repaired · 2018 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2009 Audi A4Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 120 owner complaints about the 2009 Audi A4, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-032 the manufacturer reports only 17% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 23, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Audi A4 has problems
120 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
44Engine2 crash/fire/injury
33Air bags3 crash/fire/injury
15Steering1 crash/fire/injury
7Fuel/propulsion system
6Visibility
6Power train
6Structure
5Suspension
5Engine and engine cooling
168 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 44 | 2 |
| Air bags | 33 | 3 |
| Steering | 15 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 1 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 |
| Power train | 6 | 1 |
| Structure | 6 | 1 |
| Suspension | 5 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 0 |
| 8 other systems | 16 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2009 Audi A4 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Air bags
Risk. If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Audi.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
84kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 36 engine complaints. 78% were reported before 100,000 miles.
1under 30k miles28under 100k miles8100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
10 owners mentioned a cost$2,615median
Middle half: $1,275 – $6,750
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other A4 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the A4 median. How we score
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Audi A4 safety ratings
2009 Audi A4 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What A4 owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The turbo sounds like it's not going in/out of gear, oil going into spark plugs, radiator fluid leaking system getting real hot. Low engine poer picking up speed an issue. Air bag rear brake light malfunction, oil pressure not correct
PURCHASED VEHICLE 8/15/19 AT SELECT MOTORS INC, SMYRNA TN. CLEAN CAR FAX REPORT. ONGOING OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. INTAKE CAMSHAFT LOCKED UP FOLLOWING OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AT AUDI OF NASHVILLE. NOT DRIVEABLE NOW. AUDI OF NASHVILLE QUOTED CYLINDER HEAD AND ASSOCIATED PARTS, TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER,…
ENGINE COOLANT AND ENGINE LIGHT ETC CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD. BASED ON THE AUDI MESSAGE MY VEHICLE COULD CATCH ON FIRE.PLEASE SEND ME INFO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED.
Own a 2009 A4?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.