1996 Audi A4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A4 years
- More complaints than other years 15th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Audi A4. That ranks 15th out of 31 A4 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (26 complaints, 29%), typically at around 90,500 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
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- 89owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 4complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Audi A4 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 26 | 29% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 19 | 21% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 12% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 11% | 68,821 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 9% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 6 | 7% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 7% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 6 | 7% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 6% | 66,642 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 3% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Audi A4 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, as a result of a problem in the production process of the ignition switch, the anchor point of the spring may crack. This could potentially cause the return spring force to be insufficient for returning the ignition key to the running position after starting the engine.
Risk: This condition causes electrical accessories such as windshield wipers and headlights to become inoperative increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new ignition switch with an optimized anchor point free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834. Note: this recall supersedes the remedy program under a previous recall (please see 00v317).
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The plastic ignition switch housing can fracture at the return spring anchor point. Fracture of the housing could cause the return spring force to be insufficient for returning the ignition key to the running position after starting the engine.
Risk: This condition causes electrical accessories such as windshield wipers and headlights to become inoperative.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Air bags:frontal
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The discharge of static electricity under low humidity conditions can activate the driver side air bag when the driver enters or exits the vehicle and forms an electrical circuit by touching certain areas of the steering wheel.
Risk: Activation of the air bag under these conditions can cause personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will install a ground wire on the driver side air bag.
Electrical system:horn
Problem: The horn can work only intermittently due to insufficient electrical ground contact.
Risk: This condition could prevent a driver from sounding a warning by using the horn increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Corrective action: dealers will install a ground contact spring which will enhance the electrical ground connection.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Degraded braking in wet weather (EA00021) — opened Aug 11, 2000, closed Mar 29, 2002.
- Degraded braking wet weather condition (PE00016) — opened Apr 4, 2000, closed Aug 11, 2000.
- Ignition switch (RQ00009) — opened Mar 21, 2000, closed Nov 30, 2000, led to recall 00V317000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While driving west on pennsylvania rt. 401 i drove over a small bump in the road, where a drain is buried under the road, and the passenger side front lower a arm snapped in half at a speed of 45 mph causing a catastrophic failure and the car to grind to a halt on the shoulder of the road.
I HAVE 1996 AUDI A4 AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V403000, WHICH IS NOT ABLE TO RETURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE RUNNING POSITION AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION CAUSING ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES SUCH AS WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a4. The contact heard a loud squealing noise outside the vehicle when he started the ignition. The rpm's increased and the ignition key failed to return to the engine running position. Immediately, the ignition key was turned manually to the "on" position to resume…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 audi a4. The contact stated that his keys were stuck in the ignition. His vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 06v403000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). The failure and current mileages were less than 200,000. Updated 12-08-08 *bf updated 12/10/08. *jb
1996 audi a4 customer had replaced the ignition switch than a week later he received a recall letter. Customer submitted the paper to audi and was given half payment customer would like full reimbursement**cc *jb
Other Audi A4 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 A4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 A4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 A4 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 A4 | 6 | 3 |
| 2021 A4 | 11 | 4 |
| 2020 A4 | 128 | 3 |
| 2019 A4 | 10 | 1 |
| 2018 A4 | 44 | 1 |
| 2017 A4 | 55 | 1 |
| 2016 A4 | 11 | 0 |
| 2015 A4 | 19 | 0 |
| 2014 A4 | 32 | 0 |
| 2013 A4 | 24 | 0 |
| 2012 A4 | 19 | 0 |
| 2011 A4 | 11 | 0 |
| 2010 A4 | 64 | 0 |
| 2009 A4 | 120 | 2 |
| 2008 A4 | 175 | 4 |
| 2007 A4 | 196 | 3 |
| 2006 A4 | 295 | 3 |
| 2005 A4 | 219 | 3 |
| 2004 A4 | 189 | 2 |
| 2003 A4 | 210 | 3 |
| 2002 A4 | 181 | 1 |
| 2001 A4 | 131 | 1 |
| 2000 A4 | 96 | 2 |
| 1999 A4 | 190 | 4 |
| 1998 A4 | 258 | 4 |
| 1997 A4 | 98 | 6 |
| 1996 | 89 | 4 |
| 1995 A4 | 1 | 1 |
See all Audi A4 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Audi A4?
Owners most often report electrical system, suspension, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 26 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Audi A4?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Audi A4 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other A4 model years, the 1996 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.