Window & Wiper complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2014 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% | 5,000 miles |
| 2009 | 6 | 5% | 1,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 2% | 62,000 miles |
| 2006 | 5 | 2% | 50,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 2% | 60,000 miles |
| 2004 | 16 | 8% | 54,000 miles |
| 2003 | 20 | 10% | 40,000 miles |
| 2002 | 11 | 6% | 4,000 miles |
| 2001 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2000 | 5 | 5% | 45,000 miles |
| 1999 | 4 | 2% | — |
| 1998 | 7 | 3% | 68,000 miles |
| 1997 | 4 | 4% | 118,000 miles |
| 1996 | 5 | 6% | 130,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl contact owns a 2009 Audi A4. The contact stated that the steering wheel shakes when making turns and while the vehicle is stopped. In addition, the exterior side mirrors are designed with aluminum interior, which projects a glare. The only object that is visible is the dashboard. He took the vehicle to three dealers and they concluded that the steering failure was caused by the control arm clip and the steering lower arm control. Replacing the parts would not guarantee that the failure would be corrected. The manufacturer stated that there was no issue with the vehicle, but offered to pay the contact $748 per month until the failure was corrected. The manufacturer refuses to put the agreement in writing. The failure mileage was 1,200 and current mileage was 2,400.
The wiper blades on 2009+ model year Audi A4 have a channel on the top surface that collects liquid/icy slush and in freezing conditions that liquid freezes making the blade rigid and incapable of clearing the glass resulting in zero visibility. Further, Audi is using a proprietary wiper blade mount which means that there are no third party options to install a traditional 'winter' type blade not subject to freezing. I have made multiple requests to Audi reporting this problem and hoping for some solution since November 2008 but they seem to have no interest in addressing this issue. It makes driving in winter conditions extremely hazardous.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle made a very loud explosion sound. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the back windshield had exploded and there was shattered glass inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. Updated 11/20/14
All four TPMS sensors need replacing along with new tires. Right side motor mount is leaking fluid, and wipers streak. 80,616 mileage. In 2012 I bought new tires, wipers and regular oil changes. I'm disappointed that now I'm faced with a leaking motor mount. I take very good care of my car, I shouldn't have these major repair issues. [redacted] '
"intermittent headlight malfunction. Over the course of a year of ownership, the headlights have malfunctioned (turned off), with no consistent cause apparent. The specific error message that appears in the driver information screen is "left (or right) headlight dipped". This condition is both unsafe, and illegal - as many states will issue a traffic violation for driving with a non-functioning headlight. It has happened approx. 40 times, the headlight flickers, then goes out, but will come back on when the car is restarted or clear if the headlight is turned off then back on. It will then be fine for days or weeks at a time. It has been consistently getting more frequent and worse. At times, both headlights will turn off by themselves while driving causing a very dangerous situation and quick action to avoid injury or death. Then randomly turn back on. …
The left headlight of my 2006 Audi A4 quattro has this annoying -- and dangerous -- problem: 1. The left headlight flickers 2. It then turns itself off 3. The message "left dipped headlight" appears 4. The message is changed to a sign indicating that the lightbulb has failed. If I turn the light off (note: we're talking about driving at night here) and turn it back on again, the light will become normal again, for about a few minutes and then the cycle repeats itself. This problem is intermittent. It has been occurring a lot recently with the cold weather. I can't tell for sure whether it is temperature related. My Audi dealer said that Audi knows about this problem but doesn't know how to fix it -- changing the light bulb doesn't solve the problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Audi A4. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the headlights failed without warning. The failure recurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that a heater was drying up the lights. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
"intermittent headlight malfunction. Over the course of a year and a half of ownership, the right headlight has malfunctioned (turned off), with no consistent cause apparent. The specific error message that appears in the driver information screen is "left headlight dipped". This condition is both unsafe, and illegal - as many states will issue a traffic violation for driving with a non-functioning headlight. It has happened about 20 times, the headlight flickers, then goes out, but will come back on when the car is restarted, then be fine for weeks or months at a time. The dealership has been notified of the problem on at least 3 visits, and has claimed that everything is fine and they can not reproduce. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Audi A4 years have window & wiper problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (20), 2004 (16), 2002 (11), 1998 (7) and 2009 (6) model years. Window & Wiper complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Audi A4 window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for any Audi A4 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Audi A4 window & wiper problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles; 52% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the windshield wiper/washer (15 mentions), followed by the power window devices and controls (10).
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.