Comments: 1-15, 16-19
Water pump leaked.
Both upper control arms wore out quickly at 55,000km.
Air conditioner evaporator leaked causing expensive repairs.
Power door lock pumps replaced 2 times.
Power windows sometimes open and close by themselves on cold winter days.
Power window motors replaced 3 times.
Plastic rim nut cover cracks and falls off.
Interior seats (leatherette) easily worn out or rips.
Air conditioner/heat controller has gone AWOL. It adjusts the temperature by itself.
Rear reverse lights burned out 8 times.
Engine light comes on randomly for no reason.
My A4 was a horrible experience. The only thing I liked about it was a nice looking car. Otherwise, the car was a lemon. Bringing it to the shop every 2 months was not enjoyable. The dealers always like to blame, and make excuses for the problems. Once the warranty ended they treated me very nice.
I've had a similar experience with my 97 A4 1.8T. Every few months some major problem occurred. It has become a demoralizing experience.
Miles.
I own a 1996 and a 2000 A4 Audi. The later one (thus far) is a very different and much better car. The 1996 (87k) needs continuing major expensive repair - windshield, front suspension, steering are the worst offenders. Electrics have a life of their own - the idiot lights and the moon roof function independently of the driver - the big question - after replacing most of the steering and the suspension, can we survive 15k more without major engine problems? The car has been serviced well above and beyond factory requirements.
Purchased a 1.8 SE second hand with 44000 miles from a dealer (i.e. with 1 year warranty!). All front suspension arms and air conditioning evaporator replaced in first year under warranty.
Then it ran fine until 80000 miles where I had to replace the steering rack. This had developed a couple of leaks. This work came at the same time as a cam-belt change and major service - not a pleasurable bill!
Otherwise very reliable and a superbly designed car inside and out. Engine power OK, bit noisier than I expected though.
I also had similar peroblem's with my 1996 A4 1.8SE. The whole front steering rack is a joke, CV joints/boots all replaced. Electrics all over the car are controlled by a Gremlin! I tried to love the car and almost did, but when you pay that much for a car and at 80k get that much trouble, it's just not worth it.
Nicky.
I own a '97 A4 1.8 Quattro. I also tried to love this car, however I have begun to spend so much money fixing it I don't know where to draw the line. I think I am going to have to cut my losses and trade it in for something reliable!
I have an Audi A4 2.8 Quatro. I ordered the car new in 1998,and didn't drive it that much because it was a second car. My warranty ran out (80,000 k or 3 years). I now have 49,000 k with loads of problems, Mass air sensor (over $500.00) other sensors went as well. I feel this is a Manufactures defect, and Audi should pay for it. When I buy a car that costs $60,000, I would expect it to last longer than 49,000km.The car seems to be burning too much oil, I just had an oil change by the dealer 2,000km ago and had to add oil because the dip stick shows empty.
"My audi is a lemon. Disatisfied Audi Customer".That's what I stenciled onto my T-shirt and whore it at the Toronto International Car show every day it was in the city. I made sure every body saw me. I went to all the different dealers as well. Hundreds of people came up to me to find out what was wrong with my car. I have low mileage on the car, less than 50,000 km. The warranty ran out due to time. Audi dose not what to stand by thier products when there are manufactures defects. I fee the public should be informed. Audi chose to ignore my complaints, so now its going to haunt them. I will show my disatisfation at every Audi function I find untill they fix my car.
I have a 1999 A4 1.8T Quattro with 45000 miles. It makes a terrible creaking noise all the time especially when turning the wheel. The mechanics say the whole front end suspension needs to be replaced. My extended warranty will not cover it because the parts still function as a suspension- they just make a lot of noise. I asked Audi for help because there is no way to lubricate the rubbing parts (they were designed to never be lubricated, but have dried out) and they refused any responsibility. I thought this was supposed to be a nice car - it is a nightmare!!
I purchased a 1996 A4 Quattro second hand with 85K in February of 2003 so I haven't had the car for too long, but unless the previous owner had it fixed, I haven't had any electric problems like the ones others have experienced.
I have, however, heard similar creaking from the front suspension which I am told are the control arms. I haven't had it fixed due to the fact that the noise has gone away and not returned.
Other than that and a non-functioning AC, which I accepted when I bought it, I basically love everything about this car. Terrible cup holders though.
