1999 Audi A4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
175 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 100 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 40 of 175 complaints (22.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 92 | 52.6% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.7% |
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 | 40 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module | 6 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 40; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 7; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 40 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 28 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 75 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 | 30 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 21 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 30; 2001: 15; 2002: 8; 2003: 21; 2004: 20; 2005: 29; 2006: 16; 2007: 8; 2008: 11; 2009: 5; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 92 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10001368 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLES LEFT REAR BRAKES FAILED. ALSO STATES THAT THE VEHICLE OFTEN FAILED TO STOP DURING WET CONDITIONS, THE CONSUMER WILL PRESS THE BRAKES AND THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE THEY WOULD ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, AND ALMOST RAN INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE LEFT REAR BRAKES SQUEAK CONSTANTLY UPON APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE TO FIX AND IT STILL SQUEAKS. SCC PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003206 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
FUEL GAUGE ERRATIC. FUEL GAUGE AND DISTANCE TO EMPTY COMPUTER WILL FLUCTUATE BETWEEN 1/4 AND 3/4 WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL OF FUEL IN THE TANK. FUEL HAS ALSO LEAKED FROM VEHICLE DURING THE PRESSURIZATION OF THE TANK. FUEL SENDER UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. INACCURATE GAUGE CAUSED DRIVER TO RUN OUT OF FUEL AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SINCE STEERING AND BRAKING ARE POWER ASSISTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005491 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
WE OWN AN AUDI A4 THAT WE HAVE HAD TOO MANY REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS NEEDED A TURBO AT 55,000 MILES, OIL PUMP AT 63,000 MILES, IGNITION COMPUTER AT 68,000 MILES AND RACK AND PINION STEERING AT 73,000 MILES. WE ARE AWARE THAT THE CAR IS AT HIGH MILEAGE, BUT THIS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO GET 200,000 MILES OUT OF IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT DEALERS THE ENTIRE TIME. WE THINK THAT PERHAPS THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE CAR THAT OTHER DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116095 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY 1999 AUDI A-4 1.8 TURBO WITH 76,000 MILES BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, LEAVING ME A A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY, MY CAR WAS NOT HIT BY OTHER CARS. AS A RESULT, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS THE TIMING CHAIN WERE ALL TRASHED. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN AT 90,000 MILES, BUT AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA TOLD ME THAT THEY NOIW RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT AT 70,000 OR 75,000. THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND IT TO ME OR TO THE DEALER WHERE MY CAR HAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,424 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150056 · 2006-02-12 (February 12, 2006)
THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL RECALL (NHTSA: 04V495000 ) ATTACHED BELOW FOR THE 1999 AUDI A6 HAPPENED ON MY CAR THE AUDI A4. IT IS THE SAME TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 1999 A4 AS WELL. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN VERMONT WHEN THE ROADS WERE WET/SNOWY AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS DROPPING RAPIDLY (5 DEGREES/HOUR). THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS FREAKY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH AUDI USA, THEY EXPLAINED I NEEDED TO GO TO A DEALER. TWO AUDI DEALERS IN THE BOSTON AREA WERE DISMISSIVE OF THE SITUATION. "THIS DOES NOT HAP…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015084 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL. *JB....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023445 · 2003-06-20 (June 20, 2003)
TURBO-CHARGER BROKE DOWN. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT 68000 AS IT IS NOT A WEARABLE PART. THE CAR STARTED STALLING, PRESSED GAS PEDAL BUT THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT. SCALE OF THE RPM'S ON THE DASH BOARD WENT ALL THE WAY TO 5500 RPM'S, WHEN I PRESSED A GAS PEDAL, BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. SUDDENLY, I WAS ENGULFED IN HUMUNGOUS AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE. BROUGHT CAR TO DON ROSEN AUDI SERVICE CENTER AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT REPAIR WILL COST ME SOME $1,600 AT LEAST. BUT, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN, MONTH AGO TO DON ROSEN AUDI AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER WITH COM…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178404 · 2007-01-11 (January 11, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NUMBER 06E060000 TO REPLACE WIRING ON HER 1999 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE HAS AN ODOMETER READING OD APPROXIMATELY 78,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUDI DEALER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL WORK STATING THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE FACTORY WIRING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE PREVIOUSLY ADDED AN AUTOMATIC STARTER TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT DISCLOSED WHICH WIRE WAS NOT FACTORY WIRING.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250366 · 2008-12-01 (December 1, 2008)
THE ABS MODULE ON MY VEHICLE HAS FAILED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE QUITE PREVALENT AMONGST AUDI AND VW VEHICLES. AN ABS FAILURE COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS. THIS MODULE SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE PROBLEM BEGINS WITH THREE BEEPS, A SOLID YELLOW ABS LIGHT AND A FLASHING RED BRAKE LIGHT. THE WARNING MAY COME ON MOMENTARILY WHILE I AM DRIVING AND GO AWAY, BUT IN MOST CASES WILL BECOME MORE PREVALENT AS TIME GOES ON. SOMETIMES THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT REMAIN ON. OCCASIONALLY THE ABS ACTIVATED (IN OTHER WORDS ABS BRAKING HAS ACTIVATED) WHIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260432 · 2009-03-02 (March 2, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4 QUATRO. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE DEALER. AS HE DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE LOT, HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. HE INFORMED THE SALES ASSOCIATE THAT THERE WAS RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE HIM ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $3,000. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT THE OTHER VEHICLE. H…
Owner-reported narrative. 142,926 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10270107 · 2009-05-27 (May 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS WITH THE FUEL TANK CAPACITY LEVEL, WHICH WAS LESS THAN HALF. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE "LOW FUEL LEVEL" WARNING SOUNDED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL LINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10270107 at NHTSA ↗