1999 Audi A4: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 242 complaints
242
Total Complaints
75,000mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
9
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

65,000 25th Percentile
75,000 Median Mileage
99,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
43
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
8
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
6
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
6

Severity Assessment

9
Crashes
2
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I WAS BACKING UP IN DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF A HOUSE. MY CAR GAVE A SLIGHT LURCH AND THE MOTOR REVVED UP. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED BECAUSE I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD ..."
"WHILE BACKING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BRAKES WERE CONTINUOUSLY BEING APPLIED BUT DID NOT RESPOND, RESULTING IN VEHICLE HITTING A TRUCK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK"
"DRIVER'S SEAT CONTROLS DO NOT CONFORM TO CAR'S MANUAL. CAR MANUAL SPECIFIES A SEPARATE "LUMBAR" SUPPORT KNOB. WHILE DRIVING I TURNED WHAT I ASSUMED WAS THE LUMBAR SUPPORT AND FOUND IT TO BE THE KNOB CONTROLLING THE ANGLE OF THE BACK SEAT, CAUSING A MOMENTARY JOLT, DISRUPTING MY CONCENTRATION AND T..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28