2004 Audi A4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
225 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Audi A4, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 71/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Fuel system leads the reports, typically around 61,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2004 sits among all A4 years
What owners report
“When engine is under load with a faulty fuel pump, the engine will stall whilst moving without turning motor off. Only remedy is to turn engine off and on, since the fuel pump will not start itself back on after the stall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 A4
“The hid xenon headlights have dimmed to the point where driving at night could become difficult. There is a recall (05v096000) for 2004 audi a4's with hid headlights but this vin. Is not included. Possibly a known problem to audi.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 A4
“My audi stopped blowing out heat first and then the check engine light came on. When i took it to get the check engine light code tested it read pressure default. Not long after my air bag light came on. Now my car is leaking coolant.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 A4
“Takata airbag inflators, i got in my car and the airbag light came on for no reason , and it is still on. For more than 3 months now”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 A4
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 193 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 60,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 38,365 and 86,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina,…
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer…
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.
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.
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.
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
172 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2004 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 2004 Audi A4 reliable?
The 2004 Audi A4 drew 225 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 71/100, scored against the model's worst year (1998).
What are the most common 2004 Audi A4 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2004 Audi A4 are fuel system (53 complaints), electrical (29), and engine (28).
At what mileage do 2004 Audi A4 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2004 Audi A4 problems around 60,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 38,365 and 86,000 miles.
Does the 2004 Audi A4 have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 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.