AI DamageAudi A4: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Audi A4 across 11 model years: 171 owner complaints and 1,675 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 22% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 20% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 7% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 6% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 37 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2,429.
- Engine: 37 complaints (22% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 343.
- Air bags: 34 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 69.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 15 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 98.
- Powertrain: 12 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 420.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 1997–2006
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2005–2020
- 2.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1996–2001
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2002–2006
- 3.1 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2005–2009
- 3.2 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2009
- 2 L · hybrid · turbo · 4 cyl 2021–2025
- automatic, 5-speed 1996–2006
- automatic, 6-speed 2005–2010
- automatic, 8-speed 2011–2016
- CVT 2002–2016
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed 2017–2025
- manual, 5-speed 1996–2005
- manual, 6-speed 2002–2018
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 171 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 37 | 1 | 2,429 |
| Engine | 37 | 0 | 343 |
| Air bags | 34 | 1 | 69 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 15 | 1 | 98 |
| Powertrain | 12 | 0 | 420 |
| Seats | 12 | 0 | 44 |
| Steering | 10 | 4 | 410 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 3 | 360 |
| Structure | 8 | 0 | 723 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 8 | 0 | 33 |
| Suspension | 7 | 2 | 351 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 315 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 | 45 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 0 | 25 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was going from one section of the parking lot to another section. I was slowly making a right turn into that area as there were a lot of empty parking spaces. As I turned, suddenly I felt that I could not control the car. I tried to steer and tried to stop the car. I was alarmed, thinking why the car won’t stop.
I was rear-ended at a slow speed. I was stopped at the time. The driver who hit me was decelerating hard. Damaged to rear bumper. When I got back in the car, I realized that telescoping steering column had been pulled toward me.
I have been an Audi A4 owner for more than 10 years. During that time, I have had 2 incidents where I could have easily been killed as well as injured or killed passengers in oncoming vehicles. The latest was this morning on March 23, 2022. The other was nearly 10 years ago.
I was driving like normal and the stability light came on and the car started to swing left to right by it self.
The contact stated that while driving at 4 MPH and turning into a parking pace on the 4th floor of a parking garage, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated on its own at 100 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal several times but it failed to respond.
Due to the shock and abruptness of the failure, the contact was uncertain if any warning lights illuminated the instrument panel. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact and no other bystanders were injured as a result of the failure.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has…
- This bulletin provides information when the starter/generator drive belt is noisy or came off
- This bulletin is a help guide for Audi connect remote start
- This Pending Service Solution requests that technicains create a record in the PSS database when the…
- This bulletin provides information regarding fault finding and repair information for electric tailgate
- This bulletin provides information about billing for a broken sunroof glass panel
- This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations
- This bulletin provides information when there are stails/marks on the sill panel trim
- This bulletin provides information when the MIL is on, EVAP pressure/temp sensor incorrect DTC displayed
- This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases
- This bulletin provides information when the rear parking sensor sometimes does not work, rear parking…
- This bulletin provides informaiton when DTC B200FF0 is stored
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.