102 of the
3,677 complaints filed about the Audi A4
are about the glass, mirrors and wipers —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
102
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year
The exterior side mirrors have intermittent electrical/memory malfunctions. When locking the vehicle, the side mirrors begin to fold, pause or glitch briefly, and then continue folding. Separately, when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the right-side mirror tilts downward to assist with backing/parking, but when shifted back to drive or park, the mirror does not reliably return to its original saved position and requires manual readjustment. This is being reported as a safety concern because exterior mirror position affects rearward and side visibility, backing visibility, lane-change awareness, and the driver’s ability to maintain proper mirror alignment. An intermittent mirror control, folding, memory, or tilt malfunction may indicate an electrical, motor, control-module, wiring, switch, or mirror-memory issue. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and service communications, issue lists, photos/video if available, and related electrical-system records are available.
NHTSA complaint #11747845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car randomly checks for remote access during drive. This occurs also during reversing the car preventing for seeing the rear view camera. this is causing dangerous situations.
NHTSA complaint #11668231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11434910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A HEATER WAS DRYING UP THE LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10807996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ALL FOUR TPMS SENSORS NEED REPLACING ALONG WITH NEW TIRES. RIGHT SIDE MOTOR MOUNT IS LEAKING FLUID, AND WIPERS STREAK. 80,616 MILEAGE. IN 2012 I BOUGHT NEW TIRES, WIPERS AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT NOW I'M FACED WITH A LEAKING MOTOR MOUNT. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, I SHOULDN'T HAVE THESE MAJOR REPAIR ISSUES. [XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10662421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BACK WINDSHIELD HAD EXPLODED AND THERE WAS SHATTERED GLASS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 11/20/14
NHTSA complaint #10638238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEADLIGHTS HAVE A MALFUNCTION WHERE THEY TURN OFF AND ON. THE SENSOR SAYS THAT THE LEFT FRONT BULB HAS DIPPED BUT AUDI DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS OR HOW TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #10563792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND RIGHT HEADLIGHT STARTED FLICKERING, ALMOST LIKE A STROBE LIGHT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT THEN COMES BACK ON BY ITS SELF. THEN GOES BACK OFF AND STAYS OFF SO I PULL OFF THE ROAD. I LOOK AT THE LIGHT AND IT IS STILL OUT. I TURN MY LIGHTS OFF THEN BACK ON AND IT WORKS LIKE NEW, BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT HAPPENS IF BOTH LIGHT GOES OUT AND THIS HAPPENS, ITS THE MANUFACTURER FAULT NOT MINE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURTS, OR LOSE THEIR LIFE.
NHTSA complaint #10466288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS BURNING OUT AT A RATE OF EVERY 500 MILES. AUDI WILL NOT REPLACE. 2. WIPER TRANSMISSION HAS CORRODED, SEIZED, FAILED, AND CONSEQUENTLY BURNED OUT THE WIPER MOTOR 2X NOW - ONCE AT 40,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 80,000. AUDI WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER THE INITIAL NEW CAR WARRANTY, AND THEY DEMAND $750+ TO FIX THIS FAULTY ASSEMBLY. 