Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Audi A4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The airbags in our 2005 Audi A4 were recalled. We had the airbag replaced due to the recall in Audi of Stratham, 58 Portsmouth Ave, Stratham, NH 03885 in February 2023. On 12/8/23, my daughter was involved in a serious front-end collation with another vehicle. The airbags in the Audi did not deploy. The other vehicle (which sustained less damage) did deploy. Without the airbags, her face hit the steering wheel, causing a large laceration to her eyelid and significant bruising and swelling to her face.
The contact's husband owned a 2005 Audi A4. The contact received several recall letters and cards from the NHTSA and Audi manufacturer for a Takata Air Bag recall. The contact stated that the last notification received stated that the owner could die if the recall was not completed. The contact was adamant and would like the mailing address to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was no longer owned. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance.
The car is completely defective,total engine, gasket,water pump,intake manifold,airbag, transmission,torque,drive shaft, universal joints,all rear axles,wheel bearing,bought at auction Aug 19,2024, $4000, the as is was so small and on the back of a sheet we did not see it,we are senior,
'Takata recall' I made appointments and registered to get my airbag replaced on numerous occasions. In June I made an appointment at the elmwood park location and when I got their the guy lied and said the computers are down he didn't want to help me. They have the parts available and don't want to fix it it is now 2018 and no one from Audi called me and my vehicle is registered with them. So my air bag can rupture at any time I was in a car accident on 1/4/17 I was intentionally rear ended by a white BMW and I was in the car with my 8 year old nephew and mom who was in the front passenger seat I could have been killed and seriously injured. Not only that my gas tank fuel injector the air pressure is off causing it to stop constantly while getting gas. …
Noticed air bag lights on didnt think quick , also I notuced electrical issue here & there. Engine runs & sounds louder when using A/C. When you go to shut off vehicle theres a loud thump thump noise at the end fir about 3 mins or so , problems starting the engine , back windshield wiper turns on by its self , a week ago the light in the bavk turns on by it self. Other engine problems not sure if all tied in together I just started my purchase on 7/21/2020 from a car dealer. Had it checked by 2 people & one said air leak showing from diagnostic machine . My dealer put on machine & said didnt see nothing wrong. Power steering goes out have to fill almost every 2-3 days. My dealer said dont put more cause it could mess up engine. So I didnt & 2 days later driving 15 -20 MPH on residential street it starts sounding like its going to stop so I presumed to shut off engine . …
Audi A4 cabriolet. On May 2006 the air bag warning light was on and brought to the dealer for repair. On September 2006 the air bag light and the brake warning light were on and brought to the dealer for repair. On November 10 I had an accident due to a brake failure driving at 15 MPH exiting the highway. Manufacturer rejects a failure of brakes testing the car static at body shop. At crash , the driver airbag did not deployed, there was no passenger but the passenger air bag deployed. Roll over protector ejected even with no intention to roll. 2- failures and repeated malfunctioning lead to accident even manufacturer denies any problem, my belief is that car is unsafe to drive. I have read other same problems in this dot site. 3- first 2 times repair shop stated a repair. At the moment car is being repaired already 4 months. …
On July 2, 2020 I was in a city street sitting at a stop light waiting for it to turn green when all of a sudden the steering wheel, driver side seat and the driver side curtain airbags deployed hitting me. I was in a state of shock since I was not moving or had not been hit. I had to move the car over into a parking lot. The horn was honking and would not stop so I had to take out fuse. I did not know what to do so I called a family friend to come help tow the car back to my house since I was not far from it. Then on July 5, 2020 I received a post card in the mail from Audi dealership saying there was a urgent airbag safety recall. So on July 6, 2020 I contacted the dealership and explained what had happened and left my information. I have not heard anything back from them since. I have not driven the car it had been sitting in driveway since this happened.
Takata recall Audi has persistently denied anything wrong with the air bags and there is no sufficient process to remedy this. I called the dealership and there is no maintenance or service bulletin available. Audi headlights the left headlight is malfunctioning due to something with the adaptive head lights. Upon steering the car, especially on highway entries and exits, sharp turns, and windy road driving the error "dipped left headlight" will appear. Audi has consistently denied the problem as you need to be on the road for this problem to occur. Even driving to the service mechanic is deadly with only one functioning headlight and has been the only way for a mechanic to determine an issue is occurring. After that, the car must be left on and unlocked while registering the car.
After 10 years of use, turning left the rubber wheel bearing on the driver side makes a pop noise. Not from driving erradic but from typical wear and tear. Also, there is an MPH check engine light that comes on but when plugged up to a code reader, no problems are found. Cars wont pass smog with check engine lights on, so this is a major concern. If there are no mechanical issues why would the check engine light come on? I think computers in luxury cars back then were a bit too advanced for their time and weren't very well thought out. Air bag had a random deployment when I popped the hood and unscrewed the pressure on the radiator fluid. Going to need this VIN added to the recall for airbags to get a new one.
Takata recall I have received a letter informing me about the recall about a year ago. Despite my car being in zone a (ca) and 12 years old (additional risk factor) there is still no resolution from Audi. Calls to a few Audi dealers service department reveal that the part is available. I contacted Audi a number of times and they insist that repair is not available and I should contact NHTSA because you manage the schedule. Since we have child seat in the back and the passenger seat is unsafe the car is unusable for us as a family; when we travel I have to rent a car. At the same time I cannot sell it with a pending recall.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey,…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
Airbag complaints in other A4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Audi A4?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Audi A4, 25% of the model year's 219 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Audi A4 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-427 (inflator module, Jun 22, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-032 (inflator module, Jan 11, 2017); NHTSA recall 16V-382 (inflator module, Jun 1, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Audi A4 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.