RecallMyCar

1998 Audi A4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1998 Audi A4, and owners have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
258
owner complaints to NHTSA
6 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–23
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1998 Audi A4

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 22V471000 Reported 28,624 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 1998 Audi A8 and 1997-1998 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 manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternative inflator of a different design, free of charge. Owner notification letters were sent September 21, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service…

  2. Connecting (steering)

    NHTSA 99V248000 Reported 51,900 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tie rods of the steering assembly are protected on each side by a seal to prevent moisture and dust particles from entering the swivel bearing mechanism. It is possible that some tie rod seals may not seal properly.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the tie rods.

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 99V131001 Reported 88,121 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A control valve in the vacuum hose connecting the brake booster to the intake manifold may not open or close fully at temperatures below -4 f under certain driving conditions.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a vacuum by-pass system into vehicles operated in these states which is designed to provide sufficient vacuum for full brake assist under all weather conditions.

  4. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V134000 Reported 19,800 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine backfires during a cold-start, an air screen which is loosely seated in the air flow meter can become damaged.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.

258 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Audi A4 have filed 258 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 11 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 85,671 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 50 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

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

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 27, 2022 · Air bags

“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 dep”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2021 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Audi A4 (A4 Avant, A4 Avant quattro, A4 quattro). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–23 mpg
City / Highway16–20 / 25–29
FuelPremium
EPA classCompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engine4/6 cyl, 1.8/2.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Audi A4 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Audi A4 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Audi A411
1996 Audi A4489
1997 Audi A4698
1998 Audi A44258
1999 Audi A44190
2000 Audi A4296
2001 Audi A41131
2002 Audi A41181
2003 Audi A43210
2004 Audi A42189
2005 Audi A43219
2006 Audi A43295
2007 Audi A43196
2008 Audi A44175
2009 Audi A42120
2010 Audi A4064
2011 Audi A4011
2012 Audi A4019
2013 Audi A4024
2014 Audi A4032
2015 Audi A4019
2016 Audi A4011
2017 Audi A4155
2018 Audi A4144
2019 Audi A4110
2020 Audi A43128
2021 Audi A4411
2022 Audi A436
2023 Audi A4010
2024 Audi A402
2025 Audi A401

Checking a specific 1998 Audi A4

How do I know if my 1998 Audi A4 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1998 Audi A4; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Audi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 22V471000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Audi models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.