Comments: 1-15, 16-28
The timing belt broke at 68,800 miles even though the Audi service booklet indicates that 90,000 miles is the recommended service interval. Current estimated is $5000 to repair and neither Audi or the dealer is willing to make good on this well documented problem.
Bumper is poorly design and practically jumps off of the car if parked near a curb. The good news is that it only costs $40 to have it reattached every time.
Tail light seal started leaking right after it came out of warranty.
Brake caliper started leaking around 60,000 miles, thank goodness for the Audi Assured Warranty.
Engine Control module went at 50,000 miles, another tow into the dealership.
Cruise control failed on this car as well as my 1998 Audi A4 2.8 Avant around 65,000 miles.
Hose replaced from intake manifold to Turbo reclamation hose at 36,500 miles.
Ambient temperature sensor replaced at 19,500 miles.
Power steering leak at 19,500 miles.
Defective drivers seat weld repaired at 39,200 miles.
Arm rest repaired at 26,900 miles.
Radio stopped working at 9,300 miles. Dealer had to replace the radio.
Too bad all of the problems have marred the Audi experience. I am amazed that no one at the dealer warned me about a 5 year limit on the timing belt even though I had had it into the dealer twice before the 5 years expired. If the quality were better it would certainly be an excellent car. I have to say that my 1999 A4 and my 1999 A6 will be the last Audi's I own.
Hi Steven:
I also had my timing belt break @65,000 miles on my 1999 Audi A4. The cost to to fix the failure was $ 5,000 not including two weeks for a rental car. The scheduled recommended replacement for this part according to the maintnence manual provided by Audi recommended that this part be replaced at 90,000 miles. I was totally aware of this recommendation and was going to get the $1,000 job done 5,000 miles prior to the recommendation.
Due to Audi's vastly understated recommendation for repair I'm out $5,000. When I approached Audi corporate with what I thought to be a very valid case they essentially told me to pound sand. Stating that it was only recommended and was not covered by warranty and therefore not Audi's concern.
I'm currently trying to compile enough statistical case by case information to show Audi corporate or a class action lawyer that this is a recurring theme and not just one poor sob that means nothing to their ultimate bottom line at Audi corporate. If anyone has had a similar experience or could supply any kind of information that would help me out I would greatly appreciate it. My contact information is attached below.
Mike Browne
619-990-8636
mikebrowne@cox.net.
Mike.
I had the same problems with my A4 and the timing belt; my damage happened at 79,000 miles. I know it has been 6 months since you posted your response, but I would definitely be interested in joining a class action suit against Audi, at least to get their attention since they have seemingly blown all of us off.
Here is the link to my story on another Audi review website:
http://p207.ezboard.com/fvolkswagenandaudidriversfrm24.showMessage?topicID=469.topic.
Email me at john.zoll@us.army.mil for any additional information.
I can't wait to visit the Audi dealership when I get home from my deployment. I am going to drive up in my piece of crap A4 and $35,000 in cash (from being deployed for a year). I am going to let the salesman give his whole presentation and then tell him that I think Audi is a piece of crap manufacturer with worse customer satisfaction. and then I am going to tell him that I am buying a new Acura TL.
Hi everyone,
I had a lot of the same problems (Turbos, oil pumps, ect..) as well with my A4. See my full review under-> 1999 audi a4 titled (Get a Toyota, Honda, or even a Ford/Chevy it is cheaper to fix) I listed all the problems with the A4 I encountered.
My bumper fell off as well in the parking lot, he he and I had to fold the seat down and put it in the trunk. (NICE) That is espically handy when you are out on a date and the woman is giving you weird looks..."um hold on a minute, I got to put my bumper in the trunk" The car was really horrible as far as mechanics. I am not being biased either, just honest. I wanted to keep it, but could not afford the repairs...Maybe if I worked 2 jobs I could of kept it? I traded it on a Toyota solara, so far no problems.
Good Luck,
David
(loafkabob@yahoo.com)
I purchased a 1998 A4 2.8 used with 40,000 miles in 2002. It's been a great car... until now. At 80,000 miles I've had to replace the right front axle, serpentine belt, radiator, repair an oil pan leak & now I just learned that the tie rods, control arms, and left front axle have to be replaced. And everything is expensive to repair on this car!
I love the car, but not that much. After reading some of your stories I'm afraid that its only going to get worse. I will not buy another Audi. I expected more from a high end car like Audi!
