Audi A3Model year report

2004 Audi A3 Problems

Complaints: 6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 2,650miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 0campaigns on record
Trend: Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Audi A3 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2004 Audi A3. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (1) and fuel system (1). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 2,650 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 62 technical service bulletins for this model year. Vehicle speed control complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Exterior lighting complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “Car will totally fail to accelerate. Pressing the gas to the floor results in almost no movement. This happens after hitting the brakes and then the gas, usually during routing traffic or an avoidance maneuver. This will get someone (me) killed.”

NHTSA complaint #10043041, filed 2003-10, 2,800 miles

Exterior lighting: “Blinding glare from the hid headlights, coupled with use of fog lights when no fog present. I find it harder each year to drive at night due to the situation which often cause you to loose sight of the road ahead. The hid lights mayu be within spec , but perhaps the spec for hid liughts should be changed.”

NHTSA complaint #10060538, filed 2004-03

Fuel system: “Reading my e-mail notification from NHTSA I found that the recall no. 17v-509 issued to vwgoa may affect and apply to our car (Audi A3 my 2004 engine 2.0 fsi) since it has the same failed part on its structure (1k0 906 093 f). Checking the engines list originally on the recall report from august 16th 2017 I've found the same part number installed in our car and even form the same supplier (kuhnke automotive gmbh). …”

NHTSA complaint #11063132, filed 2018-01, 75,000 miles

Tires: “Gentlemen, purchase a new 2004 Audi a4, drove off the lot and traveled approximately 3 blocks before the right rear tire blew out! Turns out a flat 3 piece of metal completely pierced through the tire and wheel! This car was ordered with a 18 wheel and tire package called the ultra sport package. Audi customer service was not interested in looking into this unusual occurrence beyond talking to the dealers service manager. I explained to them that I have been in the auto business for many years and have never seen such unusual wheel damage. …”

NHTSA complaint #10045999, filed 2003-11, 16 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,500 and 2,800 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 2,650 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2004 Audi A3 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 62 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

10243930Oct 4, 2023Equipment. This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
10198567Jun 25, 2021Equipment, Body and structure. This informational bulletin explains how to order replacement VIN plates, Safety Certification Labels, etc.
10177406Jul 13, 2020Transmission and drivetrain, Engine cooling. This informational bulletin states to not replace parts for the beveling groove as it is normal.
10172594Mar 6, 2020Fuel system. This bulletin contains instructions for when to add gasoline additives for cleaning the injectors.
10169098Dec 4, 2019Tires, Equipment. New document 2004-2020 A4 allroad, A6 allroad, A8L, R8 Spyder
10161670Jun 18, 2019Electrical system. This bulletin contains general software update instructions for vehicles with PR Code 7UH. 2016-2020 A3, 2016-2020 A3 Cabrio, 2016 A3 Sportback, 2016-2020 A4, 2016-2020 A4 allroad, 2016-2012 A4…
10127949Aug 21, 2017Electrical system. This informational bulletin contains resource information for when the traffic feature is inoperative in the MMI navigation.
10127856Jul 31, 2017Exterior lighting. This informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime…
10155644Jun 28, 2017Equipment. This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.
10128350May 10, 2017Engine. This informational bulletin contains all the the Audi Oil Quality Standards that should be used when doing an oil change.

See all 62 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi A3

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2025	5	—	0	—	28	—	Too new
2023	7	57,083	2	—	32	—	Too new
2022	9	26,000	6	—	32	—	Not enough data
2020	16	7,000	3	5	30	—	Falling
2019	10	13,223	3	5	29	—	Not enough data
2018	33	23,000	2	5	29	24 · Fewer	Falling
2017	44	48,500	2	5	29	19 · Fewer	Falling
2016	83	62,300	3	5	27	20 · Fewer	Falling
2015	93	63,500	2	5	27	8 · Fewer	Falling
2013	20	50,000	3	—	24	—	Falling
2012	43	66,557	4	—	24	50 · Typical	Falling
2011	43	50,100	4	—	24	73 · More	Falling
2010	50	48,500	5	—	24	99 · More	Falling
2009	47	72,500	5	—	24	78 · More	Falling
2008	43	25,000	3	—	25	82 · More	Stable
2007	52	62,000	3	—	25	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2006	123	72,000	4	—	25	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2004	6	2,650	0	—	—	—	Not enough data

All Audi A3 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Audi A3 have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2004 Audi A3 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 Audi A3 is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 1.

Has the 2004 Audi A3 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Audi A3 reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 2,650 miles and the middle half falls between 2,500 and 2,800 miles; 75% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.