Your vehicle report
1998 Audi A4
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 258
- Received Aug 1997 to Jan 2022
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up53 complaints · 21% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines40 complaints · 16% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Timing chain fails and destroys engine16 complaints · 6.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #22V471000Volkswagen 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.
- Recall #99V248000Vehicle 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 6 crashes, 2 fires, 11 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 16 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1999 | 31 |
| 2000 | 50 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 37 |
| 2005 | 36 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 258 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 53 | 21% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 40 | 16% | – | |
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 16 | 6.2% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 8 | 3.1% | – | NHTSA recall #22V471000 |
| Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal | 8 | 3.1% | – | NHTSA recall #99V131001 |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 7 | 2.7% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 7 | 2.7% | – | |
| Tie rod ends break or come loose | 6 | 2.3% | – | NHTSA recall #99V248000 |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 6 | 2.3% | – | |
| Heated seat overheats and burns occupants | 5 | 1.9% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 4 | 1.6% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 4 | 1.6% | – | |
| Serpentine belt breaks or slips off | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 3 | 1.2% | – | |
| Electronic throttle body fails and cuts power | 3 | 1.2% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #22V471000July 1, 202228,624 vehicles affected
air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #99V248000September 13, 199951,900 vehicles affected
steering: linkages: rod: relay: connecting
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.
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.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the tie rods.
NHTSA recall #99V131001May 21, 199988,121 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
This condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #98V134000June 22, 199819,800 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling: cooling system
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.
Screen pieces could enter the intake air flow system and prevent the throttle plate from returning to its full idle position.
Remedy
Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1998 Audi A4.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN