AUDI RS 4 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used AUDI RS 4 options? We analyzed 2 model years (2007–2008) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Free VIN check
Found a AUDI RS 4? 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
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the AUDI RS 4 has 4 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls across model years 2007–2008. The most reported issue area is SUSPENSION. 2007 drew the most complaints; 2008 drew the fewest.
- Make
- AUDI
- Model
- RS 4
- Model years analyzed
- 2007–2008 (2 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 4
- Safety recall campaigns
- 5
- Crash-related complaints
- 0
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2007 (4 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2008 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- SUSPENSION
- Reliability signal
- Excellent
By model year
AUDI RS 4: 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.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP 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.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
ExcellentThe AUDI RS 4 has 4 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 4 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 5 federal recall campaigns
- No crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- 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
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
5 recalls foundSafety 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2007–2008. 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 4 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
4 totalThese 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.
I'M BEING TOLD BY AUDI THAT THERE WILL NEVER BE A FIX FOR THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE LIMITED EDITION OF THIS VEHICLE. WE OWE $32,000 ON THIS STILL, SO THIS ISN'T FAIR! WE NEED COMPENSATION AND CAN'T USE THIS TO DRIVE AS A FAMILY VEHICLE, OR A WORK VEHICLE! THE TAKATA AIRBAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND EVEN IF THEY WERE, AUDI SAID THEY AREN'T REPLACING THEM AT OUR DEALER. AUDI CORPORATE DOESN'T RETURN OUR PHONE CALLS.
SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING TO LEAKING SHOCK ABSORBER. PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGED BY AUDI AS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOCKS REPLACED UNDER THEIR CAMPAIGN, "43A9 DYNAMIC RIDE CONTROL SUSPENSION SERVICE". AFTER NEW SHOCKS THE CAR DOES NOT TRACK CENTER, PULLING TO RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ERRATIC SWAYING/SHIMMYING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT. STEERING AND SUSPENSION FEELS LOOSE AND NERVOUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; CAUSING FREQUENT LANE EXCURSIONS. AUDI DENIES ANY DEFECT IN "IMPROVED SHOCKS" OR IN REPLACEMENT PROCESS (IE NO SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT INCLUDED). AUDI PROPOSES THAT THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR AN ALIGNMENT JOB OUT-OF-POCKET. *TR
IT STARTED ABOUT EIGHT THOUSAND MILES WHERE I NOTICED A LITTLE HESITATION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ONE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER FELT HESITATION AGAIN AND LOSS OF POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TWO IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER FELT HESITATION AGAIN BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER ABOUT SEVEN TIMES OR MORE TO TELL THEM WHAT I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH THE CAR,BUT THEY ALWAYS TELL ME THE CAR IS FINE. I REPLACED ALL IGNITION COILS AND IT RAN A LITTLE BETTER FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I DO HAVE THE OLD IGNITION COILS. I THEN RECEIVED A VOLUNTARY RECALL LETTER SAYING THAT MY CAR COULD HAVE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS. MEAN WHILE MY CAR HAS GOTTEN WORSE. ACCELERATING THE CAR IS REALLY BAD. THERE IS NO POWER,THERE IS A LOT OF KNOCKING AND PINGING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. SHIFTING IS HARSH AND NOT SMOOTH BECAUSE CANNOT ACCELERATE. WHEN I LET GO OF THE GAS,LIKE WHEN I SHIFT GEARS, THE CAR LOSES ITS SPEED VERY QUICKLY. IT FEELS LIKE I'M PUSHING THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. PEOPLE DRIVING BEHIND ME STAY REALLY FAR BACK BECAUSE OF HOW FAST MY CAR DECELERATES. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE IGNITION COIL RECALL BUT THEY SAID THEY ARE UP TO DATE, PROBABLY BECAUSE I ALREADY CHANGED THEM THINKING IT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET IT CHECKED FOR THE NO POWER/PERFORMANCE PROBLEM, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FINE AND THAT IT RUNS TO DESIGN. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I TOOK IT IN I CONNECTED A SCANNER TO THE CAR AND RETRIEVED TWO DIAGNOSTIC CODES WITH OUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. I THINK THESE CODES COULD BE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DO WITH LOW VOLTAGE. I TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THE CODES BUT THEY CAN'T FIX IT IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR. *TR
ALL SUSPENSION LEAKING OIL AND HAS A BAD CLUNKING NOISE. AUDI OF AMERICA CALLS IT ( SWEATING ). AND SAY ITS NORMAL. AND WOULD NOT REPLACE UNTIL COMPLETELY BROKEN.VEHICLE FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART. *TR
Showing 4 of 4 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact AUDI RS 4
These pages show model-year patterns across 2 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 RS 4, in plain English.
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 RS 4 has 4 complaints on record across 2 model years.
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 RS 4 has 5 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 0 of the AUDI RS 4's 4 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.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Excellent) 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.
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.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all AUDI RS 4 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two AUDI RS 4 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.
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 RS 4 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 RS 4 stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a AUDI RS 4 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 RS 4.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
AUDI RS 4 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the AUDI RS 4 reliable?
Excellent. The AUDI RS 4 has 4 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is SUSPENSION. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which AUDI RS 4 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2007 (4 complaints), 2008 (0 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 RS 4 problems?
Top reported issues: SUSPENSION (2 complaints); AIR BAGS (1 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints).
Does the AUDI RS 4 have recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the AUDI RS 4. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.