2004 Audi A4 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 26about this part
- Share
- 14%of 189 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,224miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 26 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Audi A4, 14% of the 189 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,224 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 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.
“On february 20th I was putting some items in car.. I started my car to get it warm it was very cold outside. For ten to 15 minutes the car sat and was idling. I came inside to get last few items to load into vehicle. I opened back passenger door when a loud sound as if a gunshot went off. To my surprise the front airbag deployed smoke and debris through out me and my car.”
NHTSA complaint #11074279, filed 2018-02, 189,000 miles“I was driving to jacksonville florida and car had shut off on me on the highway in yulee florida I was stuck on the highway for 7 hrs my car is stuck in florida”
NHTSA complaint #11366758, filed 2020-10, 113,000 miles“I originally had 3 recalls on my vehicle I called in to see about getting them fixed free of charge as explained in the recall tech bulletin .the customer service representative proceeded in getting all of my information then after doing so tells me there are no recalls on my vehicle and proceeded to update my cars info shortly after I went back to the original site of this recall put in my cars info again and all the recalls that was once available for my vehicle was mysteriously gone.I never received a notice and never got it fixed. …”
NHTSA complaint #11349159, filed 2020-08, 157,000 miles“My husband and I own a 2004 Audi A4 cabrio and took it in for a voluntary emissions service action for an ignition coil replacement on feb 4, 2010. At that time, the dashboard light for the driver side airbag was on constantly and would not go off so we asked the service department to look into it. They told us we needed a new airbag and replaced it at a cost of $746.14. We had not been in a collision and had not tampered with the airbag either.”
NHTSA complaint #10317800, filed 2010-03, 69,695 miles“I purchased a 2004 Audi A4 1.8t all wheel drive in october 2010. Carfax says no accidents, flooding, etc. Airbag light came on so I took it to Audi of schaumburg, il who said the harness under the seat needed to be replaced and charged $507.77. This is the driver's seat. Several months later the air bag light came on again. Took it to Audi exchange in highland park, il and they said it was recommended that the air bag be replaced. However, Audi does not guarantee that this fixes the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10381240, filed 2011-02, 50,000 milesRelated recalls
- 16V382000Jun 1, 2016Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever…Covers: Audi A4 2004–2008, A6 2005–2011
Related service bulletins
- 10161273Jun 7, 2019This bulletin contains instructions for additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries (airbag/seatbelts, accidents, fire and overheat damage).
- 10121414Dec 10, 2013Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 69 number 08-11 dated December 10, 2008. The airbag warning lamp is illuminated in the instrument cluster. DTCs are stored in the…
- 10068132Dec 10, 2013Summary to be provided on a future date.
- 10054866Dec 10, 2013Audi: the connector between airbag and seat harness has a sporadic high resistance due to airbag warning lamp being illuminated in instrument cluster, even though side airbag…
- 10016565Mar 31, 2005Airbag lamp on, upper limit of side airbag exceeded. To include a4 2006.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 10% |
| 2022 | 1 | 17% |
| 2021 | 1 | 9% |
| 2019 | 1 | 10% |
| 2018 | 4 | 9% |
| 2017 | 13 | 23% |
| 2015 | 1 | 5% |
| 2013 | 1 | 4% |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% |
| 2009 | 33 | 28% |
| 2008 | 116 | 66% |
| 2007 | 119 | 61% |
| 2006 | 73 | 25% |
| 2005 | 54 | 25% |
| 2004 | 26 | 14% |
| 2003 | 12 | 6% |
| 2002 | 8 | 4% |
| 2001 | 11 | 8% |
| 2000 | 6 | 6% |
| 1999 | 8 | 4% |
| 1998 | 16 | 6% |
| 1997 | 3 | 3% |
| 1996 | 6 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2004 Audi A4
56 complaintsEngine cooling
18 complaintsTires
16 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 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