2003 Audi A4 Problems and Recalls (201 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2003 Audi A4 is Fuel system (23% of 201 owner reports). There are 4 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 201 complaints · 4 recalls

What problems show up on the 2003 Audi A4?

47 of 201 filings named Fuel system (23% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (32 reports).

There are 4 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Lights, Fuel system, and Engine. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2002 has 174 reports on file; this year has 201. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2003 Audi A4

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 4 campaigns on file below.
  2. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Fuel system. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Fuel system 47 complaints · 23.4% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 10
  • Fires 6
  • Injuries 12
  • Deaths 0
All Audi A4 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) appears in 47 of 201 owner complaints (23.4%) in this vehicle snapshot. Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 47 complaints, 23.4% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 47 · 23.4% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 32 complaints, 15.9% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 32 · 15.9% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 20 complaints, 9.9% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 fire reports 20 · 9.9% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 20 complaints, 9.9% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 20 · 9.9% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 19 complaints, 9.4% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 19 · 9.4% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 16 complaints, 8.0% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 16 · 8.0% Engine (ENGINE): 14 complaints, 7.0% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 2 fire reports 14 · 7.0% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 9 complaints, 4.5% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 5 crash reports 9 · 4.5% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 7 complaints, 3.5% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 7 · 3.5% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 104 complaints, 51.7% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 4 crash reports 2 fire reports 104 · 51.7% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 47 23.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 32 15.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 20 9.9% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 20 9.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 19 9.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 16 8.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 14 7.0% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 9 4.5% 5 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 7 3.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 104 51.7% 4 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2003; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 2005. 2003-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2004-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2006-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2006-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2007-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2007-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2007-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2008-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2008-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2009-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2010-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2010-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2010-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2012-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2003 Oct 2024 Recall campaign 05V096000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V096000 Recall campaign 06V017000 ◆ Recall campaign 06V017000 Recall campaign 07V375000 ◆ Recall campaign 07V375000 Recall campaign 14E007000 ◆ Recall campaign 14E007000
  • Campaign 06V017000 was reported 677 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07V375000 was reported 1,259 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14E007000 was reported 3,704 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2003-Q1 Owner reports 1
2003-Q2 Owner reports 3
2003-Q3 Owner reports 1
2003-Q4 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 7
2004-Q2 Owner reports 3
2004-Q3 Owner reports 2
2004-Q4 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2005-Q2 Owner reports 4
2005-Q3 Owner reports 3
2005-Q4 Owner reports 7
2006-Q1 Owner reports 7
2006-Q2 Owner reports 3
2006-Q3 Owner reports 4
2006-Q4 Owner reports 3
2007-Q1 Owner reports 5
2007-Q2 Owner reports 6
2007-Q3 Owner reports 5
2007-Q4 Owner reports 6
2008-Q1 Owner reports 9
2008-Q2 Owner reports 8
2008-Q3 Owner reports 8
2008-Q4 Owner reports 3
2009-Q1 Owner reports 3
2009-Q2 Owner reports 3
2009-Q3 Owner reports 4
2009-Q4 Owner reports 5
2010-Q1 Owner reports 3
2010-Q2 Owner reports 9
2010-Q3 Owner reports 7
2010-Q4 Owner reports 4
2011-Q1 Owner reports 5
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 3
2012-Q1 Owner reports 5
2012-Q2 Owner reports 3
2012-Q3 Owner reports 4
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q2 Owner reports 2
2013-Q3 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 3
2014-Q3 Owner reports 2
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 5
2016-Q2 Owner reports 3
2017-Q3 Owner reports 3
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q3 Owner reports 3
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 2
2022-Q4 Owner reports 2
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 05V096000
Recall campaign 1 06V017000
Recall campaign 1 07V375000
Recall campaign 1 14E007000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (4)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Lights, Fuel system, and Engine.

  1. Recall campaign 05V096000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT XENON HEADLAMP REFLECTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 06V017000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 07V375000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 20007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. THIS RECALL IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V017).
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 14E007000

    Engine

    Report date
    Component:
    Engine (ENGINE)
    Consequence:
    A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 201 complaints · page 1 of 9
2024-10-11Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11619369
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Crank case ventilation hose breaks and engine runs poorly part#06C103235B
2023-01-03Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 11499857
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Water pump failed inside lights sometimes work and signal lights aren’t accurate
2022-11-26Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11494969
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Radio intermediate goes out hitting bumps speedometer stopped working the number ninth digit is not pulling up when I search vehicle information Replaced engine vehicle only had 20,000 miles
2022-10-06Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11488250
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2003 Audi A4. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated, lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart and there was steam coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence where an independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the vehicle had experienced a similar failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14E007000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was necessary to check for recalls. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.
2022-03-05Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11455360
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Left turn signal works fine. Right turn signal alternates between flashing left and right.
2022-01-06Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11446475
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2003 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a fuel odor was detected. The contact parked the vehicle and noticed there was fuel leaking on the rear driver's side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the fuel pump flange and hoses needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the part replacement. The failure mileage was 143,839.
2021-10-06Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11435651
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The coolant light came on after I replaced coil packs and I stopped to look wasn't leaking anywhere. Drove to work and it caught on fire due to overheating I guess not really sure. I was driving a car on fire down a highway and didn't even know it. I stopped to take a left turn into work and smoke stared billowing out and around the entire car. Other drivers couldn't see me or nothing I could have been in an accident. The fire department checked the car out sort of and it's in a mechanics shop now. Trying to figure it out. Oil light was on and that's it. AN then the coolant light would kick on and off. Nothing else after I changed the coil packs. And it was well after I did that.
2020-08-12Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11348847
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2003 AUDI A4 3.0 CABRIOLET CONVERTIBLE STARTED SHIFTING ROUGH AND HESITANT AND SHUT OFF, CRANKED BACK UP WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND ALL THE SHIFTING GEAR LIGHTS CAME ON R N D 2 , BARELY MADE IT BACK HOME, PUT CODE READER ON CAR HAD A LOT OF CODES ON IT I RESET CODES BUT RND2 LIGHTS STILL ON , POSSIBLE BAD TCM?
2020-06-26Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11331067
CrashFireInjuryDeath
INITIALLY DROVE CAR HOME FROM GROCERY STORE HIT A BUMP AND NOTICED A SPARK COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF CAR. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED FOR SPARK EVIDENT ONCE STOPPED THERE WAS NO SIGN OF SPARK OR ANYTHING. GOT CAR HOME AND PARKED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, AFTER PUTTING THE FIRE OUT MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE HOOD AND TRIED TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE WHEN HE DISCOVERED THE BATTERY WAS MELTED TO THE HOOD AND IS WHERE THE FIRE INITIALLY CAUGHT. THE LOCATION OF THE BATTERY WE BELIEVE TO BE THE ISSUE AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY. *TR
2019-05-28Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11210443
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF DRIVE WHILE DRIVING INTO LIKE NEUTRAL AND WHEN I ACCELERATE THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE AND COMES TO A FULL STOP AND I HAVE TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF TILL IT WORKS AGAIN

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2003 Audi A4?

Owners named Fuel system most often — 47 of 201 reports (23%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Audi A4?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Lights, Fuel system, and Engine. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2003 Audi A4?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources