Audi A4 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 306 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Audi A4 across 14 model years. The 1998 model year has the most (112). The words owners use most often: “wet conditions” (11% of reports).
- 306service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%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.
- Wet conditions: mentioned in 35 of 306 complaints (11%)
- ABS control: mentioned in 29 of 306 complaints (9%)
- Second delay: mentioned in 19 of 306 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the Audi A4 at $2,550, and half of them between $1,700 and $3,400.
Based on 34 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2012), 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 service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 118 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 306 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury.
Audi A4 service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 A4 | 1 | 10% | 30,000 |
| 2008 A4 | 1 | 1% | 10,000 |
| 2007 A4 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2006 A4 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2005 A4 | 1 | 0% | 15,158 |
| 2004 A4 | 4 | 2% | 48,250 |
| 2003 A4 | 1 | 0% | 7,000 |
| 2002 A4 | 3 | 2% | 87,000 |
| 2001 A4 | 28 | 21% | 63,650 |
| 2000 A4 | 47 | 49% | 81,925 |
| 1999 A4 | 81 | 43% | 84,000 |
| 1998 A4 | 112 | 43% | 84,190 |
| 1997 A4 | 14 | 14% | 130,000 |
| 1996 A4 | 11 | 12% | 23,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2023 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently accelerated. No warning lights were illuminated. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The vehicle crossed a busy street and drove down…
My audi, along with thousands of others have had their abs control unit malfunction because of design. This malfunction causes the abs to not work on the affected vehicle. Volkswagen, the company that produces audis and vws actually recalled this exact part on their vw vehicles, but for some reason…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 audi a4. The contact stated that the abs warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel and the brake warning light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics where the mechanic advised the contact that the ecu module would have…
Cpsc#11210115a. 2007 audi a4. Consumer stated he went to use brakes on car and they didn't work. *ln the consumer stated he had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken the dealer and repaired at a cost of $800.
Abs module failure. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all Audi A4s have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 306 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic 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 service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Audi A4?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,550 (half paid between $1,700 and $3,400), from 34 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Audi A4?
The most frequent phrase is “wet conditions”, in 35 of 306 complaints, followed by “abs control” (29).
Other Audi A4 problems
- Air Bags problems (516)
- Electrical System problems (469)
- Exterior Lighting problems (366)
- Engine problems (251)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (229)
- Power Train problems (201)
- Steering problems (130)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (127)
See all Audi A4 problems.