Most common 1998 Audi A4 problems
Share of the 258 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi A4 complaints by model year
Best A4 years: 2011, 2016, 2012. Years to avoid: 2020, 2008, 1998, 2006, 1999. Compare all years →
1998 Audi A4 recalls (4)
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1998 Audi A4:
Power brake booster vacuum by-pass
There is no summary currently available
Brake and clutch pedal bracket
Degraded braking wet weather condition
There is no summary currently available
Stuck-open throttle
Vwoa has recalled approximately 28,300 my 1998-99 a6 vehicles in cold weather states that experienced the highest rate of throttle icing incidents in the subject vehicles (04v-495).the failure rate in the a4 and passat vehicles is much lower than in the recalled vehicles.odi will continue to monitor the experience in the a4 and passat vehicles.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA…
Degraded braking in wet weather
There is no summary currently available
What 1998 Audi A4 owners say
Brakes all 125 →
The airbag fault light and ABS light have been on ever since I had the vehicle, thinking that it May be a fault by the manufacturer as seeing very common problems in many websites. Another main concerned is the fault of the manufacturer's engine design causing engine damage from oil sludge. My concern is for future prevention measures.
The amber ABS warning light glows while the red brake light blinks. I understand newer Audi models have just been recalled for ABS issues, but my 1998 A4 was not included in the recall. Braking appears normal, and warning light illumination is sporadic.
Engine & cooling all 30 →
The airbag fault light and ABS light have been on ever since I had the vehicle, thinking that it May be a fault by the manufacturer as seeing very common problems in many websites. Another main concerned is the fault of the manufacturer's engine design causing engine damage from oil sludge. My concern is for future prevention measures.
Dt: the contact stated timing belt broke at the end of 2001. She stated that when the timing belts break on these audis and bend the valves,e they will destroy the engine. She reported having no problems with the engine since then. She had the car towed in 2001. The bill was $4,468.00. The timing belt went out at 80,000 miles. An advocate for Audi in michigan told her on 9-26-05 that they sent her a letter concerning the timing belt. They were unsure as to when they sent it. The contact searched the internet and found some information about a lawsuit filed against Audi. (9-27-05 the contact called the same advocate and asked her to check the reference number on the car, and the advocate told her that there was ongoing campaign concerning the timing belt. It was called the jk campaign. The control arm was called the je campaign. …
Suspension all 24 →
After less that 70K miles, the upper control arms (specifically the bushings that protect the control arms' joints) on my Audi A4 have proved defective. According to my technician, the control arms are the part of the car that make steering possible; therefore, faulty control arms create an enormous safety hazard and a liability. Audi has already issued a recall for the lower control arms, but the recall does not cover the upper control arms -- despite the fact that the upper control arms are more defective. Every Audi technician that I've spoken to about this defect has admitted that Audi is ducking the problem, and as a consumer I feel cheated. Audi is not operating on good faith. This is bad business that leaves unassuming consumers bearing the burden not only of costly repairs but also of hazardous mechanical failures.
I received a recall on my 1998 Audi a-4 for a problem with both front suspension lower control arms. When I took it in the dealer said these were okay, but the upper front suspension control arms were bad, and also the steering tie-rods. When I called Audi that it was the upper not the lower control arms that were bad they said they wouldn't do anything because the recall was for the lower. I took it to an independent repair technitian to confirm, which he did. He also said it was dangerous to drive the car with the tie rods in such bad condition. Repair costs are about $500. Because the upper and lower control arms are both part of the same unit and the car does not have high mileage (59,000 miles) I do not feel it is right for me to have bear this cost.
1998 Audi A4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 29 / 22 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 27 / 20 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Audi A4 a good car?
Based on 258 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 A4 rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the A4 at the same age. It is one of the A4 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Audi A4?
The brakes — 125 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the engine & cooling (30) and suspension (24).
How many recalls does the 1998 Audi A4 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1998 Audi A4, the most recent from July 1, 2022 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi A4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2016 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2008, 1998, 2006 and 1999. See the full Audi A4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Audi A4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 81,000 miles; 9% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.