1998 Audi A4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other A4 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Audi A4. That ranks 2nd out of 31 A4 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (112 complaints, 43%), typically at around 84,190 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.
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- 258owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 5NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 112 | 43% | 84,190 | “heavy rain” (8%) | $2,550 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 28 | 11% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 24 | 9% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 23 | 9% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 23 | 9% | 66,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 16 | 6% | 84,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 5% | 87,450 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 10 | 4% | 82,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 3% | 71,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 3% | 44,792 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 2% | 94,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 1% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 158,238 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 120,119 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 0% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 0% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | 78,721 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Audi A4 recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 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 inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Risk: The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
Steering:linkages:rod:relay:connecting
Problem: 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.
Risk: If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing could wear over time diminishing the steering control of the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster.
Fix: Dealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine backfires during a cold-start, an air screen which is loosely seated in the air flow meter can become damaged.
Risk: Screen pieces could enter the intake air flow system and prevent the throttle plate from returning to its full idle position.
Fix: Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.
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
- Stuck-open throttle (EA04017) — opened Jun 30, 2004, closed Feb 10, 2005, led to recall 04V495000.
- Brake and clutch pedal bracket (PE02008) — opened Jan 23, 2002, closed Jul 12, 2002.
- 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.
- Power brake booster vacuum by-pass (RQ99008) — opened Jun 1, 1999, closed Nov 14, 2000, led to recall 99V131001.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Recall 69bt was not accomplished at McDaniels Audi of Charleston dealer. They indicated they had replaced airbag with 8D0898201A kit.
The contact owned a 1998 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH with his 12-year-old son sitting in the passenger seat, he crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries, however…
Takata recall. The contact owns a 1998 Audi A4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V056000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 audi a4. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v056000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for…
The airbag fault light and abs light have been on ever since i had the vehicle, thinking that it may be a fault by the manufacturer as seeing very common problems in many websites. Another main concerned is the fault of the manufacturer's engine design causing engine damage from oil sludge. My…
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 | 45 | 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 | 258 | 4 |
| 1997 A4 | 98 | 6 |
| 1996 A4 | 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 1998 Audi A4?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, engine and engine cooling, suspension problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 112 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Audi A4?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 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 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.