1999 Audi A4 4 Door Sedan 2.8 Quattro

Summary:

It's great for looks, but horrible for reliability!

Faults:

When I first purchased this car from a private dealer, I was naive thinking that nothing would go wrong. It was obviously a great price for a horrible expense!

At around 100,000 miles, the shifting started to act up really bad. So, I took it into Audi, and they had to replace the broken transmission pan for $1,200,00! Of course no other car shop would deal with it!

Then, around 105,000 miles, I heard a horrible loud noise, and I had to take it into the dealer again to get it diagnosed and fixed. That cost $500.00!

Then, around 115,000 miles, my transmission REALLY started to act up. For example, it would take forever for it to shift into 2nd, and when it did, it would jerk the whole car and freak me out! It also would barely go into reverse!

I had no other option than to get a rebuilt transmission, which cost me $3, 800.00. I didn't have the dealer do it since it would be $6,000.00!

Now I have a major oil leak!

General Comments:

The Audi A4 is somewhat of a bumpy ride. It drives roughly, especially on rough roads, and it feels like you are always hauling something behind you. In addition, the shifting is BAD.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 6th August, 2008

5th Feb 2009, 03:37

With automatic transmissions, if you are low on transmission fluid, they will shift rough depending on how low on fluid. The lower the fluid, the worse the shifting until eventually it won't shift at all. Consistently running an automatic on low fluid will cause the transmission to be damaged by lack of lubrication and heat. Don't know if that was the problem, but it could have been a factor.

1999 Audi A4 1.8T

Summary:

Awesome looking car, piece of crap to own and drive

Faults:

Hey I have a 1999 Audi A4 1.8T and my ABS/Brake light is blinking. A mechanic looked at it and thought that the ABS module might be broken since the brakes are working fine. I called the Audi dealership and they would not give me a quote. They mentioned that there could be multiple problems with the car. Well that sounds very expensive to me. Have any of you have this problem. If so what was the fix and how much was the cost, thanks.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th June, 2008

4th Feb 2009, 21:26

This car is one of the best on the market, far from the piece of crap you stated.

The key thing is keeping it maintained, and when buying a used one, get one that has the service records.

And also with any car purchase, have it inspected before buying.

The problem with your ABS is probably the module, no big deal. You can find these as re-manufactured for about $250 9had the same problem). I have the same 1999 A4, and have owned it since 10,000 miles, I now have 104,000. This has been the most reliable car I've owned. The key is to take care of it.

1999 Audi A4 Quattro 2.8

Faults:

Radiator at 90,000 miles had a hole that was patched with some type of pink compound and could not be seen before I bought it. Dealer repaired but would have cost over $1000.00.

Side molding under Passengers side door fell off at around 105,000 miles due to rot, but replacement was cheap at around $40.00.

At 108,000 miles rear brakes had to be replaced, and the car had the original brakes disks so they were replaced as well. Easiest brake job ever, and I was surprised. $70.00 including the new disks, brakes, lube, brake cleaner, and fluid.

At 108,000 miles, while replacing the brakes, I discovered the passenger side outer tie rod end was defective, and I replaced at a cost of around $50.00. Very easy to replace.

General Comments:

I bought this car for my college age daughter after she was t-boned in our 2000 Mustang. The car looks great, even at 10 years old, and actually runs very well.

The first week she had it, she took a trip to Florida, which was around 3000 miles round trip with only a flat tire breakdown. Don't rely on getting the tires off easily as the lugs seemed to be welded on, and the car had to be towed to a shop, thank goodness for AAA.

She loves the Bose system and multi disk CD player, although it is sometimes a pain changing the CD's in the trunk.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th June, 2008

12th Jun 2009, 00:37

I have a 98 A4 with water in the coolant take. I replaced the oil cooler and flushed the system, and about ten miles later, oil back in the tank. So I'm stuck.

28th Nov 2009, 17:13

I love my Audi, never had one problem with it and it has 143,900 miles on it... leaks a drop of oil about every 1,000 miles.. I run it on amsoil extended life and only need to change it very 11,000 miles, doesn't burn any oil at all. My radiator leaks every now and then but every time I go to check it, it's full so I don't think I will need to replace it.