14 complaints reported

1998 Audi A4 Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
14
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
3

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2022

Recall 69bt was not accomplished at McDaniels Audi of Charleston dealer. They indicated they had replaced airbag with 8D0898201A kit.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Jul 2021

Takata recall. The contact owns a 1998 Audi A4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V056000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2020
May 2021 Crash Injury

The contact owned a 1998 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH with his 12-year-old son sitting in the passenger seat, he crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries, however, his son sustained a broken rib and was transported to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The contact recently received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V056000 (AIR BAGS). The dealer and the manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2006
Apr 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V056000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2021
Jan 2005

1. AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT DISPLAYED 2. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DETERMINES THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING 3. DEALER ESTIMATES AIRBAG REPLACEMENT WILL COST $1,700, BUT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SINCE ITS FAILURE IS DUE TO MILEAGE AND WEAR. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2005
Dec 2004 Crash

SIDE IMPACT AT 30 MPH FRONT SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2004
Aug 2004

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED 14 TIMES.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE SOME HOW DAMAGED THE CONNECTORS. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 1999
Sep 2003

THE PASSENGER SIDE ARBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT 40-45MPH ON A SECONDARY ROAD. THERE WAS NO COLLISION AT THE TIME AND NO EVIDENCE OF POTHOLES OR ROAD DEBRIS. THE DEALER SCANNED THE COMPUTER AND RETRIEVED "CRASH DATA" AND CLAIMED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WORKED AS EXPECTED. THEY NOTED A SMALL DENT UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COLUMN OF THE CAR WHICH THEY CLAIMED WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS AND TRIGGERED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THEY REFERRED ME TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ADJUSTER EXAMINED THE CAR AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION - NO DENT OR OTHER DAMAGE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM IN THE CAR IS DISABLED. *LA

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: May 2003
Apr 2002 Injury

WHILE DRIVING, A BRICK HIT BOTTOM OF VEHICLE AND DRIVER?S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING MINOR BURNS AND BRUISES TO THE DRIVER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR HAD BEEN HIT BY THE BRICK CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *YD

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2002
Jul 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60-65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED THAT STRIKER UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE SHOWED SIGNS THAT VEHICLE RAN OVER SOMETHING. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2001
Oct 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WENT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. SHE HEARD A POPPYING NOISE, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND THERE WAS A BAD SMELL. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, AND AIRBAG WENT OFF ON ITS OWN.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2000
Oct 1999

AFTER RUNNING OVER A POTHOLE AT 30MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK *ML

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 1999
Jul 1999 Crash Injury

PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. NO PASSENGER OR PARCEL ON PASSENGER'S SEAT, DRIVERS BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AUDI CONTINUES TO DENY A PROBLEM EXISTED. AUDI'S OWN DOCUMENTATION DESCRIBES A NO PASSENGER LOCK OUT SWITCH TO PREVENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WHEN NO PASSENGER OR (HEAVY PARCEL?) IS PRESENT. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE CAR, HAD MY SEAT BELT BUCKLED, PRETENSIONER FOR MY SEAT BELT FIRED BUT MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AN INTERLOCK, BY DEFINITION, IS EITHER ON OR OFF. AN INTERLOCK OR LOCK OUT DEVICE DOES NOT ACT AS A "MAYBE ON" OR "MAYBE OFF" GATE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 1998
Nov 1998

VEHICLE BRUSHED CURB CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRE SIDEWALLS WHEN FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAG OCCURED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1998 AUDI A4, Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 1998

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1998 Audi A4 has 14 Air Bags complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.