FaultScore

1996 Audi A4 steering problems

11 of the 133 complaints about the 1996 Audi A4 are about the steering — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 66,642 miles.

B

11

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

TIE ROD Assembly 4 36.4%
Steering 2 18.2%
Linkages 2 18.2%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 1 9.1%
Pump 1 9.1%
Gear BOX (Other Than Rack AND Pinion) 1 9.1%

Steering across every Audi A4 year

1996 11 14.9%
1998 23 31.1%
1999 15 20.3%
2009 15 20.3%
2013 10 13.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Sioux Falls, SD

STEERING

REPEATED FRONT SUSPENSION/STEERING SYSTEM COMPONENT FAILURES. *JB *PH

NHTSA complaint #10039150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,642 miles West Hollywood, CA

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

THE TIE RODS OF BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE DAMAGED. THE RUBBER CAP WAS BROKEN ON BOTH AND THE TIE RODS HAD A LOT OF PLAY AT THE JOINT UNDERNEATH. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED CAUSING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LAMP FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10004571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 66,642 miles West Hollywood, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

THE TIE RODS OF BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE DAMAGED. THE RUBBER CAP WAS BROKEN ON BOTH AND THE TIE RODS HAD A LOT OF PLAY AT THE JOINT UNDERNEATH. THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED CAUSING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LAMP FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10004571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,000 miles Alamo, CA Crash

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL. ALSO SEALER BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK, DAMAGING BRAKE PADS AND DISC. VEHICLE CRASHED DAMAGING FRONT END. DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10001737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Hollywood, CA

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA RECALLED THEIR 1999 MODEL A4S FOR FAILURE OF THE TIE RODS. I OWN A 1996 A4 WITH TIE RODS THAT FAILED AND AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED TIE RODS UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE WAS EXACTLY AS OUTLINED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE SENT TO ALL AUDI DEALERS. I READ RECENTLY IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES THAT AN OWNER WITH A 1998 A4 EXPERIENCED EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THE RECALL SHOULD COVER ALL MODEL YEARS OF THE A4. I REQUESTED AND SAVED THE DAMAGED TIE RODS IF YOU WOULD HAVE INTEREST IN SEEING THEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS A SEVERE DANGER TO OPERATERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BY AUDI. DT

NHTSA complaint #769518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Moline, IL

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

CONTROL RODS LOOSE ACCORDING TO AUDI DEALER. CONFIRMED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. INDPT SHOP ALSO NOTED THAT TIE RODS WERE ALSO SO LOOSE THEY WERE HAZARDOUS AND INDICATED ON RECEIPT TO SHOW AUDI

NHTSA complaint #758204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alimode, CA

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING BOX MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL, ALSO SEALER BROKE WHICH RESULTED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, STEEING RACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE BLOWED OUT GASKET SEAK, THE MINERAL OIL SPRAY OUT UNDER PRESSURE TOWARD THE INSIDE OF FDRONT WHEEL SOAKING BRAKE PADS AND COATING DISC, VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER.*SLC

NHTSA complaint #8001330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goodlettsville, TN

STEERING:LINKAGES

ABSOLUTELY THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT I HAVE SPENT OVER $6000 IN REPAIRS AND GONE JUST 40K MILES! STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR WHEN I CALLED THE 1-800 LINE THEY WERE NO HELP AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH ANYBODY IN A HIGHER POSTION. WHEN I SAID CAN I WRITE A LETTER THEY SAID SURE BUT IT COMES TO US AND THE DECISION IS FINAL ABOUT YOUR WARRANTTY DEFECTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #748336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burlington, VT

STEERING:LINKAGES

MANY OTHER AUDI A-4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT PREMATURE WEAR OF TIE RODS AND CONTROL ARMS IN VERMONT. AUDI OF AMERICA AND LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO COVER PROBLEM ALTHOUGH VOLUNTARY RECALL IN EFFECT FOR NEWER AUDIS.

NHTSA complaint #737122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

PROBLEMS IS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/ SUSPENSION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #874177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

INNER TIE RODS WERE LOOSE AND WORN OUT WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING. RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #864524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Audi A4 problems

← Full 1996 Audi A4 report