Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1999 Audi A4. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Air Bag Inflators May Underinflate Bag
- Summary
- 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 manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BT.
VW/TIE RODS
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.
VW/TIE RODS
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.
VW/BRAKE BOOSTER
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE INSUFFICIENT VACUUM TO BE PROVIDED TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (190)
190 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 190 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 89 | 46.8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 28 | 14.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 8.4% |
| Steering | 15 | 7.9% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 5.8% |
| Power train | 10 | 5.3% |
| Air bags | 8 | 4.2% |
| Suspension | 8 | 4.2% |
| Tires | 7 | 3.7% |
| Visibility | 5 | 2.6% |
How 1999 compares with other A4 years
Best and worst A4 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | 89 | 4 |
| 1997 | 98 | 6 |
| 1998 | 258 | 4 |
| 1999 | 190 | 4 |
| 2000 | 96 | 2 |
| 2001 | 131 | 1 |
| 2002 | 181 | 1 |
| 2003 | 210 | 3 |
| 2004 | 189 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 24 | $3,400 | 370 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 28 / 22 | $3,750 | 404 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | $3,750 | 404 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | $3,750 | 404 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 / 27 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1999 A4 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1999 Audi A4 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1999 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 20V056000 (air bag), 00V414000 (steering), 99V248000 (steering), 99V131001 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1999 Audi A4 problems?
Owners filed 190 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (89), Engine and engine cooling (28), Vehicle speed control (16) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1999 Audi A4 get?
EPA rates the 1.8 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 20 city, 29 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1999 A4 compare with other years?
Among the 1995–2004 Audi A4 model years at least five years old, the 1995 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1998 the most (258). The 1999 drew 190. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.