There are 3 stored owner reports matching the steering leading-label group for the 2004 Audi A4 in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 3 of 3 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)2004 AUDI A4, QUATTRO, 3.0L V6. PREMATURE FAILURE OF POWERSTEERING RACK SEALS CAUSING PS FLUID TO LEAK OUT, AND RENDER THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, UNTIL FLUID IS ADDED OR RACK IS REPLACED. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT ALL AUDI POWER STEERING RACKS FAIL WITHIN 6 YEARS. DEALER NEVER BOTHERED TO CHECK PS FLUID LEVELS DURING REGULAR REQUIRED MAINTENANCE PERIODS. AS USUAL AUDI CORP."VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY" GOV.'T AGENCIES NEED TO PUT AUDI ON NOTICE FOR SUB STANDARD PARTS WITH PREMATURE FAILURE, THAT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
THE STEERING RACK HAS A HOLE IN IT AND IS LEAKING INTO THE BOOT. THE PROBLEM JUST STARTED. I NOTICED A SOUND AND STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH GOES AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS MOBILE FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES. *TR
I BEGAN TO NOTICE A RATTLE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. IT SEEMED TO COME FROM THE SUSPENSION. AT THE SAME TIME I NOTICED A SLIGHT THUMP IN THE STEERING WHEN STATIONARY AND SLIGHTLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. AS THE RATTLE WAS GETTING WORSE, I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET IT CHECKED. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE STEERING RACK HAD LOOSENED AT ONE END. IT WAS TORQUED DOWN AND LOCK-TIGHT PUT ON THE BOLT. I AM FEARFUL OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE RACK FAILED ENTIRELY. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES ON CAR. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Aug 31, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.