Guys,
After reading all of your comments I am nervous to say that I am looking at buying a used 96' Audi.
Any comments about the year 96'? I hope not.
Dealer maintained, but then again all these cars sound dealer maintained.
What is up with all these Audi failures?
Any information before I buy it would be helpful.
Thanks Guys,
Josh.
(1996 Audi A4 5Spd Quattro)
First of all - if you're looking for a cheap car to own, ANY high end German car (BMW/Audi/Mercedes-Benz) should not be on your list. These cars are precision-engineered machines and are not Toyota Camrys. Those seeking Japanese reliability/maintenance costs should look elsewhere.
That being said:
1996 was the first year for the Audi A4. The timing belt failures have occurred primarily on the 1.8T engine, and this engine was not offered in 1996, only the 2.8L V6 was. The 1996-1997 2.8L V6 itself isn't too powerful, but in 1998 Audi upped the engine to 30 valves (vs. the previous 12) and the horsepower rose 18, from 172 to 190. There isn't much of a market/potential for modification for the V6, so if you're looking for a car that can be made faster for a reasonable amount of money, the 1.8T is the engine to buy. The 1.8T can be easily "chipped" (the ECU can be modified to produce more power) and the power gains are very good for the money spent.
Watch for control arm failures, as they are more common with early A4s. There is a recall for this problem, but whether or not early A4s fall under the recalled cars is not certain. Check with a dealer/search online for more information.
Be glad you're getting a manual transmission with the quattro, it's a good drivetrain, and the quattro is likely better suited to a manual to begin with.
Make sure the car has documented timing belt/water pump maintenance anyhow, even though the 2.8 doesn't have the failure rate the 1.8T does, it's still a good idea to change the belt and pump when you get a chance.
Some random electrical problems may occur; watch for the center display in the instrument cluster as the pixellated display may lose its legibility or lines may burn out.
Lastly, find a good VW/Audi independent shop. It can make a world of difference in service/repair prices. And if you must buy a part for maintenance, try looking for the part online before going to the dealer and save yourself some serious dough.
Audis are great cars though, and a blast to drive!
Good luck!
I have a 1996 A4 Quattro with 142000 miles. I have owned it since 98 when I purchased it with 13,000 miles. I had a wheel bearing replaced under warranty at 38,000 miles. I have just replaced timing belt and water pump for the second time (first time at 70K). I am on my third set of tires and brakes. The car has never let me down, the only other major repair was replacing the AC evaporator core, a common failure on 96 A4's. I replaced it myself as its major $$$ at the dealer. Other than that its been a great car and it still looks good even though it was built over 10 years ago. I still have the original clutch. Like the other comment said find an independent repair shop or learn to fix it yourself.
I am actually looking into getting a 1996-1999 Audi A4. I found one that had an engine overhaul by an Audi dealership along with the timing belt being replaced at 41,000 miles. The car now has 100,000 miles. The guy who owns it just recently replaced the rear bearings, control arms, spark plugs, and breaks (not the rotors though). Reading all these comments, I am not so sure I want an Audi anymore, but if someone with some knowledge on these cars could give me their opinion of this particular car, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks a lot!
-Matt.
I have been looking for a car to buy for the past three months and finally came across a 1999 A4 Audi quattro that's tiptronic. The person is asking 10,000 for this car and I really like it, but a lot of my family is trying to persuade me to purchase another car because of how expensive they are to maintain. However they don't have a lot of knowledge about audi's either, so if anyone could please give me their opinion on wether or not I should buy this car I would greatly apprecitate it. I just want to know things such as how reliable they are, their dependability, and tune up prices.
Thank You.
I purchased a used Audi A4 1999 Quattro with 64,000 miles last month. It cost me $12,000 with an extended warranty. The second day I had it, the timing belt pulley went out. Fortunately, I purchased an extended warranty for the power train and the repairs were covered. On the second week, the airbag light went on along with the break repair light. I took it in again and was told that the cruise control module and the airbag module had gone out. The replacement of these two modules are approximately $2,500. Unfortunately for me, I did not buy an extended warranty that would cover these repairs.
I will say that this Audi is a great driving experience. No car I have owned has ever driven like it. However, It it also a FINANCIAL NIGHTMARE. No car I have owned has ever broken down as much. Time of ownership: 2 weeks driving; 1 month in the shop. If you want car problems, buy a 1999 Audi A4.
