1998 Audi A4: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Apr 5, 2012 · Lights · 190,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 audi a4. The contact stated that the amber reflector headlights illuminated poorly and decreased vision. The dealer was notified, but denied any assistance to repair the vehicle because the VIN was not included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 06e049000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 190,000.

Filed Apr 2, 2012 · Lights · MN

I have had a recent discussion with audi customer service manager in wayzata, mn at 11:55am. This is regarding a defect in my model year 1998 audi a4 2.8., or audi a4 2.8 manufactured june of 1997. I researched the web and saw hundreds of similar complaints regarding the light switch. I turned my light switch on and the low beam and high beam do not work. The temporary high beam works. I saw many other 1998 audi owners with the same problem; even more similar with the fact that we had a 1998 model year car that was manufactured in 1997. The recall campaign is a little ambiguous stating model years and manufacture dates. My car falls within the manufacture date but not the recall date. The recall is open however 1998 models, which are being affected by this issue, are not included. It is obvious that cars manufactured prior to august of 1997 even though they are model year 1998 have the same problem.

Filed Nov 28, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 110,000 miles · CA

On a 1998 a4 quattro audi, it is the 2nd time that the headlights switch fails, the first time was 6 months ago and have to replace the entire steering wheel column switch package. This is the second time, and this time I was on a highway around 11:00 pm with no headlights at all, in this car if the headlights don't work, also the fog lights don't work too, so suddenly you end at the middle of the night on a highway with no lights at all. This definitely is a high risk situation because you can not drive with out headlights it is like blind driving. I been searching on the web and it looks like a very common failure on this car but there is no recall at all for this yet.

Filed Sep 2, 2003 · Electrical · AK

Dash lights come on with either the ignition or photo sensor. *ph this design makes the consumer think that the vehicle's headlights are on although they are not.

Filed Feb 4, 2003 · Electrical · 63,500 miles · MI

The problem: ignition switch return spring there is a problem with my ignition switch. After staring the engine, the return spring does not fully return the key to the run position, causing a malfunction of the headlights and climate control. I have found a recall notice (the federal safety agency campaign id no. 97v115000) describing this exact problem for audi a4 vehicles which affects vehicles manufactured between 10/1995 and 8/1997 (my vehicle was built within this time period, on aug 13th, 1997). I reported this information to audi customer assurance and they refused to perform the recall because the recall notice does not specify "model year 1998". Please consider expanding the existing recall to cover 1998 vehicles. Comment: obviously, containment of the faulty ignition switch was not limited to 1997 vehicles (note- the problem was not called to their attention until oct 24, 2000. How can containment happen effectively long after the vehicles are delivered to customers?). Audi has not contained the faulty switch to the vehicles specified in the recall.

Filed Jul 1, 2001 · Electrical · MD

Consumer states ignition switch housing is defective, the return spring force is insufficient for returning the ignition key to the running position after starting the engine, consumer states this causes electrical accessories such as the windshield wipers and headlights to become inoperative, dealership has replaced ignition switch.

Filed Aug 30, 1997 · CA

With headlights on and dash lights dimmed, the air conditioner and heater panel will intermittently flash to full brightness distracting driver.