13 of the 133 complaints about the 1996 Audi A4 are about the braking system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 23,000 miles.
13
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAD MY BRAKES AND TIRES REPLACED AND NOW THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON IN THE CAR THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP IF THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT GO ON ADN THE CAR CAN GET OUT OF CONTROL IN CASE OF BRAKING IN AN EMERGENCY .
NHTSA complaint #10049682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE FAILURE IN WET CONDITIONS. I WAS DRIVING ON 95N IN PROVIDENCE. AS I WAS CHANGING LANES, I LOST STEERING ABILITIES. WHEN I BRAKED I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE AND CRASHED INTO THE JERSEY BARRIER THEN BOUNCED OFF IT AND WENT INTO A 180 DEGREE SPIN ACROSS 4 LANES. I WAS STOPPED BY THE GUARD RAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10041563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL, CAN HARDLY STOP THE CAR, WITHIN THE FIRST 150 FEET WHEN INITIALLY APPLIED IN WET CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION REAPPEARS EACH TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE GOES FOR 1 TO 2 MILES WITHOUT REAPPLYING BRAKES TO DRY IT.
NHTSA complaint #10000559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THIS CAR HAS A LONG DELAY DURING WET BRAKING AND I CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY. WHEN THEY ARE WARM IT IS FINE, BUT WHEN THEY COOL OFF SUCH AS ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING, WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED THEY DO NOT STOP THE CAR. IN A SITUATION WHERE STOPPING IS NEEDED QUICKLY, THIS CAR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN A DECENT AMOUNT OF SPACE. I DO NOT HAVE ANY AFTERMARKET PARTS ON THIS CAR, GY EAGLE RSA TIRES ALL NEW, NOT ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS, 16" FACTORY WHEELS. THIS ISNT A NORMAL PROBLEM LIKE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE AND BRAKING, IT OCCURS VERY OFTEN AND AT THE WORST TIMES, IT FORCES ME TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN AND CONSTANTLY USE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO KEEP THE WARM ENOUGH TO EVAPORATE WATER AND KEEP THEM WORKING. MR
NHTSA complaint #768380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WET BRAKING PROBLEMS. EXTREMELY LONG TIME FOR BRAKE TO ENGAGE WHEN WET. CAUSES UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AS BRAKE DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN WET.
NHTSA complaint #746275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WHEN DRIVING IN VERY WET CONDITIONS, THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES HAVE ANY EFFECT. THIS CAN BE UP TO 2 SECONDS OR SO, AND DEPENDING ON DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME YET, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #737283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKES ARE MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE DURING WET WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #722898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES ARE MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE DURING WET WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #722898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE WET, THEY DO NOT WORK UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE HELD FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN 5 SECONDS.
NHTSA complaint #722924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #714668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #714668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR,ENGINE FUMBLES CAUSING THE CAR TO VIBRATE....ON COLD STARTS,ANY RELEASE OF THE THROTTLE AND THE FRONT END MAKES LOUD CLICKING,DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE THOUGH HAPPENS EVERY DAY....UNDER ACCELERATION WHEN COLD ,EXHAUST RATTLES,SOUNDS LIKE HEAT SHIELD RAPPING AGAINST SOMETHING.
NHTSA complaint #712709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES SQUEAK WHILE BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #603781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.