3. COOLANT AND WIPER FLUID TANKS ARE MADE OUT OF CHEAP PLASTIC. I'VE HAD 2-3 LEAKS IN EACH TANK DUE TO HOLES IN THESE TANKS ACROSS THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE MOST RECENT COOLANT TANK LEAK WAS PUSHING COOLANT THROUGH SO FAST THAT IT BURNED UP MY ENGINE AND MY TIMING BELT SNAPPED. I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR - $2,000+. THESE ARE JUST 3 PROBLEMS AMONG COUNTLESS COSTLY PROBLEMS I'VE INCURRED SINCE THE 3-YEAR WARRANTY RAN OUT ON MY AUDI. I'VE EASILY MATCHED THE $35K+ COST OF THE CAR WITH PARTS AND REPAIRS, AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT. THE COIL PACK RECALL HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AT LEAST EVERY 2,000 MILES. I CANNOT MAKE A TRIP OF MORE THAN 100 MILES WITHOUT A COIL SNAPPING, A TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND AN ARGUMENT WITH SERVICE REPS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE COIL REPAIRS. 88,000 MILES LATER, THE A4 I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IS BASICALLY NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE EXCEPT TO RUN SHORT ERRANDS AROUND THE CITY. ALL OF THIS IS NOT EVEN TO MENTION THE CHEAP MATERIALS THAT WENT INTO THE CAR INTERIOR. LEATHER IS WEARING IN PLACES NO ONE EVEN SITS, AND ALL THE RUBBERIZED BUTTONS HAVE PEELED AWAY. PLEASE HELP. AUDI WILL DO NOTHING. I'VE SPOKEN TO OTHERS WHO HAVE THIS SAME MAKE AND MODEL SITTING IN A GARAGE BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. THERE ARE 2 KNOWN RECALLS ON THIS CAR, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS GOING ON WITH THE BUILD THAN JUST THE COIL PACK AND FUEL INJECTOR. MY CAR HAS STALLED AND SEIZED ON RELATIVELY SHORT HIGHWAY TRIPS DESPITE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND ATTENTION TO RECALLED PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10464755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED (TURNED OFF), WITH NO CONSISTENT CAUSE APPARENT. THE SPECIFIC ERROR MESSAGE THAT APPEARS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN IS "LEFT (OR RIGHT) HEADLIGHT DIPPED". THIS CONDITION IS BOTH UNSAFE, AND ILLEGAL - AS MANY STATES WILL ISSUE A TRAFFIC VIOLATION FOR DRIVING WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED APPROX. 40 TIMES, THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERS, THEN GOES OUT, BUT WILL COME BACK ON WHEN THE CAR IS RESTARTED OR CLEAR IF THE HEADLIGHT IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. IT WILL THEN BE FINE FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME. IT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY GETTING MORE FREQUENT AND WORSE. AT TIMES, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND QUICK ACTION TO AVOID INJURY OR DEATH. THEN RANDOMLY TURN BACK ON. MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM ON AT LEAST 3 VISITS, AND HAS CLAIMED THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED/GUESSED THAT IT IS THE XENON LIGHT BULB ITSELF, OR BALLAST. ANNECDOTAL EVIDENCE (CONVERSATIONAL, AND VIA INTERNET OWNERS' FORUMS) SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF AUDI'S MODEL RANGE AND YEARS."
NHTSA complaint #10433961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET WITH A 1.8T ENGINE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. WHILE DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I WAS LUCKY IT WASN'T AT NIGHT BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE LANES IN THE ROAD OR OTHER CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. WHEN I CONTACTED THE AUDI DEALERSHIP TO ASK WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT COULD BE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION BECOMING CORRODED WITH RUST AND BEING UNABLE TO MOVE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND THEY HAD JUST FINISHED REPAIRING ONE THIS WEEK (SOUTHHILLS AUDI, PITTSBURGH PA) I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED AND 2 WEEKS LATER AFTER THE INSPECTION WAS TOLD THAT THE WIPERS HAVE DEFINITELY STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION. I WAS QUOTED 600 DOLLARS TO FIX AND LEFT TO DRIVE HOME SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10419854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET WITH A 1.8T ENGINE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. WHILE DRIVING ON THE PA TURNPIKE IN THE RAIN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I WAS LUCKY IT WASN'T AT NIGHT BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE LANES IN THE ROAD OR OTHER CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. WHEN I CONTACTED THE AUDI DEALERSHIP TO