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CarsLore / Audi / A4 / 2003

2003 Audi A4

210 owner complaints — #4 of 31 A4 model years, 3.3× the typical year. 3 recalls, 25 service bulletins.

210complaints · 10 crashes, 6 fires
3recalls
25manufacturer bulletins
60,000 mimedian mileage at failure

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Audi A4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

  • Power train43
  • Fuel system, gasoline41
  • Electrical system32
  • Exterior lighting23
  • Vehicle speed control22
  • Visibility19
  • Engine and engine cooling17
  • Structure14
  • Air bags12
  • Fuel/propulsion system7

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported

Compared with other years

’95’98’01’03’04’07’10’13’16’19’22’25210’95’98’01’03’04’07’10’13’16’19’22’25210
199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

Fatal crashes in the US

From 2020 to 2023, 10 2003 A4 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)

New York safety inspections

At its first New York inspection the 2003 Audi A4 failed the safety check 2.51% of the time — 19% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 122,007 miles.

1,475first inspections
2.51%failed on safety
122,007 mimedian odometer
0.0%1.0%1.9%’96’98’00’02’03’04’06’08’10’12’14’16’18’20’22’24’252.5%0.0%1.0%1.9%’96’99’02’03’05’08’11’14’17’20’23’252.5%

NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count

Engines

The most common engines in 2003 Audi A4 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (96 kW, 129 hp), 1.8 petrol (120 kW, 161 hp) and 3.0 petrol (162 kW, 217 hp), out of 9 versions with at least 20 cars.

EnginePowerCarsShare
2.0 petrol96 kW 129 hp29832%
1.8 petrol120 kW 161 hp19721%
3.0 petrol162 kW 217 hp10511%
2.4 petrol125 kW 168 hp9610%
1.6 petrol75 kW 101 hp829%
1.9 diesel96 kW 129 hp515%
2.0 petrol110 kW 148 hp505%
1.8 petrol140 kW 188 hp323%
1.9 diesel74 kW 99 hp263%

RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars

In the Netherlands

990 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 26% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €40,207.

79.1%had an APK defect recorded since June 2022
93.0%logical odometer history
0.1%with a recall still open

Most common APK defects

Colours

Grey 42%Black 32%Blue 21%Red 2%Beige 2%Green 1%

RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording

In the United Kingdom

2,306 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 4,102 more were declared off the road (SORN).

2,306licensed, end of 2025
36%of those still registered are on the road

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, 5,039 of these cars first registered in 2003 took their annual MOT test. 60% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2003 the figure was 57%.

60%passed first time
57%all cars from 2003
148,100 miaverage mileage at the test (all cars 108,200 mi)
Failed onThese carsAll cars from 2003
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment20.1%21.6%
Suspension16.0%16.4%
Brakes14.3%13.9%
Tyres7.5%6.3%
Visibility6.2%7.7%
Body, chassis, structure5.9%9.4%

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

1,137 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 330,000 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

301 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 55% arrived as used imports, 40% 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 6 variants: combined 10.3–12.9 L/100 km (about 18–23 mpg US), CO₂ 237–297 g/km.

VariantEngineTransmissionCityHighwayCombinedCO₂ g/km
A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline1.8 L, 4 cyl.AV11.68.710.3237
A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline1.8 L, 4 cyl.M512.88.911.0253
A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline1.8 L, 4 cyl.AS513.19.011.3260
A4 · Compact · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.AV13.29.111.4262
A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.AS514.49.912.4285
A4 quattro · Compact · Premium gasoline3.0 L, 6 cyl.M615.010.312.9297

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 2003 Audi A4.

2006015
19 Jan 2006		Fuel System
On certain Audi A6, A4 Quattro, and Volkswagen Passat vehicles, premature fuel pump wear can lead to pump failure. A failed fuel pump may cause stoppage of fue…
2005062
14 Mar 2005		Lights And Instruments
On certain Audi A4 cabriolet and S4 cabriolet, the Xenon headlamp reflectors may experience coating degradation. The luminous transmittance of the headlamp may…
2002221
21 Nov 2002		Airbag
On certain vehicles, the igniter for the driver's side airbag may not have been properly pressed into position during assembly. An improperly positioned ignite…

Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

07V375000 · Fuel system, gasoline28 Aug 2007 · 34,358 vehicles

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

06V017000 · Fuel system, gasoline23 Jan 2006 · 74,000 vehicles

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM SEPTEMBER 2002 - MARCH 2003, EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO, 2.8L V6, OR 3.0L ENGINES, A CHANGE IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR COMPONENTS IN THE FUEL PUMP CAN LEAD TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP AND, ULTIMATELY, STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO STALL.

05V096000 · Exterior lighting15 Mar 2005 · 9,965 vehicles

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

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 2003 Audi A4: known faults, fixes and updates.

BulletinSummary
10251027Tightening wheel bolts
10250950Tightening wheel bolts
10250430Oil consumption measurement - Repair Authorization (CA)
10249085Google Maps Street View (NVLW))
10249054Due to new Minnesota state regulations regarding biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be available in the State of Minnesota.
10243930This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
10243790Audi Elsa Newsletter
10243789Audi Elsa Newsletter
10243787Audi Elsa Newsletter
10243780Audi Elsa Newsletter
10243756Audi Elsa Newsletter
10241749Quick Reference Update Guide
10231144Technical bulletins and updates
10231130Idenifying and mixing factory fill engine coolants
10231128Technical bulletins and updates
10231127ElsaPro Software update and technical bulletins
10228314The use of contaminated gasoline or gasoline with a low content of deposit control additives may result in one or more conditions.
10228302High quality media files (video and sound) are now integrated into technical service bulletins on a case-by-case basis. Media files can now be viewed on any smartphone or tablet.
10228297This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) details the general process for carrying out a Software Version Management (SVM) software update for any TSB or Update.
10226530ATF pan leaks
10226529Vehicle lacks power or will not move after stop due to simultaneous depressing of the brake and accelerator pedals
10224993The use of contaminated gasoline or gasoline with a low content of deposit control additives may result in one or more conditions.
10224981High quality media files (video and sound) are now integrated into technical service bulletins on a case-by-case basis. Media files can now be viewed on any smartphone or tablet.
10224976This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) details the general process for carrying out a Software Version Management (SVM) software update for any TSB or Update.
10221966The use of contaminated gasoline or gasoline with a low content of deposit control additives may result in one or more conditions.

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)