Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Audi A4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic81
- Engine and engine cooling28
- Vehicle speed control16
- Steering15
- Electrical system11
- Power train10
- Air bags8
- Suspension8
- Tires7
- Service brakes, air6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 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 1999 Audi A4 failed the safety check 2.15% of the time — 22% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 154,107 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
24 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 100% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen11
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect9
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm8
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling6
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan5
- CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan5
- Band onvoldoende profiel5
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
444 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,324 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, 857 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 61% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 16.5% | 13.1% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.5% | 16.6% |
| Brakes | 12.4% | 12.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 11.2% | 9.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.3% | 7.3% |
| Steering | 6.1% | 3.7% |
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
233 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 313,000 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
40 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 70% arrived as used imports, 28% 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 10.0–12.5 L/100 km (about 19–24 mpg US), CO₂ 230–288 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 11.5 | 8.1 | 10.0 |
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.9 | 8.3 | 10.8 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 12.6 | 8.9 | 10.9 |
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 8.9 | 11.4 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 13.7 | 9.6 | 11.9 |
| A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 8.8 | 12.0 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 14.3 | 9.5 | 12.1 |
| A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline | 15.1 | 9.4 | 12.5 |
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 1999 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… |
| 2002104 3 Mar 2001 | Steering On certain vehicles the tie rods of the steering assembly may be inadequately sealed to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mec… |
| 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… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 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 inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
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. 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.
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 1999 Audi A4: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627106 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DRIVER'S INFORMATION DISPLAY FADES. *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 |
| 608230 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE WIND NOISE HEARD FROM THE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR. *TT |
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10249085 | Google Maps Street View (NVLW)) |
| 10249054 | Due to new Minnesota state regulations regarding biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be available in the State of Minnesota. |
| 10243930 | This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries. |
| 10243787 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243780 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10231130 | Idenifying and mixing factory fill engine coolants |
| 10216682 | Engine oils that meet Audi Oil Quality Standards. |
| 10216662 | Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants. |
| 10216656 | Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants. |
| 10216638 | If the vehicle?s engine experienced a serious mechanical problem, it is possible that small pieces of metal debris resulting from the mechanical problem may have become deposited in the intake manifold, air intake hoses, exhaust manifolds, exhaust down-pipes, turbocharger, supercharger, and/or intercooler. If these pieces are not removed prior to the installation and operation of the replacement engine, the pieces may be drawn into the combustion chamber, which can cause a knocking noise and subsequent serious engine damage. |
| 10164518 | This communication is issued to inform dealers of updated shipping regulations related to lithium ion batteries. |
| 10163501 | This communication is issued to remind dealers of the repair validation process for repair group 19. 2005-2019 A3, 1996-2019 A4, 2008-2019 A5, 1992-2019 A6, 2012-2019 A7, 1997-2019 A8, 2019 E-Tron, 2015-2019 Q3, 2010-2019 Q5, 2007-2019 Q7, 2019 Q8, 2000-2019 TT, 2008-2018 R8 |
| 10161273 | This bulletin contains instructions for additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries (airbag/seatbelts, accidents, fire and overheat damage). 2008-2021A3, 2015-2021A3 Cabrio, 2005-2016 A3 Sportback, 1999-2021 A4, 2010-2021 A4 allroad, 1999-2012 A4 Avant, 2003-2009 A4 Cabrio, 2010-2021 A5 Cabrio, 2008-2021 A5 Coupe, 2018-2021 A5 Sportback, 1999-2021A6, 1999-2011A6 Avant, 2008-2020 A7, 1999-2021 A8, 2008-2019 e-tron, 2019-2021 e-tron quattro, 2015-2021 Q3, 2009-2021 Q5, 2007-2021 Q7, 2019 Q8, 2008-2020 R8 Coupe, 2011-2020 R8 Spyder, 2017-2019 RS3, 2007-2008 RS4, 2008 RS4 Ca |
| 10155644 | This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward. |
| 10128399 | Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 19 number 14-50 dated June 20, 2014. Discontinuation and mixing of Audi-approved engine coolants. G11, G12, and G12+ coolants have been replaced by an improved version. G12++ coolant (for service available) has been introduced in MY 2005 for all engines. G13 has been introduced in MY 2008 as factory filling and service. |
| 10128350 | This informational bulletin contains all the the Audi Oil Quality Standards that should be used when doing an oil change. |
| 10128222 | Due to increasing requests for high voltage personal protective equipment (HVE PPE) for dealer technicians working with high voltage vehicles (Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid, Electric Vehicle), the Volkswagen Tools and Equipment Team has identified two US based suppliers to support dealers in USA and Canada. |
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