What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Audi A4

Typical pattern

5.4% of complaints about the 2003 Audi A4 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (44 complaints), typically at 6.8 yr or about 75,000 miles.

Complaints
280
Median age at failure
5.8 yr
Median mileage
63,000 n=234
Crash / fire / tow
9.6% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
44 reports · 75,000 mi
6.8 yr
0%
Fuel system
42 reports · 55,000 mi
5.0 yr
2.4%
Electrical system
33 reports · 56,600 mi
5.8 yr
15.2%
Exterior lighting
23 reports · 70,000 mi
7.3 yr
0%
Speed control
22 reports · 71,000 mi
7.8 yr
4.5%
Visibility
19 reports · 40,000 mi
4.1 yr
0%
Engine cooling
18 reports · 59,000 mi
5.6 yr
22.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14E007000 2014-03-07
Engine and engine cooling:engine

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 for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the af

A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

07V375000 2007-08-28
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

06V017000 2006-01-23
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 - MARCH 2003, EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

05V096000 2005-03-15
Exterior lighting:headlights

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.

THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Visibility 300 mi 3 mo in service
2003 AUDI A4 3.0 QUATTRO. THE CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH OUTSIDE MIRRORS. BOTH MIRRORS AREN'T ADJUST TO ITS POSITION THAT IS SET IN MEMORY. EVERYTIME THE CAR WAS USED BY MY SPOUSE, I HAVE TO MANUALLY READJUST BOTH MIRROS INSTEAD OF AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST BY WHAT WAS PROGRAMMED IN MEMORY. MORE OVER, THE DRIVER OUTSIDE MIRROR JUST CHANGE IT POSITION AFTER 1 OR 2 DAYS OF DRIVING. IT IS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE I FEEL EVERYTIME WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR WITH A WORRY THAT THE MIRROR ISN'T IN ITS POSITION THAT I SET.
Visibility 29,000 mi 1.5 yr in service
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND WASHER FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND EACH TIME IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. *NM
Visibility 7,000 mi 6 mo in service
VEHICLE COMES EQUIPPED WITH A SPORTS RIM THAT LEAVES THE BRAKE ROTORS EXPOSED TO ICE AND SNOW. IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT WARMED UP FOR 10 MINUTES THERE IS A GLAZE OF ICE ON THE ROTORS. THIS CAUSES BRAKE FAILURE, AND RESULTS IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. ALSO, AT 70 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILED TO FUNCTION. THIS WAS DUE TO SALT IN THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED THE WASHER TO SEIZE. *AK
Electrical system 11,000 mi 8 mo in service
MY 2003 AUDI A4 FAILED TO START ON DECEMBER 24TH, 2002 AND MAY 2ND, 2003. BOTH TIMES I WAS LEFT STRANDED. THE FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK, IGNITION CYLINDER, AND STEERING COLUMN. AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURED A SECOND TIME, THEY REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 5,000 AND 11,000 MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW CAR. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 2 TIMES.*AK

Other A4 model years

2020201820172010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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