ASK WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT COULD BE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION BECOMING CORRODED WITH RUST AND BEING UNABLE TO MOVE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND THEY HAD JUST FINISHED REPAIRING ONE THIS WEEK (SOUTHHILLS AUDI, PITTSBURGH PA) I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED AND 2 WEEKS LATER AFTER THE INSPECTION WAS TOLD THAT THE WIPERS HAVE DEFINITELY STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION. I WAS QUOTED 600 DOLLARS TO FIX AND LEFT TO DRIVE HOME SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10419854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN." THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS BLOCK THE DRIVER VIEW TO THE EXTENT THAT AN ENTIRE CAR IS MANY TIMES COMPLETELY HIDDEN FROM THE DRIVERS' VIEW. THEY ARE PLACED POORLY AND MAYBE ARE TOO LARGE. MAYBE IF THEY WERE LOWER, OR SMALLER OR THE DRIVERS SEAT HIGHER. I AM A FEMALE OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS. I NOW MUST RISE MYSELF UP TO SEE OVER OR AROUND THE MIRROR WHICH IS DIFFICULT WHEN DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10410903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I PURCHASED MY PRE-OWNED 03 AUDI A4 CABRIO IN MAY 2010 FAILED TO NOTICE THAT THE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT CORNERS OF THE REAR WINDOW WAS SEPARATING FROM THE FABRIC AT THE TOP. FAST FORWARD TO MAY 2011 ITS NOW SPREAD ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD REACH A WHOLE HAND INTO THE HEADLINER. WHEN IT RAINS PART OF THE BACK SEAT,REAR DECK AND AREAS OF THE TRUNK GET VERY WET WAS SEPARATING FROM THE FABRIC AT THE BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT CORNERS OF THE REAR WINDOW, ENOUGH THAT YOU COULD REACH A WHOLE HAND INTO THE HEADLINER. WHEN IT RAINS THE HEADLINER AROUND THE REAR GLASS, PART OF THE BACK SEAT,REAR DECK AND AREAS OF THE TRUNK GET VERY WET. WITH THE SMELL AFTER IT DRIES, IM SURE I HAVE MOLD AND MILDEW ISSUES AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10402500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET. WHILE STOPPED THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE WIPERS FAILED, PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING HER VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED TWICE. AFTER EACH FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,834.
NHTSA complaint #10399528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 AUDI A4 QUATTRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHUT OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHICH WAS ALSO LISTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE DEALER SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED AND THERE WAS NO OVERRIDE OR UPGRADE AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 3/21/11 *CN UPDATED 08/04/11
NHTSA complaint #10382793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES ON MY CAR ARE HORRIBLE. THEY'RE VERY FLIMSY AND THIN. THEY DON'T DO A GOOD JOB OF CLEANING UP THE WINDSHIELD IN RAIN, AND IF THERE IS ANY SNOW OR ICE.. THEY GET STUCK ON THE BUMPS AND MISS THE GLASS. THE WIPER BLADES ARE "STORED" IN A PIT UNDER THE WINDSHIELD TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE SNOW AND ICE... EXCEPT THE PIT JUST FILLS WITH THE ICE AND SNOW AND COVERS THEM.. SO THEY ARE BEYOND USELESS NOW. THE DEFOGGER ON HIGH BLAST MAKES THE WINDSHIELD A LITTLE BETTER.. BUT IT CANT WARM THE BLADES.. SO THEY WILL STILL KEEP GETTING ICED UP AND JUST SCRAPING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD NOT DOING ANYTHING.
NHTSA complaint #10370740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OEM WIPERS PROVIDED BY AUDI ON 2008.5 A4 MODEL YEAR ONWARDS FILL WITH WATER/SLUSH AND FREEZE SOLID IN THE WINTER RENDERING THEM USELESS AND CREATING SIGNIFICANT DRIVING HAZARD. AUDI HAS NO REPLACEMENT AND IS NON-RESPONSIVE. FURTHER, THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY REPLACEMENT WINTER-STYLE BLADES BECAUSE IT IS A PROPRIETARY BLADE-ARM CONNECTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10370307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.