Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Audi A4 problems

Owners filed 215 complaints about the 2003 Audi A4 with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Oct 2024. The most-cited component is power train (44).

Complaints
215
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train44
  2. Fuel system, gasoline41
  3. Electrical system32
  4. Exterior lighting24
  5. Vehicle speed control22
  6. Visibility19
  7. Engine and engine cooling18
  8. Structure14
  9. Air bags12
  10. Equipment8
  11. Tires8
  12. Steering8
  13. Engine7
  14. Fuel/propulsion system7

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200310
200414
200516
200618
200724
200828
200916
201026
201112
201212
20136
20146
20155
20163
20173
20185
20192
20202
20211
20224
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

44 reports
“2003 AUDI A4 3.0 CABRIOLET CONVERTIBLE STARTED SHIFTING ROUGH AND HESITANT AND SHUT OFF, CRANKED BACK UP WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND ALL THE SHIFTING GEAR LIGHTS CAME ON R N D 2 , BARELY MADE IT BACK HOME, PUT CODE READER ON CAR HAD A LOT OF CODES ON IT I RESET CODES BUT RND2 LIGHTS STILL ON , POSSIBLE BAD TCM?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2020Power trainODI 11348847

Fuel system, gasoline

41 reports1 fire2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2003 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a fuel odor was detected. The contact parked the vehicle and noticed there was fuel leaking on the rear driver's side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the fuel pump flange and hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the part replacement. The failure mileage was 143,839.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2022Fuel system, gasolineODI 11446475

Electrical system

32 reports4 fires
“Radio intermediate goes out hitting bumps speedometer stopped working the number ninth digit is not pulling up when I search vehicle information Replaced engine vehicle only had 20,000 miles”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2022Electrical systemODI 11494969

Exterior lighting

24 reports1 related recall
“I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR WHEN IT HAD 78,000 MILES ON IT. ONLY 4 MONTHS AFTER HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR, I GOT A MESSAGE ON THE TROUBLE LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM THAT I HAD A "DIPPED LIGHT". I HAD TO GOOGLE OTHER AUDI OWNERS TO FIND OUT WHAT A DIPPED LIGHT WAS, AS I NEVER HEARD OF A BURNED OUT HEADLIGHT TERMED AS A "DIPPED LIGHT" BEFORE. I CAN ONLY DRIVE IT DURING THE DAY NOW, AS I HAVE HEARD IN CAR FORUMS THAT FIXING IT CAN BE QUITE A LONG AND EXPENSIVE PROCESS. I AM AFRAID THAT IT MAY AFFECT MY DRIVING SAFETY EVEN WHEN DRIVING DURING THE DAY, BECAUSE IN FLORIDA WE HAVE A LOT OF STORMY WEATHER DURING THE RAINY SEASON AND THE SKY GETS VERY DARK RIGHT BEFORE THE STORMS COME IN. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT OTHER MOTORISTS CANNOT SEE ME COMING IN BAD WEATHER AND I HAD A NEAR ACCIDENT TODAY, WHEN ANOTHER MOTORIST CAME FLYING OUT OF A PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF ME AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND I HAD TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THEIR VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2016Exterior lightingODI 10876025

Vehicle speed control

22 reports1 crash
“ON JANUARY 28, 2019 I WAS DRIVING TO MY MEDICAL APPOINTMENT AT 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY CAR FROZE UP THEN BUCKED AND NOW NO LONGER THE TRANSMISSION WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE. UPON RESEARCH AUDI HAS KNOWN OF THIS TRANSMISSION HAVING SERIOUS FAULTS AND THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. AUDI HAS REFUSED TO DO ANY RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS, EVEN AFTER A CLASS ACTION THAT WAS SETTLED, AUDI WILL NOT DO ANY RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2019Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11173668

Visibility

19 reports
“WHEN I PURCHASED MY PRE-OWNED 03 AUDI A4 CABRIO IN MAY 2010 FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT CORNERS OF THE REAR WINDOW WAS SEPARATING FROM THE FABRIC AT THE TOP. FAST FORWARD TO MAY 2011 ITS NOW SPREAD ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD REACH A WHOLE HAND INTO THE HEADLINER. WHEN IT RAINS PART OF THE BACK SEAT,REAR DECK AND AREAS OF THE TRUNK GET VERY WET WAS SEPARATING FROM THE FABRIC AT THE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT CORNERS OF THE REAR WINDOW, ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD REACH A WHOLE HAND INTO THE HEADLINER. WHEN IT RAINS THE HEADLINER AROUND THE REAR GLASS, PART OF THE BACK SEAT,REAR DECK AND AREAS OF THE TRUNK GET VERY WET. WITH THE SMELL AFTER IT DRIES, IM SURE I HAVE MOLD AND MILDEW ISSUES AS WELL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2011Visibility, StructureODI 10402500
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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