1998 Audi A4: recalls and complaints
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1998 Audi A4. The newest campaign is 22V471000. NHTSA received the report on 1 Jul 2022. The NHTSA record gives the component Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module. NHTSA has 254 complaints on file for this model year. 5 NHTSA investigations name this model year.
The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.
This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.
Remedy of the newest campaign, 22V471000, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on . Complaint file through . Recall file through .
Since the last update
No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks
Recall campaigns
4 campaigns, newest first. 188,445 units in total.
- 22V471000Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
- 99V248000Steering / Linkages / Rod / Relay / Connecting
- 99V131001Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
- 98V134000Engine and Engine Cooling / Cooling System
22V471000Received . 28,624 units.
Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BT. The vehicles in this recall were mistakenly omitted from recall 20V-056. All vehicle owners have already been notified by mail and informed that the remedy is available.
Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 69BT.
99V248000Received . 51,900 units.
Steering / Linkages / Rod / Relay / Connecting
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If moisture and/or dust particles enter the swivel bearing mechanism, the swivel bearing could wear over time diminishing the steering control of the vehicle.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the tie rods.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Manufacturer campaign number UL/KW. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
99V131001Received . 88,121 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This condition could cause insufficient vacuum to be provided to the brake booster.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Manufacturer campaign number UH/KU. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
98V134000Received . 19,800 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling / Cooling System
- Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine backfires during a cold-start, an air screen which is loosely seated in the air flow meter can become damaged.
- Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Screen pieces could enter the intake air flow system and prevent the throttle plate from returning to its full idle position.
- Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.
Report filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .
The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.
Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.
Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.
Complaints by component
254 complaints, 317 component mentions.
A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.
- 1998 Audi A4
- All 1998 vehicles
| Component | 1998 A4 | All 1998 vehicles | A4, all years | Mentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 403.8 | 107.5 | 116.4 | 128 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 94.6 | 124.5 | 78.9 | 30 |
| Suspension | 85.2 | 82.7 | 33.3 | 27 |
| Electrical System | 75.7 | 82.5 | 110.6 | 24 |
| Steering | 72.6 | 55.7 | 34 | 23 |
| Air Bags | 41 | 49.3 | 155.2 | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 41 | 43.3 | 39.5 | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 31.5 | 5.6 | 6.5 | 10 |
| Visibility | 25.2 | 56.5 | 31.3 | 8 |
| Power Train | 22.1 | 90.9 | 59.9 | 7 |
The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 25.
- Complaints that report a crash
- 5
- Complaints that report a fire
- 2
- Injuries in the complaints
- 10
- Deaths in the complaints
- 0
- Date of the newest complaint
- 1 Jun 2017
These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.
Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.
Investigations
| Number | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Campaign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA04017 | Engineering analysis | STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE | Fuel System, Gasoline / Fuel Injection System | 30 Jun 2004 | 10 Feb 2005 | 04V495000 |
| PE02008 | Preliminary evaluation | BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 Jan 2002 | 12 Jul 2002 | |
| EA00021 | Engineering analysis | DEGRADED BRAKING IN WET WEATHER | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 Aug 2000 | 29 Mar 2002 | |
| PE00016 | Preliminary evaluation | DEGRADED BRAKING WET WEATHER CONDITION | Electrical System | 4 Apr 2000 | 11 Aug 2000 | |
| RQ99008 | Recall query | POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM BY-PASS | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 Jun 1999 | 14 Nov 2000 | 99V131001 |
Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.
Other model years
The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.
Official channels
- NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
- NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
- NHTSA page of the 1998 Audi A4The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.
Cite this page
Recall Register. 1998 Audi A4: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/audi/a4/1998/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through .
Sources
- Source
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
- Licence
- US government work, public domain
- Recall file through
- 29 Sep 2026
- Complaint file through
- 15 May 2019
- First complaint in the file
- 1 Jan 1995
- Manufacturer in the recall file
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.
Questions
- How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1998 Audi A4?
- 188,445 units in 4 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
- How many recall campaigns does the Audi A4 have for all model years?
- NHTSA lists 27 recall campaigns for the Audi A4, model years 1995 to 2022. 4 of them name the 1998 model year.
- Which component do the complaints about the 1998 Audi A4 name most often?
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 128 of 317 component mentions, or 403.8 per 1,000. For all 1998 vehicles the figure is 107.5 per 1,000.
- Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1998 Audi A4 open?
- No. Each of the 5 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.