Audi CABRIOLET problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 22 complaints (36.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 27.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 13.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 8 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 2; Structure: 2; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1
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 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 13 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 7; 2003: 6; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 728263 · 2000-08-17 (August 17, 2000)
IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM WAS CAUSE FOR A RECALL IN 1996 (96V017000) AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. KEY ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES DO NOT FUNCTION SUCH AS TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLAMPS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 896202 · 2001-09-12 (September 12, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS/ HEADLIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER, AND WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. ONLY THING WORKING WAS THE ENGINE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL # 96 V 017 000. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS QUIT WORKING. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 896202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000879 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
STEERING LINKAGE FAILED. WHILE PULLING OUT ODF A DRIVEWAY, THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND RACK BROKE RENDERING THE CAR UNSTEERABLE. THE STEERING WHEELL SIMPLE SPUN. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT HIGH SPEED. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAID IT WAS " NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE HIGH MILEAGE AND IS MAINTAINED BY AUDI. I HAVE THE BROKEN PART FOR YOUR INSPECTION. IT IS BROKEN IN TWO.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046837 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
2003 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET STEERING WAS EXTREMELY NOISY FROM DATE OF PURCHASE ON. GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BY AUDI SERVICE 3 TIMES TO NO AVAIL. AT ONE POINT, A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING CAUSED DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. AUDI MECHANICS AND DEALER ADMITTED TO FAULTY POWER STEERING IN SOME A4 CABRIOLET MODELS BUT WILL NOT OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE. AFTER ALMOST 4 MONTHS I'M STILL WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT CAR. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376264 · 2011-01-11 (January 11, 2011)
I HAVE A 2003 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 3.0 WITH CVS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE REPLACED ONE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF OVER 7,500 DOLLARS. THE CAR ONLY HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED BY AUDI DEALERSHIP IN TORONTO , CANADA. THE DEALER TRIED TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR THE REPAIR AND AFTER SEVERAL ARGUMENTS ONLY PARTIALLY COVERED THE COSTS. THE CAR NOW HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT AND AGAIN I AM EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE PRND LIGHTS FLASH BACK AND FORTH AND THE TRANSMISSION IS WINING AND SHAKY AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. OBVIOUSLY AUDI HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156899 · 2006-05-06 (May 6, 2006)
WHEN THIS CARS GAS TANK GOES BELOW A HALF TANK, THE GAS CHAMBER DOES NOT ALLOW GAS TO FLOW INTO THE TANK. FOR SOME REASON,THE GAS PUMP RELEASES OR WORSE THE FUEL OVERFLOWS. THE SAFETY OR RISK HERE IS THAT ONE CAN GET STRANDED, BE IN A STRANGE TOWN, FAR FROM HOME LATE AT NIGHT, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO FILL THE TANK. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY LOCAL DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS BUT WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156899 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1993: 1; 1994: 2; 1995: 3; 1996: 2; 1997: 1; 1998: 0; 2000: 0; 2003: 0