA, INC. AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO APPLY TORQUE TO WHEEL BOLTS. ALL AUDI MODELS INCLUDED. *PE

20056243

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHT AIMING, USING HELLA UNIVERSAL BEAMSETTER. *KB

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Audi Quattro by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009100
2003300
2002120137.6
2001110138.4
2000700
1999Viewing210038.0
1998900
1997110033.8
1996600
1995100
1994100
1993300
1991600
1990520
1989010
1988010
1987112
1986012
1985012
1984010

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.