1998 Audi Quattro problems
The Audi Quattro is a road and rally car, produced by the German automobile manufacturer Audi, part of the Volkswagen Group. It was first shown at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show on 3 March. Production continued through 1991.
Background
The word quattro is derived from the Italian word for "four" to represent the fact that the vehicle delivers power to all four wheels. The name has also been used by Audi to refer to the quattro four-wheel-drive system, or any four-wheel-drive version of an Audi model. The original Quattro model is also commonly referred to as the Ur-Quattro - the "Ur-" (German for "primordial", "original", or "first of its kind") is an augmentative prefix. The idea of such a car came from the Audi engineer Jörg Bensinger.
The Audi Quattro was the first rally car to take advantage of the then-recently changed rules that allowed the use of four-wheel drive in competition racing. It won consecutive competitions for the next two years. To commemorate the success of the original vehicle, all subsequent Audi production automobiles with this four-wheel-drive system were badged with the trademark quattro with a lower case "q" letter.
The Audi Quattro shared many parts and platform with the Coupé version of the Audi 80 (B2). The quattro was internally designated Typ 85, a production code it shared with the quattro versions of the Audi Coupé. Its characteristic flared wheelarches were styled by Martin Smith. The Audi Quattro also had independent front and rear suspension.
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Common 1998 Audi Quattro problems
The 1998 Audi Quattro is a well-regarded car with a wide range of power units, most of which are recommended for their performance and reliability
. However, like any vehicle, it is not without its common problems.
One of the most frequently reported issues with the 1998 Audi Quattro is related to the emissions system, specifically the evaporative emission control (EVAP) system. This system is responsible for capturing and storing fuel vapors from the fuel tank, preventing them from being released into the atmosphere. The p0455 error code indicates a large leak in the EVAP system, which can lead to reduced fuel efficiency and increased emissions.
Another common problem with the 1998 Audi Quattro is related to the timing belt. The timing belt is a critical component that synchronizes the engine's camshaft and crankshaft, ensuring proper engine operation. If the timing belt fails, it can cause significant engine damage, including bent valves and piston damage. It is recommended that the timing belt be replaced every 60,000 to 80,000 miles to prevent this issue.
The 1998 Audi Quattro is also prone to issues with the ignition system, specifically the ignition coils and spark plugs. These components are responsible for generating the spark that ignites the fuel in the engine's cylinders. Over time, the ignition coils and spark plugs can wear out, leading to reduced engine performance, increased fuel consumption, and misfiring. It is recommended that these components be replaced every 30,000 to 40,000 miles to prevent this issue.
The 1998 Audi Quattro may also experience issues with the automatic transmission. Specifically, the transmission may shift harshly or slip, leading to reduced performance and increased wear on the transmission components. This issue can be caused by a variety of factors, including low transmission fluid levels, worn out transmission components, or issues with the transmission control module.
Finally, the 1998 Audi Quattro may experience issues with the power steering system. Specifically, the power steering pump may fail, leading to reduced power steering assist and increased steering effort. This issue can be caused by a variety of factors, including low power steering fluid levels, worn out power steering components, or issues with the power steering pump.
In summary, the 1998 Audi Quattro is a reliable and high-performing car, but it is not without its common problems. These issues include emissions system leaks, timing belt failures, ignition system wear, automatic transmission issues, and power steering system failures. By staying aware of these issues and addressing them promptly, owners of the 1998 Audi Quattro can ensure that their car remains a safe and reliable mode of transportation.
Is Audi Quattro a reliable car?
Audi A4 Quattro Reliability Rating Breakdown. The Audi A4 Quattro Reliability Rating is 3.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 21st out of 31 for luxury midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $925 which means it has poor ownership costs.
What is the most common problem with Audi A4?
Audi A4 8 Common Problems
- Airbag Troubles. According to Car Problem Zoo, a website that compiles owner feedback, the most frequently reported issue with the A4 is related to its airbags. ...
- High Oil Consumption. ...
- Leaking Coolant. ...
- Transmission Woes. ...
- Flickering Headlights. ...
- Ignition Coil Issues.
Is the Audi A4 engine reliable?
The Audi A4 gets an average RepairPal rating of 3.5 out of 5.0 but suffers from higher repair costs. The Audi A4 is known to develop issues like carbon buildup in the intake system, failed fuel pumps, excessive oil consumption, premature wear on suspension parts, and engine failure.
What is the top speed of a 1998 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro?
