VinSpectorAI Logo
HomeHow It Works Pricing Vehicle Stats
States
CaliforniaTexasFloridaNew YorkPennsylvaniaIllinoisOhioGeorgiaNorth CarolinaMichiganNew JerseyVirginia
View All 50 States →
Blog Garage VIN Search Inspection Guide
LoginDemo
Vehicle Stats/AUDI/A4 Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Sep 2026Methodology

AUDI A4 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 295 complaints and 14 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used AUDI A4 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2016–2025) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

295
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
14
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
9
Crash-Related
crash complaints
2
Fire-Related
fire complaints
4
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2016–2025

Free VIN check

Found a AUDI A4? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the AUDI A4 has 295 owner complaints and 14 safety recalls across model years 2016–2025. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2020 drew the most complaints; 2022 drew the fewest.

AUDI A4 — key reliability facts
Make
AUDI
Model
A4
Model years analyzed
2016–2025 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
295
Safety recall campaigns
14
Crash-related complaints
9
Fire-related complaints
2
Worst model year (by complaints)
2020 (127 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2022 (0 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Sep 4, 2026
This A4 has 14 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

AUDI A4: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2020127 complaints201781 complaints201842 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
20220 complaints20195 complaints202111 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2020 AUDI A4? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

20252025 Audi A4 4 DR AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
5/5
20242024 Audi A4 4 DR AWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
4/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
5/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The AUDI A4 has 295 NHTSA complaints and 14 recalls on record. 9 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 295 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 14 federal recall campaigns
  • 9 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2017
81
2018
42
2019
5
2020
127
2021
11
2022
0

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

14 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#24V251000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERMarch 4, 2024
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#22V742000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONMay 10, 2022
Safety recall

SEATS

#21V874000SEATSOctober 11, 2021
Safety recall

SEATS

#21V874000SEATSOctober 11, 2021
Safety recall

SEATS

#21V874000SEATSOctober 11, 2021
Safety recall

SEATS

#21V874000SEATSOctober 11, 2021
Safety recall

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR

#21V606000SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTORMay 8, 2021
Safety recall

TIRES

#22V034000TIRES
Safety recall

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

#21V295000SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

#21V825000BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Safety recall

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

#22V368000ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT

#22V806000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT
Safety recall

TIRES

#22V034000TIRES
Safety recall

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

#21V295000SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2016–2025. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 295 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM128 complaints
02
UNKNOWN OR OTHER100 complaints
03
BACK OVER PREVENTION46 complaints
04
ENGINE36 complaints
05
AIR BAGS34 complaints
06
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE17 complaints
07
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM15 complaints
08
SEATS13 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

295 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

TIRESApr 2025

Passenger rear tire failed while driving on the highway. Outside sidewall became detached from the rest of the tire.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINEJan 2024

I purchased a 2024 Audi A4 with 20 miles as a birthday present for my son on 12/20/2023 for $45,028.81 cash, plus traded my son’s 2012 BMW 328i with 22,000 miles and they applied $8,500.00 credit. This is an Atlanta, Georgia Audi dealership. My son drove the car for one week and his salesman had an appointment set for him to bring his car back one week later to add Audi Connect Software to vehicle and my son’s phone. We took his car back to the dealership and they added the software and we left. My son told me several lights starting turning on in his dashboard but he could not take the car back that day because the dealership had closed as we were leaving the dealership. I called the salesman the next morning and he said to bring car back and they would check it. My son could not bring it back until 10 days later on [XXX], because he was sick in bed. His apartment is about 20 mins from the dealership so when he returned his car had 100 miles from only driving the vehicle to and from the dealership those four trips. Oscar in service dept said he needed to leave the car over weekend and they would check it Tuesday [XXX] since that was a holiday weekend, and Oscar gave [XXX] a loan car. Oscar texted my son on [XXX] saying his car had a defective air bag module and that module was causing all the trouble lights to appear on his dashboard, and they could not fix it until 30 days because they had to order part from Sweden. Oscar also said they had to keep the vehicle and it could not be driven until that part was fixed because of all the trouble lights in dash and he wanted to make sure the car would be ok when my son starts to drive it again. I don’t like the fact that the dealer has my son’s car we traded in and they have my full payment of the remaining balance after my trade in was applied to balance of car. Is this car a lemon and is it normal to buy a car only to have dealer keep it one week after Audi Connect software was downloaded? Thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMOct 2025

The instrument cluster has stop working. Have to monitore vehicle information, Mileage, service, Safty notifications and general vehicle information from the Audi app.