My daughter made me buy the 1999 Audi A4 1.8, up until this year I had no problems. Then it started, @40,000. the drivers seat belt, next the drivers heated seat went (the only reason I bought this car), now it's squeaking like crazy, found out it's the controller arms, links whatever, it's only $1600 to fix!!! I wrote to the President Len Hunt, Audi of America because I don't feel that with this low mileage this should happen. Well, it took 3 weeks for a response & then I received a phone call from an Ingrid (Brunhilda) she said that Audi is not aware of this problem, RIGHT, and that they would only cover 3/4 since I'm out of warranty, when I asked her if she would confirm it, she then came back & said she made a mistake, they will only pay for 1/2 & it had to be within 15 days. Well, the next day the car started bucking uncontrollably, brought it to the dealer, took 2 days to find the problem, it was now the ignition and a leaking hose to the tune of $500!! I told them to fix the controller arms since it was there. Well, guess what, I have to come back & now the passenger rear seat won't go down, OH it's broken!!! I have had it. Had an Acura Legend for 10 years loved it, but unfortunately they stopped making it. I think I'm getting a Toyota Rav4, at least they are dependable.
I am planning to purchase a 1996 A4 2.8 quattro w/129,000, manual owner says good condition and drives well. I just read through this webpage and dam there are a lot of you with car problems, I assumed there would only be very minor high mileage replacement problems for the car. I am going to rethink before buying this one. By the way the price is $6900 obo. Tell me what you think.
1997 2.8 Audi A4 Quattro North America.
Aside from its beautiful design and excellent Quattro (all wheel drive) winter performance, it would be very difficult to build a worse car. As you can most Audi owners are having the same problems. The parts are very expensive. Audi has the luxury market figured out in terms of price points, but performance and quality are pure crap.
Fortunately, I also own a reliable car - a 1990 Nissan 300Z with 150,000 miles, which looks and runs like new - and I never had a problem with it.
Here goes the list:
1. Air-conditioning compressor went (expensive)
2. Steering column gone (very-expensive> $2k)
3. Control arms replaced around 38k (around $170 a piece, two per side + labor,..expensive)
4. Control arms getting replaced again (88k)
5. Heated mirrors stopped working
6. Mirrors are turning brown around the edges
7. Headlight washers don't work
8. Moon roof opens at will (most Audis have this problem)
9. Engine light comes on randomly
10. Power door locks pump broke (no power doors)
11. Engine burns lots of oil (and takes 5 quarts).
12. Driver side seat occasionally decides to recline and stay there
13. Wheel bearing gone.
I'm the owner of a 1998 1.8TQ. I have had this car since I first got my driving privileges back in 1997. Up till this year I had no problems with my car except for my moon roof. Somehow every time I try to open the roof it decides to stay wide open. I chose not to use the moon roof which wiped the slate clean since I am out of warranty. This past year the rear bearings had to be replaced, my headlight lever will be replaced in a few days since I am unable to see at night, the suspension is starting to squeak, my arm rest is making noise, the front cup holder broke, and for some reason I cannot seem to unlock my doors at times (BTW I live in the Midwest and its winter now, if the doors do not unlock my passengers or myself will be left out in the cold waiting for the car to let us in... and NO my remote is fine). Other than that, I love this car. Luckily I have 2000 Honda civic on the side to drive around while I leave my Audi at the shop for a month or two to have everything fixed and or replaced.
From UK and Ireland.
Oil Pump failure caused "big" end engine failure at 44000 miles, left turn indicator fell out, followed a few months later by the right indicator, Car refuses to start occasionally, apparently due to some mumbo jumbo dreamed up by Audi called "engine cycle"?, Air Con does not respond 90% of the time, Boots and Hubs creak/click when turning, I have no idea what the car is doing on the road, such is the quality of the suspension, Electric mirrors seem to have a life of their own, Rear Boot locking mechanism also has a life of its own, very noisey on the road above 60, seals are just not right, I could go on and on, but it's just depressing.
I own an 2000 Audi a4.
I am constantly getting it fixed. I just brought it in last month for $800 dollars in repairs. Now a month later my brakes are squeaking again. I dare not to bring it to the Audi dealer they think I'm made of money. I have 68,000 miles on the car. My car stalls sometimes at a light now which is dangerous. I am thinking of buying another car since all the parts to replace are very pricey. The car looks nice that's about it that I like on my Audi.