Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Audi A4 problems

Owners filed 189 complaints about the 2004 Audi A4 with NHTSA between May 2004 and May 2023. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (46).

Complaints
189
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel system, gasoline46
  2. Air bags26
  3. Engine and engine cooling18
  4. Visibility16
  5. Vehicle speed control16
  6. Tires16
  7. Electrical system15
  8. Exterior lighting14
  9. Power train12
  10. Engine7
  11. Fuel/propulsion system5
  12. Fuel system, other5
  13. Structure4
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic4

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
200417
20058
200612
200712
200827
200924
201032
201116
20128
20133
20146
20154
20167
20171
20184
20191
20203
20212
20221
20231

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

Fuel system, gasoline

46 reports1 crash1 fire
“FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. LUCKILY, WAS ABLE TO EXIT, BUT POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO THE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED. SAME MODEL FROM PREVIOUS YEAR RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, BUT AUDI HAS NOT DONE SO FOR 2004 WHICH IT SHOULD DEFINITELY DO! OUR CAR HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING! ALSO HAD TO REPLACE COILS BEFORE AUDI EVENTUALLY RECALLED, BUT THEY DID NOT REFUND THE FULL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2011Fuel system, gasolineODI 10435960

Air bags

26 reports6 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS REQUESTED BY THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WISH TO HAVE IT REMOVED*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2023Air bagsODI 11520694

Engine and engine cooling

18 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION AND AN INTERNAL COMPRESSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCES THE FAILURE WITH THE SPORADIC ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED HE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AS A MULTI-CYLINDER MISFIRE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH HIS SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 04/25/11 *BF UPDATED 04/27/11”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10395202

Visibility

16 reports
“The contact owns a 2004 Audi A4. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the rear windshield became detached from the soft top. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2021VisibilityODI 11434910

Vehicle speed control

16 reports1 crash
“GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER BY PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW THIS OCCURRED, BUT IT APPEARED THAT THE PEDAL ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. I SENT AN EMAIL TO AUDI TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY INCIDENCES SIMILAR TO THIS. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 12, 2016.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 17, 2016Vehicle speed controlODI 10926739

Tires

16 reports
“I HAVE A SET OF NEXEN N5000 TIRES. THESE WERE BOUGHT ON 01/02/2009 AND INSTALLED IN THE SAME MONTH. THE TIRES BOTH HAVE CRACKS AROUND THE SIDEWALL. ONE IS WORSE THAN THE OTHER BUT BOTH ARE CRACKING IN THE SAME AREA. THEY ARE ALSO NOT HOLDING AIR AS WELL AS BEFORE. THE INFORMATION ON THE TIRES IS... DOT 8EOL BEBR 4508 E4 0236273. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2011TiresODI 10376950
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.