TIRESAug 2025

Tires are original equipment. Only 19,000 miles on them. Was told all 4 tires have belt shifts and hop some. Suggested they should be replaced. These tires were great when new but you could tell from driving they were degrading. I'm [XXX] and never had an issue with tires this new. The belt shifting could be a manufacturing issue or hitting to many potholes. I suspect it is a combination of the two. Tire size is 245/40R18. Looking at internet reviews, these tires are great but wear out very prematurely. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

POWER TRAINAug 2025

I am writing to report a persistent issue with my 2021 Audi A4, VIN [XXX] . I have been experiencing a noticeable vibration, humming, and shuddering sensation that occurs specifically when turning at slow speeds (e.g., in a parking lot or when making a tight turn at an intersection). This issue has been diagnosed at a dealership, and the diagnostic report from the service invoice dated 07/12/2025 noted "VIBRATION HUMMING SHUDDER WHILE TURNING." The vehicle's mileage at the time was 38,888 miles. Dealership diagnosed this issue as a failing AWD clutch system. I took the car to a different repair shop, and they redirected me to the Audi Technical Service Bulletin (TSB). The symptoms described in the TSB—"vibrations, humming, droning, or rubbing can be heard and/or felt in the vehicle interior... when the steering wheel is turned to full lock"—perfectly matches my experience. TSB Link - [XXX] The vehicle details are: Model: Audi A4 Year: 2021 VIN: [XXX] Current Mileage: 39490 Since this is an issue due to a sub-optimal part shipped by Audi, many other Audi owners are also facing similar issues. Therefore, I want to report this issue to the NHTSA and take action on cars sold by Audi. This issue divert driver attention and is a potential cause of accident while taking the turn as driver may get distracted. I already got my car serviced at Audi dealership but they didn't inform me about this issue while the car was under warranty. Now the car is out of warranty after Apr-2025, I'm facing this issue significantly and dealership is charging close to $5000 to fix the issue. Please let me know what information you require from me to proceed. I would like Audi to place a recall on the car models facing this issue and implement the fix for all owners facing the issue because of faulty part shipped by Audi of America. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAug 2025

The instrument cluster has failed per the recall 90VC. Audi issued the recall for every model made in 2021 with the exception of the A3 and A4 and I believe this was a mistake as my instrument cluster has the same failure.

Read 14 more owner reports
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAug 2025

I have a 2021 audi a4 that is also being affected by the instrument cluster failure/recall. My model , a4 was not included but I am experiencing the same failure and this was reported to the dealership. An online search will show just how many people have issues with the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster screen just went out while driving. I have to monitor my functions via the app on my phone. The dealer wants to charge me full price when every other model in 2021 has been recalled for the same issue. The A4 should be added to the instrument cluster recall for 2021 audi.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJun 2025

The main instrument cluster is not stable- it tries to start up then crashes. As a result, speedometer, rpm’s, gas tank gauge, etc are not available while driving. The screen displays blank with a red triangle, tries to start up then crashes again. This seems similar to Audi recall campaign 90VC, but for some reason the A4 was not included in the recall, but I’m having similar symptoms with my A4.

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEApr 2025

The vehicle at 13,xxx miles on the high ways, and during stop & go traffic; vehicle begins to tremble, transmission and floor shakes, rpms are higher than normal, abnormal noises coming from engine (screeching), jerking on acceleration on the first gears, rough idle, happens only on highways after 1hr of driving. Can drive over 40 min without any check engine light turning on. No codes come up, while clearly having issues. After a day of being off, car goes back to normal without those issues, just vibrations and pulsing on idle. -happens on Texas highways where vehicle begins to have trouble with acceleration and transmission shakes yet no check engine or error messages appear. -problem has been shown to one Audi dealer while happening and another Audi dealer was able to reproduce the problem. They even noted how vehicle will do all the issues noted above while not providing any error codes or messages. - vehicle has been inspected but all they do is reset software and hand back keys. While issues are still prevalent. - no warning, no over heat or any codes appear on the vehicle. Issues started at 13,xxx miles. Only on long highway or stop and go traffic does it happens

CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHERApr 2022

The reversing image occasionally appears white screen phenomenon During the process of reversing, the reversing screen suddenly turns white and cannot see anything behind, which brings danger to the driver and others, causing danger to life and property. Apparently the dealer didn't take this seriously

Crash 1 InjurySUSPENSION,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLNov 2021

The contact leased a 2021 Audi A4. The contact stated that the dealer had provided her with the vehicle rental while her vehicle was being repaired. 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. The vehicle crashed into the fence of steel and broke a portion of the wall. The air bags deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained two concussions and a heart attack. The contact sought medical assistance the next day and had been seeking medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and it was totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,347.

SUSPENSIONJul 2021

The contact owns a 2021 Audi A4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V295000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who stated that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

CrashAIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLMay 2021

The contact owned a 2021 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed through a parking lot, the vehicle independently accelerated and the brake pedal locked. The vehicle accelerated up a hill as the contact was unable to depress the brake pedal; he collided with an electric pole which caused the vehicle to stop. 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. The police and fire department arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent body shop. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had been destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000. The VIN was unavailable.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMDec 2023

Owner of 2019 A4 recently purchased from dealership after lease expired in Feb.2023. Currently with only 36,800 miles, took vehicle to inspect on Nov.24th and nothing but a front light replacement and suggestion of new tires in inspection video. The factory warranty due to expire the following week, Dec. 2nd 2023, and I was inquiring as to cost of extending warranty, but di not purchase, was waiting until after holidays. The following weekend, Tank Malfunction light turns on, from nowhere and displays zero gas on the dashboard. The previous night we filled tank with superior gas from the same gas station we use, nothing odd.. Call dealership next business day, they state the factory warranty expired and cannot cover anything. I call AUDI USA and they suggest that Audi dealership service inspect and they do and after inspecting the car conclude that I need a new fuel tank! A brand new car needs a gas tank! Service advisor states I have a faulty tank and it is because of ibad gas? What is bad gas? I mean really? I put the same gas as always, superior. I received no warning lights. The dealership's inspection from the previous week did not detect anything either. It is a safety concern to drive not knowing how much gas one has. I suspect the gas gauge has an issue. The sensor is in the fuel tank hence the suggestion to replace the whole tank at a cost of $3880! The dealership should assume responsibility for not detecting during inspection. Even though factory warranty expired within a week of incident, they should provide a grace period. AUDI USA must investigate. I AM REGRETTING MY AUDI PURCHASE!!! This sensor is faulty and is dangerous and I am not the only owner who has this problem occur. It is unacceptable that this car not perform as expected and gas tanks usually have a 20 year life span! I believe that 46,000 cars were recalled with gas gauge issues and although this car is not in that recall does not mean it can be defective.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEDec 2023

Vehicle was inspected at 50,000 miles by the dealer and report says that passenger side motor mount was leaking. They also said that the motor mount will deteriorate rapidly and will affect the safety of the vehicle.

1 InjuryFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCENov 2022

Audi Presense kicked in so violently on the 280E freeway towards NYC from Northern NJ, that my 15 y/o son now has a significant cervical spine injury, necessitating medical evaluation and treatment. The brakes were so abruptly applied by Presense that we thought we had been hit by a car, but had not been in an accident. This is very dangerous, and now my son is injured, despite no accident occurring.

