Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Audi A4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic112
- Engine and engine cooling28
- Suspension24
- Electrical system23
- Steering23
- Air bags16
- Vehicle speed control13
- Service brakes, air10
- Visibility8
- Power train7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Audi A4 failed the safety check 1.97% of the time — 15% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 141,129 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
21 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 100% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen12
- Band onvoldoende profiel9
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect8
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af8
- Richtingaanwijzers kleur wijkt af/niet toegestaan6
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld5
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm5
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde5
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
286 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,187 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 588 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 66% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 13.6% | 12.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.4% | 16.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 10.4% | 9.3% |
| Brakes | 7.1% | 11.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 6.1% | 7.2% |
| Steering | 4.9% | 3.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
277 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 316,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
63 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 70% arrived as used imports, 27% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 8 variants: combined 10.0–12.6 L/100 km (about 19–24 mpg US), CO₂ 230–290 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 11.6 | 8.1 | 10.0 |
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.8 | 8.0 | 10.6 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.5 | 8.8 | 10.8 |
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 8.8 | 11.2 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.6 | 9.5 | 11.8 |
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 14.5 | 8.8 | 11.9 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.7 | 9.6 | 11.9 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 15.1 | 9.5 | 12.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Audi A4.
| 2020032 29 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. Safety Risk: In a cra… |
| 1999195 29 Oct 1999 | Steering On certain vehicles, the steering assembly tie rod seals do not seal properly. If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel… |
| 1998126 22 Jun 1998 | Engine IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE BACKFIRE DURING COLD START, AN AIR SCREEN WHICH IS LOOSELY SEATED IN THE AIR FLOW METER COULD BECOME DAMAGED. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, SCR… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A CONTROL VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTING THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MAY NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FULLY AT TEMPERATURES BELOW -4 F UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE BACKFIRES DURING A COLD-START, AN AIR SCREEN WHICH IS LOOSELY SEATED IN THE AIR FLOW METER CAN BECOME DAMAGED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 1998 Audi A4: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627106 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DRIVER'S INFORMATION DISPLAY FADES. *JG |
| 627071 | SUBJECT REGARDING NOISY FRONT SUSPENSION. *JG |
| 627068 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DRIVER'S INFORMATION DISPLAY FADES. *JG |
| 621505 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE ENGINE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START. *TT |
| 621502 | THIS TECHNICAL REPAIR MANUAL CONTAINS THE ELECTRICAL WIRING DIAGRAMS, TROUBLESHOOTING AND COMPLENT LOCATIONS. *TT |
| 619856 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE ENGINE MAY CRANK BUT WILL NOT START. *TT |
| 606254 | CONDITIONS WITH CREAKING NOISE FROM CENTER ARMREST ON VEHICLES VIN 8D_WA240851. *TT |
| 604441 | PROCEDURES ON INSTALLING TRANSMISSION SOUND DEADENING SHIELDS *TT |
| 604438 | VEHICLE EXHIBITING A WHINING / WHIRRING TYPE NOISE AT CERTAIN MPH RANGES. *TT |
| 603332 | SUBJECT ON FLOOR MAT FASTENER VARIATIONS. *YC |
| 603331 | EXPERIENCING CREAKING / POPPING NOISES FROM REAR WINDOW. *YC |
| 603326 | SUBJECT ON LUGGAGE COVER HANDLE, REPLACING. *YC |
| 603131 | TURBOCHARGER, FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. *YC |
| 601886 | INCREASING DISTANCE RANGE FOR FOLDING KEY ( KEYLESS REMOTE TRANSMITTER ). *YC |
| 601885 | EXPERIENCING KNOCKING/CREAKING NOISES FROM REAR AXLE. *YC |
| 601884 | SUBJECT ON AIRBAG SYSTEM ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC (OBD) FOR VEHICLES WITH REAR SEAT BELT TENSIONERS. *YC |
| 601538 | SUBJECT ON THE AUDI A4 REPAIR MANUAL. *YC |
| 601076 | INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR CELLULAR TELEPHONE. *YC |
| 600913 | VEHICLES WITH CONCERT RADIO WITHOUT BOSE SOUND SYSTEM MAY EXHIBIT AN INOPERATIVE AND / OR DISTORTED REAR SPEAKER. *YC |
| 600812 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING SUNROOF. *YC |
| 600499 | INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS ON CELLULAR TELEPHONE. *YC |
| 53627 | SUBJECT ON CYLINDER HEAD REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION. *YC |
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10249085 | Google Maps Street View (NVLW)) |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE
BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET
DEGRADED BRAKING IN WET WEATHER
DEGRADED BRAKING WET WEATHER CONDITION
POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM BY-PASS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation