2004 AUDI A4 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
225
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
13
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2004 AUDI A4
The 2004 AUDI A4 has received a total of 225 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. 13 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Fuel System Gasoline (35 complaints), Air Bags (18 complaints), and Exterior Lighting (14 complaints).
Recalls for the 2004 AUDI A4
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2004 AUDI A4, potentially affecting up to 204,468 vehicles.
Recall 16V382000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 194,453 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above,...
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
View full details →Recall 14E007000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
| 50 vehicles affected
Defect: The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold...
Consequence: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
View full details →Recall 05V096000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 9,965 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT XENON HEADLAMP REFLECTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2004 AUDI A4
225 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 AUDI A4. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
******* 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 *******
This took place about a week ago. The car was parked in our driveway when the fire started. My husband had returned home just 15 minutes prior to the fire starting. I noticed there was smoke coming in our living room window. Then I looked at our security camas. And saw smoke pouring out from underneath the hood of my car. We tried to put the fire out with our two hose system set up and it wouldn't go out. So we knew it was electrical. We couldn't get close enough to open the hood so I couldn't pour baking soda on it. Two fire extinguishers later like 10 minutes the firefighters showed up and we're able to put it out. They confirmed that the arch came from the battery terminals /cables. Two of the fireman said they'd never seen anything like this before. Then the car tried to START ITSELF as my husband and the two fireman were standing right in front of the Audi. They had to cut the remaining battery cable that wasn't completely burned through before it stopped. My neighbor has a recording of the whole incident. The engine compartment is destroyed! The engine might be all right but we don't have the finances to do anything but clean up. Oh and for extra fun one of the fireman took an ax the the hood of the A4 cabriolet I have had for maybe a month. Now we have no car and no real means of being able to fix it.
This took place about a week ago. The car was parked in our driveway when the fire started. My husband had returned home just 15 minutes prior to the fire starting. I noticed there was smoke coming in our living room window. Then I looked at our security camas. And saw smoke pouring out from underneath the hood of my car. We tried to put the fire out with our two hose system set up and it wouldn't go out. So we knew it was electrical. We couldn't get close enough to open the hood so I couldn't pour baking soda on it. Two fire extinguishers later like 10 minutes the firefighters showed up and we're able to put it out. They confirmed that the arch came from the battery terminals /cables. Two of the fireman said they'd never seen anything like this before. Then the car tried to START ITSELF as my husband and the two fireman were standing right in front of the Audi. They had to cut the remaining battery cable that wasn't completely burned through before it stopped. My neighbor has a recording of the whole incident. The engine compartment is destroyed! The engine might be all right but we don't have the finances to do anything but clean up. Oh and for extra fun one of the fireman took an ax the the hood of the A4 cabriolet I have had for maybe a month. Now we have no car and no real means of being able to fix it.
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.
PRNDS appeared in red on my dash and then started blinking. Went on line regarding this and read about a TCM switch or a lever switch malfunction.Have an appt with mechanic on 8/26/21. From what I have read we are looking at a cost prohibitive repair of several thousands of dollars. Does Audi have any responsibility? Apparently it is a common complaint with the A4 model. Felt loss of power when decelerating.
Safety Rating for the 2004 AUDI A4
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2004 AUDI A4 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2004 AUDI A4
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 13 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2004 AUDI A4. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
37 14 30 2003658 — POWER TRAIN
This condition may be caused when the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal are depressed simultaneously. Drivers who drive with their left foot resting on the brake pedal are prone to experience this condition. With the introduction of Electronic Power Control (EPC) (no accelerator cable) to fuel injection systems, an...
AWA-13-04 — EQUIPMENT
SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
3712672028053 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
TCM software update for downshift concerns
TSB-15-11-18 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AUDI: THERE IS A TICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA WHICH MAY BE CAUSED BY WEAR IN THE CAMSHAFT. *RM
TSB-17-07-12 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
AUDI: ENGINE OIL PRESSURE IS BELOW SPECIFIED VALUE. OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT MIGHT BE ILLUMINATED OR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. REPAIRS INCLUDE REPLACING THE OIL PUMP MODULE. *PE
0601 — POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE SHUDDERS WHEN ACCELERATING AT 10 TO 50% THROTTLE FROM A STATIONARY POSITION, SOMETIMES WITH FLUCTUATING ENGINE SPEED. *TT
0526 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. *TT
370402 — POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS PRIOR TO COMING TO A STOP. *TC
0503 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
COOLANT LEAK OR ON HEAT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *EH
0504 — AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LAMP ON, UPPER LIMIT OF SIDE AIRBAG EXCEEDED. TO INCLUDE A4 2006. *TT
Showing 10 of 13 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2004 AUDI A4
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2004 AUDI A4.
Other Model Years of the AUDI A4
- 1999 AUDI A4 — 242 complaints
- 2000 AUDI A4 — 115 complaints
- 2001 AUDI A4 — 152 complaints
- 2002 AUDI A4 — 218 complaints
- 2003 AUDI A4 — 282 complaints
- 2004 AUDI A4 (current)
- 2005 AUDI A4 — 266 complaints
- 2006 AUDI A4 — 343 complaints
- 2007 AUDI A4 — 226 complaints
- 2008 AUDI A4 — 203 complaints
- 2009 AUDI A4 — 150 complaints