AIR BAGSMay 2022

The front passenger airbag light goes on and off randomly whenever if there is someone sits at the front passenger seat. The problem is exactly same as described in Recall 21V874000. Audi A4 2019 is on the list of recall, but my car wasn't been recalled for no reason.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMay 2021

I am filing a complaint concerning my recent experience with the Audi service department located in San Rafael, California. On May 24, 2021 I brought my 2019 Audi A4 in for service due to an error message stating, "Front parking aid: malfunction! Obstacles cannot be detected". I purchased the car in December 2019 from the dealership in Burlingame, California. It was previously used as a loaner car, and to my knowledge the car was in original condition with no prior bodywork done on the vehicle. When my car was inspected by the dealership in San Rafael, they discovered the error message was the result of a faulty left center front parking aid where pinched wires were found from a previous bumper repair/ removal. I was told that this work required immediate attention, wasn't covered under warranty, and the total cost of repair was $784.29. I explained to the service advisor, Gene Frank, that the car had never been in a collision since I owned it, and Gene stated that this is a common problem with Audi cars and if he filed a claim with the company, it would be rejected. Gene argued that my car may have been hit in the front by another car on the street, and when I asked why the front of the car doesn't show damage, he explained it was due to the plastic coating on the outside of the surface. Based on the pictures taken by the service inspector and the reasoning for this damage, I argue that this damage was due to a faulty wire. The car is garage kept, has low mileage, has never been in a collision, and has never had body work performed on it. For all these reasons, I dispute the cause of this wire damage. I want Audi to take responsibility for this repair, recall this type of wiring, and refund me the total amount paid for repair.

STRUCTURESep 2026

Suspension subframe crossmember (Upper)(part number 8K0505235AQ) has severe rust Corrosion perforation, and is available for inspection. Fear of unsafe vehicle operation due to the Structural integrity being severely compromised rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate. The rusted subframe as been confirmed by an Audi dealer and an independent service center. The vehicle has been inspected by the Audi dealer and the independent service center. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the discovery of the subframe failure. The rusted subframe was first discovered on May 12, 2026 by the independent service center and later confirmed by the Audi dealer on May 15, 2026.

SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2026

Rear Suspension cross- member. Extensive corrosion hidden behind stone guard trapping dirt and moisture. I would not have known the rust was there if the stone guard had not come apart from the cross member I cannot trust the safety of this vehicle until it is repaired Audi requires a dealer inspection at the cost of the consumer. Audi Suspension cross member components are the same for many models. The Allroad should be included in the class action lawsuit.

Showing 20 of 295 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact AUDI A4

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used AUDI A4, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The AUDI A4 has 295 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The AUDI A4 has 14 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 9 of the AUDI A4's 295 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all AUDI A4 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two AUDI A4 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The AUDI A4 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

Compare

Buyers also compare

How does the AUDI A4 stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.

Toyota Camry reliability Ford F 150 reliability Chevrolet Silverado reliability
AUDI A4 vs Toyota CamryAUDI A4 vs Ford F 150AUDI A4 vs Chevrolet Silverado

Explore

Other AUDI models

Compare vs Honda Accord
AUDI A6AUDI Q5AUDI Q7AUDI Q3All AUDI Models

By state

Check a AUDI A4 by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used AUDI A4.

VIN check in CaliforniaVIN check in TexasVIN check in FloridaVIN check in New YorkVIN check in PennsylvaniaVIN check in IllinoisVIN check in OhioVIN check in GeorgiaFree VIN check

Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

All AUDI reliability statsSafest car brandsBest value carsMost accident-prone carsVIN check by stateAll vehicle stats

AUDI A4 reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the AUDI A4 reliable?

Poor. The AUDI A4 has 295 NHTSA owner complaints and 14 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which AUDI A4 years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2020 (127 complaints), 2017 (81 complaints), 2018 (42 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common AUDI A4 problems?

Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (128 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (100 complaints); BACK OVER PREVENTION (46 complaints).

Does the AUDI A4 have recalls?

Yes — 14 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the AUDI A4. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

VinSpectorAI

The world's most advanced AI-powered vehicle history platform. Comprehensive insights, fraud detection, and smart analysis for any vehicle.

5M+
Reports
50+
Brands
AI
Powered
Check Any VIN Free
Product
  • Free VIN Check
  • Free Recall Check
  • VIN Search
  • VIN Search by State
  • Vehicle Reliability Stats
  • AI Analysis
  • Pricing
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Affiliate Program
Support
  • FAQ
Legal
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

© 2026 VinSpectorAI. All rights reserved.

contact@vinspectorai.com
Made with for car enthusiasts
AUDI A4 Problems by Year, Recalls & Years to Avoid | VinSpectorAI