1998 Audi A4 Problems

Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Audi A4 has 321 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 59 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.

Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (59 complaints, avg 144,486 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc (18 complaints); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module (15 complaints, avg 90,626 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.

The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 99,804 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.

NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Audi A4 include 9 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 16 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 28,624 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.

This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip) and verify open recalls have been addressed.