Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Audi A4, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 74 | 38% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 23 | 12% |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 7% |
| Steering | 12 | 6% |
| Air bags | 7 | 4% |
| Tires | 7 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 3% |
| Power train | 5 | 3% |
| Suspension | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
AS I WAS OPENING THE HOOD OF THE CAR TO FILL UP THE WINDOW WASHER, THE HOOD DID NOT STAY UP AS USUAL. IT STARTED TO CLOSE AND IT HIT MY HEAD ON THE WAY DOWN. I AM WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME IN
NHTSA complaint: Structure
MY AUDI, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THEIR ABS CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTION BECAUSE OF DESIGN. THIS MALFUNCTION CAUSES THE ABS TO NOT WORK ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN, THE COMPANY THAT PRODUCES AUDIS AND
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE CAR IS EXPERIENCING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, USUALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, AFTER HEAVY ACCELERATION. OVER 10 OCCURRENCES. CANNOT REMEDY BY PULLING BACK THE ACCELERATOR. CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND THE ENGINE MUST RECORD 0
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TREAD SEPARATION. I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON I-580, APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, WHEN THE TREAD ON MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED AND THE TIRE BLEW. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH THE ASSISTA
NHTSA complaint: Tires
THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE CAR IS WHEN IT STARTED TO THROW SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST AND WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FAILURE WHEN WE TOOK IT THE MECHANIC WHO TOLD US THE ENGINE WAS NO GOOD. SO FAR IM LOOKING FOR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
BOSCH ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED CAUSING A FLASHING ABS INDICATOR AND A SOLID BRAKE LIGHT. CAUSE IS ELECTRONIC. MANY DOCUMENTED CASES FOUND ON LINE. ABS WILL NOT ENGAGE. AUDI WILL NOT RECALL, BUT VW HAS RECALLED FOR THE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I BOUGHT AN AUDI A4 1999 1.8T FWD. THE NEXT DAY I BOUGHT IT THE ABS ORANGE LIGHT CAME ON & BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING NON-STOP WITH THREE BEEPS WHEN I START THE CAR ITS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. YESTERDAY I TOOK T
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1999 Audi A4. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 TT Roadster, 2000 TT Coupe, 1999 Audi A8, 1998-2000 Audi A6, and 1999-2000 Audi A4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator when the parts become available, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed September 21, 2021. Owners may c
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/s
Risk: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIA
Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 69 | good |
| Depreciation | 71 | good |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 74 of them (38%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.