2004 Audi A4
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Fuel System
Fuel System leads by volume: 56 of 189 complaints (30%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (5) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 210 in 2003 to 189 in 2004.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | vs. 2004 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,350–4,300 | 3,350–4,300 | 3,350–4,100 | 3,250–4,100 | 3,250–4,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–23 | 18–23 | 19–23 | 19–24 | 18–24 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–20 / 23–29 | 16–20 / 23–29 | 16–20 / 23–29 | 16–21 / 24–31 | 15–21 / 23–31 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 386–494 | 386–494 | 386–468 | 370–468 | 370–494 | |
| Complaints filed | 181 | 210 | 189 | 219 | 295 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 4 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 7 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 7 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2004 Audi A4 have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2004 Audi A4?
Fuel System: 56 of 189 NHTSA complaints (30%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Audi A4 get?
EPA rates it 19–23 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Audi A4?
EPA estimates $3,350–$4,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (14)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 28 mpg | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Subcompact Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 27 mpg | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 20 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | $3,350 (low) | 386 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 6 | 3.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 19 mpg | 27 mpg | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 1.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 24 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 13 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 16 mpg (low) | 24 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 14 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $4,100 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
Show 2 more configurations
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 11 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 19 mpg | 28 mpg | 22 mpg | $3,500 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 12 | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 1.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Station Wagons | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 423 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 56 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 26 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 16V382000 · May 31, 2016
Defect: 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 A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · Campaign 14E007000 · Mar 12, 2014
Defect: The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. 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.
Consequence: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · Campaign 05V096000 · Mar 15, 2005
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT XENON HEADLAMP REFLECTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.