There are 2 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2004 Audi A4in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
REAR WINDOW OF CONVERTIBLE SOFT TOP FOR 2004 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET. AN OLD ISSUE OFTEN SUFFERED BY AUDI CABRIOLETS FROM 2003-2009. CLAIMED TO BE CAUSED BY THE ADHESIVE THAT AUDI USES. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY KEEPING THE CAR OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF IN A GARAGE AS PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT CAUSES THE ADHESIVE TO GIVE AWAY AND FAIL, CAUSING THE REAR WINDOW TO SEPARATE FROM THE OUTER LAYER OF THE TOP AND DROP. WHILE THE WINDOW IS STILL TECHNICALLY ATTACHED TO THE INNER LAYER OF THE TOP, THE WINDOW NO LONGER PROTECTS AGAINST WATER. AS A RESULT RAIN CAN SEEP INTO THE NON WATER RESISTANT INNER LAYER OF THE TOP AND THEN CAUSE WATER DAMAGE TO THE REAR SEATS. THIS IS THE CASE WITH MY OWN CAR AND WITH A LARGE ENOUGH NUMBER OF CABRIOLETS THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SETTLED FRANKLY, A GOOD 10 YEARS AGO WHEN THE FIRST CASES WERE BEING NOTICED. I HAVE AS MANY OTHERS HAVE, ATTEMPTED TO USE A TEMPORARY FIX AND AS A RESULT, THERE IS A CLEAR INDUSTRIAL ADHESIVE AROUND THE TOP AND REAR WINDOW TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS, IT FAILS WITH CONTINUED USE.
MY 2004 AUDI A4 CONVERTIBLE HAS HAD THE TOP FAIL MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OR FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY HAS 4600 MILES ON IT. 1ST INCIDENT WAS IN APRIL 2004 AND CONTINUES TO TODAY. SEPT 9 WWAS THE LAST INCIDENT AND THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER. I NOTIFIED AUDI FOUR TIMES AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE. THE TOP GETS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION MAKING IT A HAZZARD TO DRIVE. *AK
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.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026