2005 Audi A4: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2005 Audi A4: 3 recalls, 219 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
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Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V382000 · 2016 · 194,453 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi a4, and 2005-2011 Audi a6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V032000 · 2017 · 33,421 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi a4 cabriolet, s4 cabriolet, a6 avant, a6 sedan and s6 sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V427000 · 2018 · 237,947 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi a4 sedan, a4 avant, s4 avant and s4 sedan, 2007-2008 rs4 sedan, 2004 rs4 cabriolet, 2007-2009 a4 cabriolet and s4 cabriolet, 2005-2011 a6 sedan, 2006-2011 a6 avant, and 2007-2011 s6 sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Engine & cooling Equipment recall #14E007000 · 2014 · 50 vehicles
What's wrong: These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi a4, 2000-2006 Audi tt, 1998-2005 Volkswagen beetle, 1999-2006 golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt May develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
Why it matters: A failure of the timing belt May cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 8 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Exterior lights (101): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (21), electrical failure (7), warning light on (6).
- Airbags (54): the most common themes are warning light on (11), fails to deploy (4).
- Electrical (24): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (5), fire / smoke (4), electrical failure (4).
- Transmission & drivetrain (16): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (8), warning light on (3), stalls / loses power (3).
The 2005 Audi A4 has 219 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 31 A4 model years for complaints (2.3× the average A4 year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (56 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 58,400 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (189 complaints, 2 recalls), 2006 (295 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 24 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 31 | 24 | Premium |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Premium |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 23 | Premium |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2005 Audi A4.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2005 Audi A4 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2005 Audi A4, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2005 Audi A4 problems?
Owners have filed 219 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are exterior lights (101), airbags (54), electrical (24).
What gas mileage does the 2005 Audi A4 get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2005 Audi A4 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.