2004 Audi A4 Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Audi A4. Part of Generation 2 (B6) — 2002–2005.

20032005
Complaints
225
Crashes
10
Fires
6
Injuries
7
Fatalities
Recalls
1

Worst 2004 Audi A4 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#135 complaints

Gasoline Fuel System

Avg mileage:66,858 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#218 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:92,607 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#314 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:79,638 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Audi A4.

Gasoline Fuel System
35
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,858
Airbags
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
92,607
Headlight/Taillight Failures
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
79,638
Electrical Faults
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
49,301
Fuel Pump
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,409
Unintended Acceleration
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
71,363
Tire Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
28,184
Engine Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
92,593
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,520
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,184
Tires:Sidewall
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
8,061
Air Bags:Frontal
6
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
49,649
Automatic Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
43,733
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
91,740
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,800
Visibility
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
67,852
Fuel System, Other
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Windshield
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Rear Window Wiper/Washer
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Audi A4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2004 Audi A4

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~194,453 vehicles.

16V382000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~194,453 affected

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Other Audi A4 Years

2004 Audi A4 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Audi A4 reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2004 Audi A4 has 225 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Gasoline Fuel System with 35 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Audi A4?
Top reported problems: Gasoline Fuel System (35 complaints, avg 66,858 mi); Airbags (18 complaints, avg 92,607 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (14 complaints, avg 79,638 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Audi A4?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 64,486 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Audi A4?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Audi A4 include 10 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 7 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.
Does the 2004 Audi A4 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 194,453 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.
Should I buy a 2004 Audi A4?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Audi A4 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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