Problems · by component
2003 Audi A4 electrical system problems
32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Audi A4 cite electrical system, 15% of all 215 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
32
15% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“The coolant light came on after I replaced coil packs and I stopped to look wasn't leaking anywhere. Drove to work and it caught on fire due to overheating I guess not really sure. I was driving a car on fire down a highway and didn't even know it. I stopped to take a left turn into work and smoke stared billowing out and around the entire car. Other drivers couldn't see me or nothing I could have been in an accident. The fire department checked the car out sort of and it's in a mechanics shop now. Trying to figure it out. Oil light was on and that's it. AN then the coolant light would kick on and off. Nothing else after I changed the coil packs. And it was well after I did that.”
“INITIALLY DROVE CAR HOME FROM GROCERY STORE HIT A BUMP AND NOTICED A SPARK COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF CAR. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED FOR SPARK EVIDENT ONCE STOPPED THERE WAS NO SIGN OF SPARK OR ANYTHING. GOT CAR HOME AND PARKED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, AFTER PUTTING THE FIRE OUT MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE HOOD AND TRIED TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE WHEN HE DISCOVERED THE BATTERY WAS MELTED TO THE HOOD AND IS WHERE THE FIRE INITIALLY CAUGHT. THE LOCATION OF THE BATTERY WE BELIEVE TO BE THE ISSUE AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY. *TR”
“AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM A DRIVE THROUGH FAST FOOD PLACE LAST NIGHT MY DAUGHTER WAS PARKING IN OUR DRIVEWAY, SHE WAS IN REVERSE. THE CAR (A 2003 AUDI A4 CV CONVERTIBLE) BOUNCED AND MADE A SOUND THEN SHE STOPPED. I SAID TAKE THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION TO HER BLACK SMOKE STARTED TO RISE OUT OF THE TOP OF THE HOOD CRACK IN FRONT OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. I TOLD HER TO GET THE DOG IN OUR BACK SEAT AND HERSELF OUT I ASSUMED IT WAS ON FIRE BECAUSE THE DARK SMOKE. I GRABBED MY PURSE PIPED THE HOOD AND MY DAUGHTER CALLED 911 AS THE NEIGHBORS RAN INSIDE THERE HOME FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. TWO MEN FROM ACROSS THE STREET ATTEMPTED TO PUT IT OUT AS I SPOKE TO THE 911 OPERATOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND GOT THE FIRE OUT. MY CAR IS NOW JUNK. MY DAUGHTER WAS EMOTIONALLY STRAINED, HYSTERICAL THROUGHOUT THE INCIDENT. IT WAS TRAUMATIC FOR US BOTH. THE FIREFIGHTERS SAID IT WAS POSSIBLY CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,003.”
“HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT AND BLOWING THE BALLAST CAUSING HEADLIGHT NOT TO WORK AT ALL. REPLACED THIS EXPENSIVE PART MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL BREAKS. NOT A CHEAP PART AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR”
Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.