KnownCarProblems2005 Audi A4 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 219 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Audi A4, most often about the lights (46% of complaints, typically around 58,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about A4 model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2005 Audi A4 problems
Lights
101 complaints · 46%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
"intermittent headlight malfunction. Over the course of a four months of ownership, the left headlight has malfunctioned (turned off), with no consistent cause apparent. The specific error message that appears in the driver information screen is "left dipped headlight". This condition is both unsafe, and illegal - as…
Bought 2005 Audi 3.2 quattro A4 with 57500 miles have driven aprox 3000 miles and headlights have started to flicker and the left highbeam is starting to fail. I get error message that headlight has dipped. It then shows headlight failed symbol. I turn lights off and on and headlight comes back on. I see from online…
Air bags
54 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
The contact owns a 2005 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the his vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The driver and passenger suffered injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair…
After 10 years of use, turning left the rubber wheel bearing on the driver side makes a pop noise. Not from driving erradic but from typical wear and tear. Also, there is an MPH check engine light that comes on but when plugged up to a code reader, no problems are found. Cars wont pass smog with check engine lights…
Electrical
24 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
The lights on my Audi A4 3.2 quattro will flicker and sometimes go out while driving at night time. If I stop and pull over the lights will go back on, but the lights will flicker. Some days I have the problem frequently- sometimes I'll go for a stretch of 5-7 days with no problems at night. After recent research I…
"intermittent headlight malfunction. Over the course of a year and a half of ownership, the right headlight has malfunctioned (turned off), with no consistent cause apparent. The specific error message that appears in the driver information screen is "left headlight dipped". This condition is both unsafe, and illegal…
Engine
18 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The timing chain (not the timing belt, which had been changed well before the recommended time) broke. This caused the engine to seize immediate resulting in the car coming to a rapid and abrupt stop. Fortunately for me, it occurred at low speed on a very quiet street. Had it occurred on a freeway, serious injury or…
Shifting from second to third gear and the gas pedal went down to the floor and engine redlined rpms. I had to manually pull the pedal from the floor where the engine and pedal functioned as normal afterwards. I checked the floor mat and it was secure and away from impeding the pedal.
Transmission
16 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 48,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2005 Audi A4. The contact stated that the check engine light was illuminated and the transmission was causing the vehicle to shake abnormally. The parking, drive and neutral gears were also illuminated simultaneously. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told the transmission control…
Tl contact owns a 2005 Audi A4. The contact stated that the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The dealer stated that the transmission control module needed to be replaced at the estimated cost of $2,000. There were no recalls for the vehicle. The dealer stated that it would take more than two…
Fuel system
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 61,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
My 2005 Audi A4 avant shut down today on the freeway. Dealer said it was the fuel pump and that it failed early. However, they would not cover the repairs under warranty. I know there are recalls on the fuel pumps for the 2003 model but I believe the problem is actually more widespread. This is a very dangerous…
Tl contact owns a 2005 Audi A4. When the contact started the vehicle she heard a humming noise in the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to taken to the dealer where the fuel pump was replaced; however, six months after the vehicle was repaired the contact experienced the identical failure. The vehicle…
Speed control
8 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles.
I believe this may be a repeat complaint, but ms. Demeter says it is not on file. 2005 Audi A4 cabriolet, 6 cylinder (normally aspirated). Sudden persistent acceleration. I was rapidly accelerating from about 25 MPH going up a hill trying to make a green light about .2 mile away. When I approached the intersection, I…
The contact owns a 2005 Audi A4. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the driver depressed the accelerator pedal and noticed that the accelerator pedal had become stuck. The vehicle suddenly accelerated to 100 MPH erroneously. The contact continued depressing the brake pedal and was able to stop the vehicle. The…
Steering
6 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system.
After 10 years of use, turning left the rubber wheel bearing on the driver side makes a pop noise. Not from driving erradic but from typical wear and tear. Also, there is an MPH check engine light that comes on but when plugged up to a code reader, no problems are found. Cars wont pass smog with check engine lights…
My Audi since new has drifted to the right, regardless of the road conditions. Mc kenna Audi has attempted to align the car several times. Mr. Ford (Audi rep) authorized mc kenna to change the camber on the vehicle to it can drive straight. This caused my tire to wear out at an alarming rate. This quick fix was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Audi A4 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began june 29, 2018. Owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69r7. Note: this recall supersedes recalls 16v382, 17v032 and 18v004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 audi a4 sedan, a4 avant, s4 avant and s4 sedan, 2007-2008 rs4 sedan, 2004 rs4 cabriolet, 2007-2009 a4 cabriolet and s4 cabriolet, 2005-2011 a6 sedan, 2006-2011 a6 avant, and 2007-2011 s6 sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 30, 2018. Owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: this recall has been superseded by recall number 18v427.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 audi a4 cabriolet, s4 cabriolet, a6 avant, a6 sedan and s6 sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia, or "zone b." additionally, unless included in "zone b" above, volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 audi a4 avant, a4 sedan, a6 sedan, s4 avant and s4 sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 a4 cabriolet, rs4 sedan, s4 cabriolet and s6 sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 a6 avant and 2008 rs4 cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alaska, colorado, connecticut, idaho, iowa, maine, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, montana, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, o
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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, volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 audi a4, and 2005-2008 audi a6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia, or "zone b." lastly, unless included in "zone a" or "zone b" above, volkswagen is recalling model year
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2005 Audi A4
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Audi A4?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (101 complaints, typically around 58,500 miles); air bags (54 complaints, typically around 59,000 miles); electrical (24 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Audi A4 have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 22, 2018 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Audi A4?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about A4 model year since 2000, with 219 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.