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Audi A4Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 2,899 NHTSA owner complaints across 31 model years, no Audi A4 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2010, 2014, 2017 and 2018. The A4 has 27 safety recalls on record.

Audi A4
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1998, 2006Best years'10 '14 '17 '18Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints2,899Top: Air bagsSafety recalls271995–2025 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Acgskup, CC BY 4.0.

Best & worst years

Audi A4 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the A4 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2025Too new–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2024Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2023Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls2022Not rated–/1006 complaints · 3 recalls2021Not rated–/10011 complaints · 4 recalls2020Solid50/100128 complaints · 3 recalls2019Not rated–/10010 complaints · 1 recall2018Best78/10045 complaints · 1 recall2017Best75/10057 complaints · 1 recall2016Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls2015Not rated–/10019 complaints · 0 recalls2014Best85/10032 complaints · 0 recalls2013Not rated–/10024 complaints · 0 recalls2012Not rated–/10019 complaints · 0 recalls2011Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls2010Best74/10064 complaints · 0 recalls2009Solid57/100120 complaints · 2 recalls2008Solid48/100175 complaints · 4 recalls2007Solid47/100196 complaints · 3 recalls2006Caution36/100295 complaints · 3 recalls2005Solid43/100219 complaints · 3 recalls2004Solid46/100189 complaints · 2 recalls2003Solid42/100210 complaints · 3 recalls2002Solid45/100181 complaints · 1 recall2001Solid54/100131 complaints · 1 recall2000Solid62/10096 complaints · 2 recalls1999Solid46/100190 complaints · 4 recalls1998Caution39/100258 complaints · 4 recalls1997Solid60/10098 complaints · 6 recalls1996Solid65/10089 complaints · 4 recalls1995Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Audi A4 problems

All model years combined: 2,899 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags51665
Electrical system46929
Exterior lighting3665
Service brakes, hydraulic30717
Engine25111
Engine and engine cooling22913
Power train2017
Steering13011
Fuel system, gasoline1276
25 other systems81270
27 recalls

Audi A4 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

89%Back over prevention: display function22V-806 · 2022 · Oct 26, 2022 · 6,076 vehicles93%Back over prevention: display function22V-742 · 2021 · Oct 5, 2022 · 170,296 vehicles–Driver side: inflator module22V-471 · 1997–1998 · Jul 1, 2022 · 28,624 vehicles88%Engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm)22V-368 · 2022 · May 23, 2022 · 72 vehicles97%Axle: non-powered axle assembly22V-034 · 2020–2021 · Jan 26, 2022 · 31,058 vehicles77%Occupant classification: front passenger21V-874 · 2017–2020 · Nov 10, 2021 · 208,332 vehicles93%Sensing system: camera21V-825 · 2022 · Oct 20, 2021 · 2,857 vehicles96%Seat belts21V-606 · 2021 · Aug 5, 2021 · 45,496 vehicles5%Driver side: inflator module21V-470 · 2000–2002 · Jun 23, 2021 · 62,812 vehicles96%Axle: non-powered axle assembly21V-295 · 2020–2021 · Apr 26, 2021 · 40,993 vehicles2%Driver side: inflator module20V-056 · 1999–2000 · Jan 31, 2020 · 106,857 vehicles41%Passenger side: inflator module18V-427 · 2005–2008 · Jun 22, 2018 · 237,947 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 27 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

7 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the A4

  1. ENGINE STALLING - FUEL PUMP FAILUREPE08027 · 2004 · closed Aug 6, 2008
    No recall
  2. STUCK-OPEN THROTTLEEA04017 · 1998–1999 · closed Feb 10, 2005
    Led to recall 04V-495
  3. BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKETPE02008 · 1998–2001 · closed Jul 12, 2002
    No recall
  4. DEGRADED BRAKING IN WET WEATHEREA00021 · 1996–2000 · closed Mar 29, 2002
    No recall
  5. DEGRADED BRAKING WET WEATHER CONDITIONPE00016 · 1996–2000 · closed Aug 11, 2000
    No recall
  6. IGNITION SWITCHRQ00009 · 1996–1997 · closed Nov 30, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-317
  7. POWER BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM BY-PASSRQ99008 · 1997–1999 · closed Nov 14, 2000
    Led to recall 99V-131