Audi A4 Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 366 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Audi A4 across 19 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (159). The words owners use most often: “dipped headlight” (31% of reports).
- 366exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $770typical repair cost reported by owners
- 40%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Dipped headlight: mentioned in 112 of 366 complaints (31%)
- Turn off: mentioned in 77 of 366 complaints (21%)
- Headlights flicker: mentioned in 37 of 366 complaints (10%)
- Flickers goes: mentioned in 23 of 366 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Audi A4 at $770, and half of them between $490 and $1,300.
Based on 22 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 296 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 366 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 1 an injury.
Audi A4 exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 A4 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2017 A4 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2015 A4 | 2 | 11% | 21,006 |
| 2014 A4 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2010 A4 | 2 | 3% | 150,000 |
| 2009 A4 | 4 | 3% | 65,000 |
| 2008 A4 | 11 | 6% | 69,000 |
| 2007 A4 | 8 | 4% | 65,000 |
| 2006 A4 | 159 | 54% | 56,250 |
| 2005 A4 | 101 | 46% | 58,700 |
| 2004 A4 | 14 | 7% | 80,000 |
| 2003 A4 | 23 | 11% | 70,000 |
| 2002 A4 | 17 | 9% | 102,000 |
| 2001 A4 | 3 | 2% | 95,007 |
| 2000 A4 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 1999 A4 | 4 | 2% | — |
| 1998 A4 | 5 | 2% | 94,000 |
| 1997 A4 | 3 | 3% | 68,500 |
| 1996 A4 | 5 | 6% | 66,642 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 2003, 2004
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition could affect a driver's field of view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right xenon headlamp reflectors free of charge. The recall began on april 11, 2005. Owners may contact audi at 1-800-822-2834.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The headlights on my 2017 Audi A4 have developed stress cracks in the headlamp housing. According to the inspection performed by an authorized Audi dealer, these cracks will obscure headlight projection and lower the visibility range at night. The dealer specifically noted there were no signs of…
The MMI or infotainment center turns off and reboots/kicks user out while the car is in motion and also while stopped. The MMI going off has cut out while backing up not allowing the rear camera to be used and has also not allowed the front and rear sensors to be used for parking/auto breaking…
I own a 2009 audi a4. On the Month of october 2024 my transmission failed. I towed my car to a mechanic who then replaced my transmission i picked up my car on December 11 2024 at 7 am from audi of fresno. I have had no prior issues and like always i expect a dealership to inspect a new vehicle…
The third brake light intermittently stops working. Being that it is intermittent, it tells me the led and circuitry are working. Also, a warning alert will illuminate on my dash instrument cluster and not when the light is working again. Upon further searching on-line, there is an issue with a…
Water pump failed inside lights sometimes work and signal lights arenât accurate
Frequently asked questions
Do all Audi A4s have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 366 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Audi A4. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Audi A4 exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Audi A4?
Owners report a typical cost of $770 (half paid between $490 and $1,300), from 22 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Audi A4?
The most frequent phrase is “dipped headlight”, in 112 of 366 complaints, followed by “turn off” (77).
Other Audi A4 problems
See all Audi A4 problems.