Hi I am thinking of getting a 99 A4 tdi are they any good?
I purchased a 2001.5 A4 in Oct 04 for $23K (ultra sports, xenons, all premium bits and pieces). I've done 42K miles and pampered the car. All maintenance by Audi. This is a certified car with 1 yr on the Assured Warranty still left.
2 weeks ago I was on the highway, cruising at 70 mph, and while driving my battery died, then I felt a jolt, the lights were flashing on off till the car came to a stop. It could have been a bad accident.
Anyway the dealer has told me to change the Timing belt. They say in this situation mileage wasn't a factor, but it was time. That the car was over 5 yrs old and was due. The dealer refuses to pay for this and says it isn't covered on the Assured Warranty. I called Audi of America and they contacted the dealership, called me back and conveyed the same message as the dealership, that either I pay $330 for the diagnosis, or $1200 for the belt (and another $285 for new battery and $50 deductible for alternator and $330 for diagnosis).
My car is sitting at the dealer as I write. I cannot believe this has happened. On top of that they refuse to give me a loaner car because I towed the car from the highway instead of booking an appointment in advance.
I will not buy an Audi again. The car is a sweet ride, handles corners well, and drives well in snow and rain, but that check engine light constantly comes on. This car has been to the dealer 3x in 2 months. 2 times it died and was towed. It's been a major hassle for me. Switching to an Acura TL.
Hello Everyone. I own a 1996 Audi A4 2.8 with 154,000 miles. The car seems to be working just fine, the only issue about this car is that electrical components go bad quick. I am having an issue with the AC which it turns on fine and shuts off whenever it feels like it. Also the sun-roof quit working as well as the heater. I would not recommend A 1996 Audi A4 to anyone, the car has too many issues and it is very expensive to fix it. I have been replacing a lot of parts on this car like, rotors, pads, calipers, engine hoses, belts, shocks, transmission seals, oil pan gasket seals, electrical components. My next car will be an Acura TL. Do not buy an Audi!!!
I recently bought an audi A4 2.8 quattro, love it to death, but I've only just turned 20. It's a little out of my price range to get all the problems fixed. I just had my knock sensor give me problems its probably one of the cheaper problems. Anyway the point I'm trying to get to is that it's too expensive for me, all I'm wondering is I want to trade it in, but am very unsure of what to get, I like the power of the car and just about everything else about how it drives. I would like to try not to down grade. I've always thought about a Subaru WRX, I guess any information on this subject would help me greatly. I guess any information you can give me email to psycotic_1@msn.com, please and thank you all.
I have a 1998 Audi A4 Quattro with the 1.8T engine and it recently had a timing belt failure (86,000 miles). I was surprised because the dealer had performed a related recall ("JK Campaign") just four months earlier. In fact, the service invoice clearly stated that the timing belt had been inspected and did not need to be replaced until 90,000 miles (this was when the car had 82,000 miles). After telling
this story to the guy at my local shop, he advised me to call Audi and he gave me the 800 number. The customer service advocate at Audi was nice enough and he verified that my wife was the original owner of the vehicle. He opened a case and asked me what I'd like Audi to do. At first I thought he was joking! So I told him politely that I'd like Audi to pay for the cost of the repair and the other expenses I had incurred related to this breakdown. So he took down more information and said he'd call back the next day to let me know what they could do. The next morning he called back and said that if it was in fact the timing belt that failed, then Audi would pay for the repair and even the towing costs. But he said I'd have to get it towed to the nearest Audi dealer (about a $300 tow charge). Since my local shop is good I knew they wouldn't mis-diagnose a timing belt failure, so I had it towed to a dealer. It took over a month, but the dealer did replace the engine (head and block) and there was no charge at all to me. (I did have to go without a car for a month, though). About a month after that, I got a check reimbursing me for the towing charges and a charge for three days of a rental car. (They refused to pay for the rental car gas and my one night stay in a hotel, though). While the car was in the shop, I got something in the mail from the dealer that did the recall work (a different dealer than the one putting in a new engine). It was a general advertisement stating that there was a high demand for 1998 A4 1.8T vehicles such as mine, and it went on to say that I would be offered some sort of bonus if I were to trade it in as part of a new Audi purchase. This was the first piece of advertising mail I had ever received from this particular dealer... I couldn't help, but laugh at the coincidence.