Most common 2003 Audi Allroad problems
Share of the 14 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi Allroad complaints by model year
Best Allroad years: 2005, 2002, 2014. Years to avoid: 2013, 2001. Compare all years →
2003 Audi Allroad recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Volkswagen is recalling 68,240 my 2001-2004 Audi a6 quattro vehicles equipped with 2.7l, 2.8l, or 3.0l engines and my 2001-2005 allroad quattro vehicles equipped with 2.7l or 4.2l engines.
Remedy: Dealers will reinforce the nipple on the rollover valve to prevent leakage or repair the cracking at the nipple. The recall began on June 27, 2008. Owners May contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Electrical system
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with halogen low beam headlights, certain connector pins in the headlight switch connector come into contact with each other causing a short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will reroute the wiring harness by installing a jumper wiring harness. The recall began on December 16, 2006. Owners May contact Audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Electrical system
On certain passenger vehicles, if a driver's knees push against the knee bolster (crash element) located under the dashboard, it can contact the headlight switch wiring harness, and an electrical short could occur.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective covering on the knee bolster (crash element). In addition, the wiring harness as well as the felt protector on the left side of the dashboard carrier will be checked, and replaced if…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2003 Audi Allroad:
Fuel tank leak
Volkswagen (vw) is recalling certain vw passat 4motion and Audi a6 quattro and allroad quattro all-wheel drive passenger cars.vw vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from November 22, 2000 through May 31, 2005 and Audi vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from June 2, 2001 to June 1, 2005.the NHTSA recall number for the vw vehicles is 08v-156 (vw also is correcting defects related to heat shield and…
What 2003 Audi Allroad owners say
Electrical system
During recent heavy rains, all of a sudden the car's transmission that had been working fine, after having been parked briefly pointing slightly down hill, no longer functioned properly, and had apparently gone into "LIMP Mode". after talking with Mechanics and doing research, we checked the carpet areas and determined and documented the car's interior was very wet, both in front and in the rear areas, with evident moisture and corrosion under the battery and cabin air filter areas and rear wheel well area. The Transmission no longer shifts properly and the car is not able to be safely driven. Apparently there is a well known design flaw in the Audi C5 A6 vehicles where multiple drains frequently fail. apparently there are 2 very hard to access drains under the battery, under the battery tray, and also the cabin air filter seal to the sidewall is prone to failure. …
Tl contact owns a 2003 Audi Allroad. The contact stated that the ignition coil was faulty on his vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they replaced one of the six ignition coils for free. Currently, the other five coils are beginning to fail and need to be replaced; however, the contact does not want to pay the repair cost. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 48,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
During recent heavy rains, all of a sudden the car's transmission that had been working fine, after having been parked briefly pointing slightly down hill, no longer functioned properly, and had apparently gone into "LIMP Mode". after talking with Mechanics and doing research, we checked the carpet areas and determined and documented the car's interior was very wet, both in front and in the rear areas, with evident moisture and corrosion under the battery and cabin air filter areas and rear wheel well area. The Transmission no longer shifts properly and the car is not able to be safely driven. Apparently there is a well known design flaw in the Audi C5 A6 vehicles where multiple drains frequently fail. apparently there are 2 very hard to access drains under the battery, under the battery tray, and also the cabin air filter seal to the sidewall is prone to failure. …
please see prior form submission re transmission...please confirm receipt of earlier entry.
2003 Audi Allroad engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 21 / 17 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Audi Allroad a good car?
Based on 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Allroad rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Allroad at the same age. 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 2003 Audi Allroad?
The electrical system — 5 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (4) and wheels & tires (2).
How many recalls does the 2003 Audi Allroad have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2003 Audi Allroad, the most recent from April 8, 2008 (tank assembly). 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 Allroad?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2002 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013 and 2001. See the full Audi Allroad years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Audi Allroad problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 22% 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.