The Audi A4 2.8 Quattro 193 PS claimed top speed is 238 km/h / 148 mph.
Is Audi Quattro a reliable car?
Audi A4 Quattro Reliability Rating Breakdown. The Audi A4 Quattro Reliability Rating is 3.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 21st out of 31 for luxury midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $925 which means it has poor ownership costs.
What is the common problem with Audi A4?
Some of the common problems with the Audi A4 include: Gearbox problems. Airbag and seat belts fault. Seat backrest fault.
What is the top speed of a 1998 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro?
The Audi A4 2.8 Quattro 193 PS claimed top speed is 238 km/h / 148 mph.
Is it worth buying a quattro?
Whether you really need quattro or not is bound to depend on the type of weather and the road conditions you're often faced with. The main benefit is the help it gives when driving on slippery roads and surfaces, offering better grip and traction during wet weather conditions, and also when accelerating and cornering.
1998 Audi Quattro car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Audi Quattro problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Steering problems
- Air problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1998 Audi Quattro vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1998 Audi Quattro complaints
The NHTSA has received 10 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1998 Audi Quattro.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-06-08
- VIN: WAUED28D1WA
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: BULLETIN DATE: OCT 2005 THE WARRANTY IS EXTENDED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES TO 168,000 KM (105,000 MILES), REGARDLESS OF TIME IN SERVICE, FOR ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTING FROM A BROKEN TIMING BELT. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10016506 THIS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE BEFORE THIS BULLETIN CAME OUT. AND I WENT TO AUDI TO ASK THEM ABOUT IT AND IT IS ONLY TO SUBJECT VEHICLES. HOW THEY CAN SUBJECT TO ONLY A CERTAIN TIME IT WAS MADE WHEN IT SAYS 1998 AUDI A-4 QUATTRO 2.8 V-6. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY. *NM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-06-20
- VIN: WAUCB28DXWA
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: I PURCHASED AN AUDI A4 1.8T QUATTRO USED WITH 49,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND BEGAN TO NOTICE THE ABS LIGHT ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT START TO FLICKER OCCASIONALLY WHILE DRIVING AT THE 70,000 MILE RANGE. WITHIN A MONTH OF THE FIRST SIGN OF FAILURE IT WOULD COME ON EARLIER (IN RELATION TO ENGINE START UP) AND MORE OFTEN UP TO THE POINT OF IT FLASHING CONSTANTLY UPON ENGINE START UP. AS A RESULT OF THIS I REALIZED THAT MY CAR'S ABS SYSTEM IS BASICALLY DISABLED AS I NO LONGER FEEL THE BRAKES PULSING DURING RAINY AND WET CONDITION TESTING . I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE BECOME SOMEWHAT ACCUSTOMED TO BRAKING WITH THE SYSTEM UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. THE SYSTEM REQUIRES THE USER TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES FIRMLY AND EVENLY AND TO ALSO NOT LET OFF OR PUMP THE BRAKES AS DOING SO WILL NOT LET THE ABS. TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DEFECT ALLOWS THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND THEORETICALLY PUT THE OPERATOR IN DANGER DURING A PANIC STOP SITUATION. I HAVE FILED AN INQUIRY WITH AUDI OF AMERICA AND AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A REPLY OR MAYBE EVEN A SOLUTION TO RECTIFY THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH LITTLE OR NO COST TO ME AS I FEEL IT MAY RESULT FROM A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH A SPECIFIC PART. (BOSCH A.B.S. MODULE 5.3) I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO TECHNICAL BULLETINS OR RECALL CAMPAIGNS ADDRESSING THIS PARTICULAR PART AND WAS QUOTED A $1,000.00 CHARGE JUST TO PURCHASE THE REPLACEMENT MODULE. *JB
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-07-15
- VIN: WAUCB28D8WA
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
- Summary: I PURCHASED MY 1998 AUDI A4 1.8T AWD VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2004 WITH 91,000. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED IN MAY OF 2004. THE CAR HAS HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES UNTIL JULY 11, 2005. ON THIS DATE THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON ONCE. I CHECKED THE ABS MODULE FOR DTC CODES AND IT DISPLAYED A CODE TO DO WITH AN INTERMITANT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. ABS WILL NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. WITH THE MODULE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING, THE ABS PUMP MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING OVERHEATING AND/OR LOCKING UP OF BRAKES ON INDIVIDUAL WHEELS. THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE AS THE REAR WHEELS MAY LOCK UP MORE EASILY UNDER HARD BRAKING AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SPIN WHILE BRAKING AROUND A CORNER. THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED AT REGULAR MAINTENANCE INTERVALS AT THE AUDI DEALERSHIP BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND BY MYSELF FOR THE YEAR AND THREE MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. ALL OTHER RECALLS (LOWER CONTROL ARM INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF TIE ROD ENDS) ON THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN ATTENDED TO BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND BY MYSELF SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-01-16
