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Audi A4 abs comes on

141 of the 2,899 owner complaints about the Audi A4 describe aBS light or ABS activating, most of them for the 1998 model year.

owner complaints
141
worst model year
1998
typical repair cost reported
$1,500
typical mileage
85,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Jan 12, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · NJ

The engine failed while I was driving. The car did not show any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms, it just jumped and died. I had the car towed to my mechanic. The mechanic thought it was the starter, but then realized the chain had broken and it hit other parts of the engine, including the pistons catastrophically. The engine is not reparable. My safety was a risk as the car died on a busy road. Audi has asked that I bring the car, at my expense for them to inspect, without offering anything. I have a letter from them indicating that they will not help. ABS SYSTEM and Brake Actuator that is failing or defective. Vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired.

Filed Jul 12, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 112,345 miles · CA

Loss of power or late response to throttle. Tcs and ABS light limininted after replacing sensor. Vibertion in passenger side around 50 MPH or braking. Replaced ignition coil twice.

Filed Jun 1, 2017 · Airbags, Brakes · 158,238 miles · TX

The airbag fault light and ABS light have been on ever since I had the vehicle, thinking that it may be a fault by the manufacturer as seeing very common problems in many websites. Another main concerned is the fault of the manufacturer's engine design causing engine damage from oil sludge. My concern is for future prevention measures.

Filed Feb 11, 2017 · Brakes · 82,000 miles · DC

The amber ABS warning light glows while the red brake light blinks. I understand newer audi models have just been recalled for ABS issues, but my 1998 a4 was not included in the recall. Braking appears normal, and warning light illumination is sporadic.

Filed May 24, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · TX

I have a 2005.5 audi a4 2.0t quattro which has encountered a failure of the ABS/esp electrical module. The result is failure of the esp system and the ABS system. This is the result of a faulty electrical module which many forums describe as a frequent occurrence and as a result a redesign by the manufacturer. The audi part is ~$1900. Based on the experience of many owners and the safety implications I would expect the manufacturer to cover the costs of correcting the defect.

Filed Jul 25, 2015 · Electrical · 93,000 miles · OK

Electronic deficiency overriding speedometer and odometer on the car. When car is first started...three loud beeps occur and the ABS and brake warning lights start blinking on and off. Following the three loud beeps both the speedometer and odometer are disabled. When driving, the speedometer does not indicate the speed of the vehicle and the odometer does not indicate any mileage driven.

Filed Feb 10, 2013 · Brakes · 98,000 miles · AK

Audi complaint and recall request the anti lock braking system no longer works like it should. When the vehicle is started I get a solid amber ABS warning light along with a flashing brake light accompanied with three warning tones. Upon doing an internet search I immediately realized this problem with the bosch 5.3 ABS control module unit is extremely common on 1998 to 2001 audi and vw models. Audi/vw created a service bulletin to repair vw's in the same date range (bulletin 0517 the federal safety agency id number: 10016037), but ignored the issue with audi's. As per the vehicle's owner's manual, it states that while the system is in this state, the rear brakes may lock up under braking. This is a serious problem that will not allow me to brake quickly in emergency situations. The cost of replacing the ABS module from the dealership was quoted at over $1000. A simple internet search reveals that thousands of audi owners have voiced complaints. This is a blatant disregard for their customer's safety and a recall should be required.

Filed Apr 26, 2012 · Brakes · MN

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 vws actually recalled this exact part on their vw vehicles, but for some reason refuses to correct the problem for their audi customers. The cost to replace this control unit is $1,400 - $1,700, and as such I have been driving my vehicle without its ABS functioning. Below is a description of the recall for this exact part, but on the vw jetta: "2002 volkswagen jetta gls the federal safety agency recall id number: 02v031000 recall date: jan 31, 2002 component: service brakes, hydraulic:antilock potential units affected: 55000 summary: on some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Consequence: this can result in a fire. Remedy: dealers will replace the ABS control unit. Owner notification began march 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1‑800‑822‑8987. Notes: volkswagen of america,inc," please look into this issue and help vw to make the right choice for the safety of their customers and others on the road. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter!

Filed Mar 15, 2012 · Brakes · 112,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 audi a4. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel and the brake warning light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics where the mechanic advised the contact that the ecu module would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

Filed Oct 4, 2011 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · AA

Abs module failure.

Related recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported May 21, 1999 · 88,121 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 99V131001 · Recall details

Questions about the Audi A4 abs

Why does the abs come on in the Audi A4?

Owners who report it most often also describe brake failure, adaptive cruise control problems and sudden loss of power.

Which Audi A4 years have aBS light or ABS activating problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1998 (49 complaints), 1999 (48 complaints) and 2000 (27 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix ABS light or ABS activating on the Audi A4?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,500 (median of 50 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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