Most common 1999 Audi A4 problems
Share of the 190 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 →
1999 Audi A4 recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 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 frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed 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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1999 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 1999 Audi A4 owners say
Brakes all 91 →
Tl contact owns a 1999 Audi A4 quatro. The contact bought the vehicle from a private dealer. As he drove the vehicle off the lot, he heard a grinding noise coming from the brakes. He informed the sales associate that there was rust underneath the vehicle, including the brake pads. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and they stated that they would give him another vehicle for an additional $3,000. The other vehicle had a cracked windshield and needed a new fuel pump; therefore, the contact did not want the other vehicle. He kept the Audi and took it to an Audi dealer for a diagnostic. The results indicated that the bearings were rusted and the vehicle needed an alignment and new brake pads. In addition, the rims were bent. The Audi dealer stated that the vehicle should have never been sold in that condition and with those defects. The vehicle has not been repaired. …
Our 1999.5 Audi avant quattro VIN[redacted] has passed 80,000 miles. The antilock brake system (ABS) controller has failed causing intermittent failure of the ABS system. The result is inconsistent and dangerous handling of the vehicle in low traction conditions -- the very conditions Audi quitter's are purchased for! Repair of the system is in excess of 25% of the value of the market car. A search of several internet Audi sites revealed that this is a common problem with many current Audi models. Audi of America refuses to fix this problem under recall.
Engine & cooling all 28 →
When the car was about a year old, the entire airbag system had to be replaced, the repair facility noted to me that I was lucky to bring it in when I did, as it was at risk for spontaneous deployment. Additional problems included an oil pump failure ($750) at about the three year mark; and occasional sudden lurching/RPM revving or sudden onset of a 'lag' in power, which the dealer noted when I brought it in but could do nothing about. I have also had problems with the fuel indicator gauge being grossly inaccurate - indicating I have used only a quarter tank of fuel to drive 350 miles. However, the most bothersome ongoing problem is four or five trips to the dealer to repair a non-functioning cruise control system. Each time they have 'replaced the vacuum hoses' but this 'repair' will begin to fail again later that same day. …
Turbo-charger broke down. It should not have happened at 68000 as it is not a wearable part. The car started stalling, pressed gas pedal but there was no movement. Scale of the RPM's on the dash board went all the way to 5500 RPM's, when I pressed a gas pedal, but the car did not move. Suddenly, I was engulfed in humungous amount of white smoke. Brought car to don rosen Audi service center and they are saying that repair will cost me some $1,600 at least. But, I brought my car in, month ago to don rosen Audi authorized service center with complaint that there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust and that vehicle was running at 60% of its power. They looked at it and said they did not see any problem, particularly that the turbo-charger was just fine. …
Speed control & acceleration
I was backing up in driveway in front of another vehicle which was parked in front of a house. My car gave a slight lurch and the motor revved up. I immediately looked because I thought I must have my foot on the accelerator. My foot was on the brake. However, the car suddenly accelerated backward into the truck, driving it 15 feet into the porch steps. The pickup truck was totalled and the steps completely demolished. We immediately contacted tischer, our insurance company and attempted to contact someone at Audi. It was a full 2 weeks before someone from Audi called us back. Finally, an Audi rep met us to inspect the car. Audi determined that it was "operator error" and absolutely refused to do anything. We're having our insurance company repair the Audi, and we will then trade it in on our second choice car--a BMW. …
When the car was about a year old, the entire airbag system had to be replaced, the repair facility noted to me that I was lucky to bring it in when I did, as it was at risk for spontaneous deployment. Additional problems included an oil pump failure ($750) at about the three year mark; and occasional sudden lurching/RPM revving or sudden onset of a 'lag' in power, which the dealer noted when I brought it in but could do nothing about. I have also had problems with the fuel indicator gauge being grossly inaccurate - indicating I have used only a quarter tank of fuel to drive 350 miles. However, the most bothersome ongoing problem is four or five trips to the dealer to repair a non-functioning cruise control system. Each time they have 'replaced the vacuum hoses' but this 'repair' will begin to fail again later that same day. …
1999 Audi A4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 24 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 27 / 20 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Audi A4 a good car?
Based on 190 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 A4 rates avoid: 2.1× 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 1999 Audi A4?
The brakes — 91 complaints, 48% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the engine & cooling (28) and speed control & acceleration (16).
How many recalls does the 1999 Audi A4 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1999 Audi A4, the most recent from January 31, 2020 (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 1999 Audi A4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 8% 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.