1999 Audi A4: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1999 Audi A4. The newest campaign is 20V056000. NHTSA received the report on 31 Jan 2020. The NHTSA record gives the component Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module. NHTSA has 182 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, 20V056000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.

NHTSA VIN lookup

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 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 29 Mar 2018. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

4 campaigns, newest first. 329,878 units in total.

20V05600031 Jan 2020Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
00V4140006 Dec 2000Steering / Linkages / Rod / Relay / Connecting
99V24800013 Sep 1999Steering / Linkages / Rod / Relay / Connecting
99V13100121 May 1999Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings

20V056000Received 31 Jan 2020. 106,857 units.
Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 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 inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.
Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 69BT. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 21 Sep 2021.
00V414000Received 6 Dec 2000. 83,000 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 WL/LW. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 5 Feb 2001.
99V248000Received 13 Sep 1999. 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: 5 Oct 1999.
99V131001Received 21 May 1999. 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: 9 Oct 1999.

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

182 complaints, 231 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.

1999 Audi A4
All 1999 vehicles

1999 Audi A4: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	1999 A4	All 1999 vehicles	A4, all years	Mentions
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	381	142.3	184.9	88
Engine and Engine Cooling	116.9	130.7	113.1	27
Vehicle Speed Control	73.6	42.7	41.4	17
Steering	64.9	50.5	46.4	15
Power Train	47.6	96.5	57.9	11
Electrical System	39	79.2	142.9	9
Air Bags	34.6	51.1	41.4	8
Suspension	34.6	89.9	50.8	8
Service Brakes, Air	30.3	8.5	10.5	7
Exterior Lighting	26	22	86.6	6

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 24.

Complaints that report a crash: 9
Complaints that report a fire: 2
Injuries in the complaints: 4
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 19 Jul 2010

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.

Complaints about the 1999 Audi A4, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2000, with 30 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1999 Audi A4
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.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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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 1999 Audi A4The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1999 Audi A4: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/audi/a4/1999/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 29 Mar 2018
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 1999 Audi A4?: 329,878 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 1999 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1999 Audi A4 name most often?: Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 88 of 231 component mentions, or 381 per 1,000. For all 1999 vehicles the figure is 142.3 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1999 Audi A4 open?: No. Each of the 5 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.