Audi QUATTRO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
85 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
62,650 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 85 complaints (5.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 22.4% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 9.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Power Train: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Tires: 4; Air Bags: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 45 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 2; 2000: 12; 2001: 5; 2002: 14; 2003: 13; 2004: 8; 2005: 8; 2006: 7; 2007: 7; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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 8002368 · 2002-01-17 (January 17, 2002)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE VIBRATES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS INSTALLED AT AUDI DEALER 5 TIMES IN THE PAST 50000 MILES, THE NEW ROTORS CONTINUE TO WARP AND THUS PROVIDE VERY POOR BRAKING AFTER ONLY ABOUT 5000 MILES. *YD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8002368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8014108 · 2002-07-17 (July 17, 2002)
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY SHIMMY. HAPPENS MORE WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8014108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 875339 · 2000-11-21 (November 21, 2000)
IN PARKING LOT AT SLOW SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A SNAP AND STEERING WENT OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, OUT OF WARRANTY. (RACK/PINION) PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 875339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040999 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND DECELERATING FOR A RED SIGNAL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY WITH THE ENGINE ON. THE CAR PROVED UNCONTROLLABLE. THE STEERING WHEEIL BECAME AGAIN OPERATIONAL AFTER I SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED THE ENGINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184346 · 2007-03-06 (March 6, 2007)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI QUATTRO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE DASHBOARD WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS FADED ON AND OFF AND OCCASIONALLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THE RADIO SHUT OFF AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED AF…
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258597 · 2009-02-13 (February 13, 2009)
I HAVE A 1999 AUDI A4 QUATRO. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR JUST OVER 3 YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH 5 TIMES. THE SWITCH IS POORLY DESIGNED. ELECTRICAL HEAT MELTS A PLASTIC PART IN THE SWITCH CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND THE HEADLIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. THIS IS A DANGER DUE TO THE POTENTIAL OF FIRE AND ALSO THE LOSS OF LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE WEB AND I AM NOT THE ONLY AUDI OWNER WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10258597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344864 · 2010-07-23 (July 23, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 AUDI QUATTRO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE RAISED PORTION OF A GRATING IN THE ROAD, AND UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE DASHBOARD, TRANSMISSION PAN, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FOG LIGHTS AND FRONT SHOCKS WERE DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8016676 · 2002-08-20 (August 20, 2002)
AFTER SLOWING DOWN IN WARM WEATHER THEN ACCELERATING THERE IS A LAG TIME OF ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS BEFORE VEHICLE RESPONDS. IT LUNGED FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE 10 TIMES, FINALLY DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY, AND COULD NOT BE REPROGRAMMED.*AKTHE DRIVERS SEAT BACK MEMORY DOESNT HOLD, PINNING THE DRIVER AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PARKTRONIC WAS INOPERATIVE. THE RIGHT REAR SPEAKER COVER WAS CRACKED. THE NAVAGATION CONTROL WAS BROKEN. THE REAR DECKLID HATCH NEEDED REPAIR. THE COMP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8016676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550385 · 2000-01-13 (January 13, 2000)
FLOATER IN GAS TANK DO NOT NOTIFY GAS GAUGE OF CURRENT FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK WHICH COULD RESULT IN CONSUMER RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 563532 · 2001-10-01 (October 1, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS DASHBOARD INDICATORS, THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE STOPPED FUNCTIONING, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL OPERATION, UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE HIS KEY FROM THE IGNITION, CONSUMER THEN NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE START POSITION, BUT WOULD STALL AS SOON AS HE RELEASED THE IGNITION FROM THE START POSITIION, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE, HOWEVER TWO WEEKS LATER, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183252 · 2007-02-22 (February 22, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4 QUATTRO. THE IGNITION COILS WERE ORIGINALLY REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN 2003 AT 9,000 MILES. AT 60,300 MILES THE IGNITION COILS FAILED AGAIN WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE ENGINE WAS LOUDER THAN NORMAL, AND VEHICLE DID NOT DRIVE NORMALLY, ALSO, THERE WAS LOSS OF POWER.THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AT 10-15 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION COILS FOR CYLINDERS 2, 3 & 6 WERE FAULTY , AND RECOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183252 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 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2009: 0