2003 Audi A4 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 23about this part
- Share
- 11%of 210 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2003 Audi A4, 11% of the 210 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“A warning reading left dipped headlight appeared on my instrument gauge. The issue went away by itself but has now returned. I get the same message now and my front left headlight turns off by itself. Sometimes it comes back on or I have to manually shut off my headlights and turned them back on. The same message comes back on after minutes of driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10436463, filed 2011-11, 89,000 miles“I bought the vehicle last year when it had 78,000 miles on it. Only 4 months after having purchased the car, I got a message on the trouble light warning system that I had a dipped light . I had to google other Audi owners to find out what a dipped light was, as I never heard of a burned out headlight termed as a dipped light before. I can only drive it during the day now, as I have heard in car forums that fixing it can be quite a long and expensive process. …”
NHTSA complaint #10876025, filed 2016-06, 80,000 miles“Since I purchased this vehicle, the hid lights have sporadically flickered. Within the past year, they randomly flicker and sometimes turn off briefly making for a hazardous driving situation. I really wish Audi would fix this problem because there are hundreds of owners having the exact same problems.”
NHTSA complaint #10432412, filed 2011-10, 70,000 miles“Hi, I am an owner of an Audi A4 2003. I am not too sure if its the right place to complaint about my car's safety. My car's headlights are going out the whole time while I am driving and I have to reset them by turning the switch off and then back on in order to keep them working for couple minutes. After some minutes the same procedure. I went to an Audi dealer and they wont reproduce the error. They say that once we connect it to our database and we read no error there is nothing we can do. …”
NHTSA complaint #10264434, filed 2009-04, 75,000 miles“I have a Audi A4 2003. Today for the fifth time in the last 17k miles, the auto leveling sensors for the xenon headlamps failed. The xenon head lights no longer auto level and in certain terrains the car will blind oncoming traffic. The Audi dealer has replaced numerous parts, but has yet to date to really fix the problem. This is definitely a saftey issue, since it causes my car to blind oncoming traffic, and also causes too much reflection of signs to the driver in my car during night driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10143428, filed 2005-11, 21,300 milesRelated recalls
- 05V096000Mar 15, 2005On certain passenger vehicles, there is a possibility of xenon headlamp coating degradation over time. The luminous transmittance of the headlamp may decrease…Covers: Audi A4 2003–2004, S4 2003–2004
Related service bulletins
- 10127856Jul 31, 2017This informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front…
- 10120003Apr 17, 2015Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 94 number 12-92 dated October 24, 2012. Condensation is visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker…
- 10122766Oct 24, 2012Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 94 number 11-52 dated October 11, 2011. Condensation is visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker…
- 10035345Oct 20, 2010Audi: daytime running lights do not work. Daytime running lights do not work on vehicles with xenon headlights. The thumb wheel or option for daytime running lights is turned off…
- 10025703Feb 26, 2007Exterior lights, mositure accumulation.
- 10022141Feb 26, 2007Headlight aiming, using hella universal beamsetter.
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2017 | 1 | 2% |
| 2015 | 2 | 11% |
| 2014 | 1 | 3% |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% |
| 2009 | 4 | 3% |
| 2008 | 11 | 6% |
| 2007 | 8 | 4% |
| 2006 | 159 | 54% |
| 2005 | 101 | 46% |
| 2004 | 14 | 7% |
| 2003 | 23 | 11% |
| 2002 | 17 | 9% |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% |
| 2000 | 2 | 2% |
| 1999 | 4 | 2% |
| 1998 | 5 | 2% |
| 1997 | 3 | 3% |
| 1996 | 5 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2003 Audi A4
51 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
43 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsVehicle speed control
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsEngine cooling
17 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsAir bags
12 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsTires
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Audi A4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology