The 2005 Audi A4 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 465,821 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 267 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS18V4270002018-06-22237,947 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with…
Consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382,…
AIR BAGS17V0320002017-01-1133,421 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada,…
Consequence
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
AIR BAGS16V3820002016-06-01194,453 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
Complaints by component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
97
AIR BAGS
49
4crashes5injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
24
3fires
ENGINE
10
1crashes1fires
POWER TRAIN
10
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
8
1crashes
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
7
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6
1crashes
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
STEERING
5
Total complaints267
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact's husband owned a 2005 audi a4. The contact received several recall letters and cards from the nhtsa and audi manufacturer for a takata air bag recall. The contact stated that the last notification received stated that the owner could die if the recall was not completed. The contact…”
“The car is completely defective,total engine, gasket,water pump,intake manifold,airbag, transmission,torque,drive shaft, universal joints,all rear axles,wheel bearing,bought at auction aug 19,2024, $4000, the as is was so small and on the back of a sheet we did not see it,we are senior,”
“The car is completely defective,total engine, gasket,water pump,intake manifold,airbag, transmission,torque,drive shaft, universal joints,all rear axles,wheel bearing,bought at auction aug 19,2024, $4000, the as is was so small and on the back of a sheet we did not see it,we are senior,”
“The car is completely defective,total engine, gasket,water pump,intake manifold,airbag, transmission,torque,drive shaft, universal joints,all rear axles,wheel bearing,bought at auction aug 19,2024, $4000, the as is was so small and on the back of a sheet we did not see it,we are senior,”
“The airbags in our 2005 audi a4 were recalled. We had the airbag replaced due to the recall in audi of stratham, 58 portsmouth ave, stratham, nh 03885 in february 2023. On 12/8/23, my daughter was involved in a serious front-end collation with another vehicle. The airbags in the audi did not…”
“Came to a stop sign car completely cut off and wouldn’t start again.”
“Headlights flickering. Must turn off the headlights and turn them back on for this issue to go away. All headlight components were replaced including the bulb and this issue still is there. The audi dealerships seem to not know how to fix this issue. This issue is only on the left side/driver…”
“Despite the passenger air bag being replaced a few years ago; I continue to get warning light and now is not function. Albany audi says there is no recall and it will cost me $150 to diagnose. I have spoken with several mechanics who attest to problems with recalled replacement bags.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Audi A4 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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