1996 Audi A4 problems
NHTSA has received 133 complaints about the 1996 Audi A4, and 24% of them involve electrical system. After that come suspension (17%) and brakes (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 133 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 68,000 miles 37 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 10 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 7 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 37 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 68,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 98,000 miles (15 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 1 injury reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 87% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 13th most-complained-about out of 20 model years of the Audi A4 with enough data (54 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
1996 audi a4 quattro with leatherette passenger seat - heated seat was set at level 6 and while a passenger was sitting on the seat a hole the size of two quarters was burnt into the passenger seat due to the heated seat starting a small fire..
While travleing at 20-25 MPH vehicle was involed in a head-on collision, crashed into a wall. Upon impact, driver's side and passenger's side air bags did not deploy. Has contacted dealer, and they will inspect vehicle.
While driving power steering rack assembly failed, causing loss of steering and brake control. Also sealer broke which resulted in power steering fluid to leak, damaging brake pads and disc. Vehicle crashed damaging front end. Dealership not willing to do anything. *nlm
Seat heater on driver's side malfunctioned and burned a hole through the leather seat cover. Hot burning sensation on my leg.
00 v 317 000/ignition switch: the ignition switch will not return to the running position after starting the vehicle. The consumer would have to manually turn the switch back after starting the vehicle. The consumer noticed the recall on the NHTSA website and notified her dealer. The dealer informed the consumer that her vehicle identification number was not covered under the recall.