- VIN: WAUED28D2WA
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING ENGINE STICKING AT A SPEED SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. (NAR) *LA DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-09-30
- VIN: WAUED28D1WA
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND DECELERATING FOR A RED SIGNAL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY WITH THE ENGINE ON. THE CAR PROVED UNCONTROLLABLE. THE STEERING WHEEIL BECAME AGAIN OPERATIONAL AFTER I SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED THE ENGINE.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-09-20
- VIN: WAUED28DXWA
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: I HAVE AN AUDI A4 2.8 QUATTRO 1998 MODEL. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR ICLUDING A NEAR FIRE EXPLOSION 1 YEAR AGO.THE OTHER DAY AS I WAS DRIVING MY SON HOME FROM SCHOOL TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND I HAD TO MANUELY STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR STARTED STARTED TO SMELL LIKE SMOKE AGAIN .I TOOK MY CHILD FROM THE CAR AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AAA. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BLOWN VALVES TO THE COST OF 3,000$.I HAVE ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND HAVE TREATED IT WITH KIT GLOVES.IT HAS HAD ALL THE MAINTENANCE YOU CAN GIVE.SO HOW CAN A 35,000$ CAR ALMOST INJURE YOU AND THEN FALL APART AT 60,000 MILES CAN YOU REFER MR TO THE APPROPIATE CHANNELS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS DEATH TRAP.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: WAUED68D1WA
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM ALLDATA #99V248000, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO GET THE REPLACEMENT AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER I DO NEED TIE RODS. BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE FAILURE I FEEL AUDI SHOULD COVER MY CAR, AS THIS IS AN OUT OF THE ORDINARY REPLACEMENT FOR THE MILES ON THE CAR AND OTHER CARS HAVE NEEDED THE SAME THING. IS MY CAR NOT COVERED? HOW COME AUDI SAYS ONE THING AND ALLDATA AND NHTSA SAY SOMETHING ELSE. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? WHO DO I CONTACT? COULD I GET IN AN ACCIDENT IF I DON'T FIX THESE IMMEDIATELY?*AK
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT LOWER PANEL IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT WHEN A PERSON PULLS UP TO A CURB THE PANEL LOCKS OVER THE CURB AND PULLS AWAY FROM THE BODY OF THE CAR RESULTING IN THE LOWER PANEL HANGING OFF THE CAR, ON ONE OCCASION THE PANEL WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE PREVENTING THE TIRE FROM TURNING. NLM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-04-17
- VIN: WAUED68D8WA
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: DURING BRAKING IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES DO NOT SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE UNTIL SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS CONDITION ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THE ROADS ARE WET. WHEN THE ROADS ARE DRY AND NO RAIN IS FALLING. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-04-17
- VIN: WAUED68D8WA
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: DURING BRAKING IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES DO NOT SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE UNTIL SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS CONDITION ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT IS RAINING AND THE ROADS ARE WET. WHEN THE ROADS ARE DRY AND NO RAIN IS FALLING. *AK
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1998 Audi Quattro problems:
1998 Audi A4 Quattro Problems and Complaints - 15 Issues
Problem with your 1998 Audi A4 Quattro? Our list of 15 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 1998 Audi A4 Quattro.
98 Audi A4 2.8T Quattro reliability | VW Vortex - Volkswagen Forum
May 8, 2005 ... of course you can ignore most of these if you want, you'll be driving a car that's leaking oil & gear oil all over, no ABS and sloppy front end ...
1998 Audi A4 Problems and Complaints - 14 Issues
Top 1998 Audi A4 Problems · Oil Leaks From Camshaft Chain Tensioner and Valve Cover Gaskets · Ignition Coil, Ignition Wires, and Spark Plugs May Fail.
I'm looking to buy a '98 A4 Quattro, what should I look out for? : r/Audi
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1998 A8 reliability?
Jan 22, 2007 ... It's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Audizine Family today! If you're new to forums in general, be sure to check out the Forum ...
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