1999 Audi A4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
242 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1999 Audi A4, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 70/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 79,250 miles.
Below average
Where 1999 sits among all A4 years
What owners report
“Wet braking 2/3 second delay of braking power when driving in rain at highway speed. Dt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 A4
“Leaking water pump caused timing belt to fail causing $8500 engine damage on a 1999 audi a4 with only 28k miles.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1999 A4
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 121 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 75,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 65,000 and 99,500 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized…
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may…
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October…
Fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO…
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.
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.
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.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 04V495000.
Led to recall campaign 99V131001.
Technical service bulletins
73 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 1999 Audi A4. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1999 Audi A4 reliable?
The 1999 Audi A4 drew 242 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 70/100, scored against the model's worst year (1998).
What are the most common 1999 Audi A4 problems?
The top reported problems for the 1999 Audi A4 are brakes & stability (99 complaints), engine (29), and speed control (17).
At what mileage do 1999 Audi A4 problems show up?
Owners most often report 1999 Audi A4 problems around 75,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 65,000 and 99,500 miles.
Does the 1999 Audi A4 have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 1999 Audi A4. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.