Problems · by component

1996 Audi A4 electrical system problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Audi A4 cite electrical system, 29% of all 92 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
27
29% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I HAVE 1996 AUDI A4 AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000, WHICH IS NOT ABLE TO RETURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION CAUSING ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I SEE THE FOLLOWING RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE. BUT WHEN I CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834, THEY SAYS MY 1996 AUDI A4 IS NOT QUALIFIED FOR THIS RECALL. VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): AUDI / A4 1996-1997 MANUFACTURER: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC MFR'S REPORT DATE: OCT 20, 2006 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000 N/A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 28594. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2009Electrical systemODI 10284461
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN HE STARTED THE IGNITION. THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RETURN TO THE ENGINE RUNNING POSITION. IMMEDIATELY, THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED MANUALLY TO THE "ON" POSITION TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL, BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2009Electrical system, Exterior lighting, VisibilityODI 10263784
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS KEYS WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V403000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 200,000. UPDATED 12-08-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2008Electrical systemODI 10249337
“LET ME START BY SAYING I ORIGINALLY DIRECTED THIS COMPLAINT TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, WHO SENT ME A LETTER, DIRECTING ME TO SEND THIS COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT OUT IN THE 1996 AUDI A4, AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL # 06V403000. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED , AND I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE PUSHED A FEW BLOCKS DOWN TO THE CLOSEST REPAIR SHOP. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AND I SENT IN MY REIMBURSEMENT FORM ,INCLUDING PROPER DOCUMENTATION THAT THE RECALL NOTICE HAD ASKED FOR. THIS RECALL NOTICE WAS OF COURSE SENT TO ME BY AUDI OF AMERICA. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM AUDI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSING ME. WHEN I ASKED WHY, THEY SAID THAT THE WORK HAD TO BE COMPLETED WITH IN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME. I TOLD THEM THE RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ME MENTIONED NO SUCH TIME FRAME. THEN, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WORK COULD ONLY BE DONE AT AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. I THEN REPLIED THAT A REIMBURSEMENT FORM WAS SENT TO ME WITH THE RECALL NOTICE IN CASE THE WORK DONE ANYWHERE ELSE. WHEN I TOLD THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN AND DIDN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF TAKING THE CAR TO THE NEAREST AUDI…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2007Electrical systemODI 10187833
“1996 AUDI A4 CUSTOMER HAD REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH THAN A WEEK LATER HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. CUSTOMER SUBMITTED THE PAPER TO AUDI AND WAS GIVEN HALF PAYMENT CUSTOMER WOULD LIKE FULL REIMBURSEMENT**CC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2007Electrical systemODI 10186839
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES STARTER COMPLETELY FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPLACED THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE WITH NO PROBLEMS. THAT SAME DAY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE STARTER FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE NEARBY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE, AND WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE BURNT STARTER. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE, AND NOTICED AN NHTSA RECALL #00V317000 REGARDING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH. ON 10/13/06, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE PERIOD TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED HAD EXPIRED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2006Electrical systemODI 10170742

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Electrical system: switch

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AS A RESULT OF A PROBLEM IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE ANCHOR POINT OF THE SPRING MAY CRACK. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Electrical systemReported Oct 23, 2006NHTSA 06V403000

Electrical system: switch

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PLASTIC IGNITION SWITCH HOUSING CAN FRACTURE AT THE RETURN SPRING ANCHOR POINT. FRACTURE OF THE HOUSING COULD CAUSE THE RETURN SPRING FORCE TO BE INSUFFICIENT FOR RETURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE.

Electrical systemReported Oct 11, 2000NHTSA 00V317000

Electrical system: horn

Free remedy

THE HORN CAN WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL GROUND CONTACT.

Electrical systemReported May 23, 1996NHTSA 96V088000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.