1998 Audi A4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
220 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
81,325 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 102 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 49 of 220 complaints (22.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 107 | 48.6% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 49 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 13 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 13 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 49; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 13; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 13; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 27 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 38 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 38; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 8
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (38). 118 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 50 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 37 |
| 2005 | 36 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 50; 2001: 22; 2002: 17; 2003: 19; 2004: 37; 2005: 36; 2006: 12; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 107 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010117 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN TRYING TO STOP IN MY 1998 AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO. IN DRY WEATHER BRAKING IS FINE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I AM MORE THAN CERTAIN I WOULD HAVE HIT SOMEONE IF I WOULD NOT KEEP A GREATER DISTANCE KNOWING THE HORRIBLE BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN WET WEATHER.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010117 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016424 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
CAR EXPERIENCES DIMINISHED BRAKING ABILITIES UNDER WET/COLD CONDITIONS. IF ROADS ARE WET, EVEN IF ABOVE FREEZING CONDITIONS, BRAKING SUDDENLY TO AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC RESULTS IN NEAR CRASHES OR DANGEROUS SWERVING TO AVOID ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT DUE TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS BUT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AUDI'S BRAKING ABILITIES IN WET CONDITIONS. VERY DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE. HAVE RECENTLY TRADED IN VEHICLE AND INCURRED LARGE FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO THIS AND OTHER SERIOUS PROBLEMS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016424 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063018 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
WHILE TURNING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT TIE RODS, AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090344 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
THIS CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 99V244000. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 41,704 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068231 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)
TURNING OF THE IGNITION KEY - THE KEY DOES NOT RETURN TO ITS NEUTRAL POSITION THEREBY NOT ACTIVATING KEY ESSENTIAL ELECTRICAL DRIVING COMPONENTS SUCH AS LIGHTS AND WIPERS, ETC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390185 · 2011-03-15 (March 15, 2011)
FAULTY ABS MODULE IN MY 1998 AUDI A4 1.8T. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT TO THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS IN MANY OF THESE SIMILAR YEAR AUDIS AND VWS, AND IT APPEARS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM. THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT CAN CAUSE DEADLY ACCIDENTS, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052778 · 2004-01-10 (January 10, 2004)
SUDDEN & CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF BEARING/PULLEY OF MAIN TIMING BELT, WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FEWER THAN 55K MILES ON ODOMETER AND WAS WELL MAITAINED.*AK SUCH FAILURE CAN CAUSE INSTANTANEOUS DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE, WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR SUDDEN AND RAPID DECCELERATION, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC COLLISION. THE LOSS OF THE BEARING CAUSES THE MAIN TIMING BELT TO SHIFT POSITION AND/OR TO SNAP, CAUSING THE ENGINE VALVES TO MOVE OUT-OF-SYNC WITH THE ENGINE PISTONS OR TO STOP MOV…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292390 · 2009-11-16 (November 16, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 70,000 MILES SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. HOWEVER SHE NOTED THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 90,…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114477 · 2005-03-22 (March 22, 2005)
ABS CONTROL UNIT ON MY 1998 AUDI A4 FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED, IN WHICH I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP VIA THE TRIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WHICH ALLOWED ME TO DOWNSHIFT, AND FINALLY USING THE EBRAKE...CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN TOTAL BRAKE LOSS IF THE ABS UNIT FAILED, WHICH MADE NO SENSE SINCE THE PUMP WAS SPEWING BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER MY ENGINE...I ASSURED THEM THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND THAT AUDI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS REPAIR, WHICH RUNS IN THE RANGE OF $2500..…
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129336 · 2005-07-19 (July 19, 2005)
I HAVE A 1998 AUDI A4 AVANT, 2.8 V6, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AFTER 45K MILES THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE ("BRAIN") FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT 91K MILES THE ABS BRAIN FAILED. WAS THERE, OR WILL THERE BE, A RECALL ON THESE ITEMS?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106345 · 2005-01-14 (January 14, 2005)
THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA AROUND 11:40AM THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS TWO DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. I WAS DRIVING MY 98 AUDI A4 2.8 QUATTRO NORTH ON A TWO LANE CITY STREET WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 35MPH. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR TWENTY MINUTES AND SMELLED A VERY POWERFUL GAS SMELL SINCE I STARTED DRIVING. MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ACCELERATION OF MY CAR INCREASED TO 45MPH. I TRIED BREAKING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND THE BREAK PEDAL RESISTED MY EFFORT. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW TO 40MPH BUT NO LOWER. WHEN I TOOK MY F…
Owner-reported narrative. 128,269 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106345 at NHTSA ↗