The most-documented Audi A4 problems are 2.0 TFSI oil consumption on 2009–2011 cars (TSB 2027731 and the Asghari settlement), EA888 timing chain failures on 2009–2015 cars, the 2.0T electric coolant pump fire recalls 17V002/18V229 and the auxiliary-heater wiring recall 17V622. B9 cars have passenger airbag-sensor recall 21V874.
CarWhere lists 12 documented A4 issues, including 7 NHTSA safety recalls, each with affected years, powertrains, symptoms, pre-purchase checks and a source.
A4 generations at a glance
Audi A4 generations and the known issues listed for each
Audi bulletin TSB 2027731 covers high oil consumption on 2009–2011 A4 (plus 2010–2011 A5 and 2011 Q5) with the 2.0L TFSI. Audi says internal crankcase pressure can raise oil use, especially in stop-and-go driving with long idles; the fix is a new crankcase pressure-regulating valve, a new front crankshaft seal and engine software, and crankcase pressure was reduced in production from model year 2012. A federal class settlement (Asghari v. Volkswagen) covered the same CAEB-engine cars and received final judgment on May 29, 2015.
Symptoms
Low-oil warning between oil changes
Having to add oil regularly
Blue smoke on start-up (in severe cases)
Check before buying
Check the oil level on the dipstick or MMI before buying
Ask for records showing TSB 2027731 parts (PCV valve, crankshaft seal, software) were installed
Two class settlements in New Jersey federal court alleged the EA888 2.0 TFSI timing chain system can fail early. Timing Chain I covered 2009–2012 A4 along with other EA888 Audis; Timing Chain II covered 2012–2015 A4, A5 and Q5. Both reimburse qualifying repairs and extend coverage for timing chain or tensioner failure to 10 years or 100,000 miles from the in-service date, subject to claim rules. A failed tensioner can let the chain jump and damage the engine.
Symptoms
Rattle from the engine for a few seconds after a cold start
Check-engine light with cam/crank correlation codes
Engine will not start or stalls if the chain has skipped
Check before buying
Listen to a true cold start for chain rattle
Ask whether the timing chain tensioner has been replaced with the updated part, and for the receipt
Scan for stored camshaft/crankshaft correlation codes
Audi bulletin TSB 2033491 covers coolant leaking from the engine area on 2009–2013 A4, A5, A5 Cabriolet, Q5 and A6 with the 2.0 TFSI. The leak is traced to the connection between the water pump and the hose to the heater core, and Audi notes the seal ring itself is not the cause.
Symptoms
Coolant drips under the front of the car
Coolant warning lamp
Check before buying
Look for crusted coolant around the water pump and heater hose
S4 fuel injection system can leak (recall 15V019) (2011–2012)
Safety recall
Generation:
B8 (2009–2012)
Years:
2011–2012
Powertrain:
S4 (see recall for engine applicability)
Volkswagen recalled 2011–2012 S4 (along with S5, Q7, 2012 A6 and 2012–2013 A7) because the fuel injection system may leak, creating a fire risk near an ignition source. Dealers replace the fuel rails and seals free of charge.
Symptoms
Fuel smell from the engine bay
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Audi recalled 2013–2016 A4 sedan and allroad (with the 2013–2017 A5 and Q5 and 2012–2015 A6) with the 2.0 TFSI because the electric coolant (after-run) pump can be blocked by debris or short-circuit from moisture, overheat and raise the risk of a fire. Recall 17V002 first added software that cuts power to a blocked pump; recall 18V229 then replaced the pumps free of charge.
Symptoms
Coolant-temperature or coolant-system warning
Fan or pump running after shutdown
Burning smell from the engine bay
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Confirm both 17V002 (software) and 18V229 (pump replacement) are closed
Auxiliary heater connector can overheat (recall 17V622) (2013–2016)
Safety recall
Generation:
B8.5 (2013–2016)
Years:
2013–2016
Powertrain:
All
Contact corrosion in the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater on 2013–2016 A4 sedans and allroads (plus A5 and Q5) can make the heater wires overheat or melt, increasing the risk of fire. Dealers replace the auxiliary heater and update software as needed.
Symptoms
Burning smell from the dashboard area
Heater not working
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Front airbags may not fire on a second impact (recall 14V667) (2013–2015)
Safety recall
Generation:
B8.5 (2013–2016)
Years:
2013–2015
Powertrain:
All
An airbag control-module algorithm on 2013–2015 A4, S4 and allroad models built February 2012–October 2014 may not command the front airbags to deploy if a side impact is followed by a frontal impact. Dealers update the airbag control unit software.
Symptoms
No symptoms before a crash
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Passenger airbag can be disabled by a seat-heater cable fault (recall 21V874) (2017–2020)
Safety recall
Generation:
B9 (2017–2025)
Years:
2017–2020
Powertrain:
All
A contact fault in the cable joining the seat heater to the passenger occupant detection system on 2017–2020 A4 sedans and allroads (and S4, A5, S5, RS 5) can make the software disable the passenger airbag. Dealers replace the cable and the heating mat or seat cover. It expands an earlier campaign, 19V547, which added cable ties for the same symptom.
Symptoms
Passenger airbag-off light lit with an adult seated
Airbag warning light
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Door speaker trim can come loose with sharp edges (recall 17V675) (2017–2018)
Safety recall
Generation:
B9 (2017–2025)
Years:
2017–2018
Powertrain:
All
The aluminum trim around the front and rear door speakers on 2017–2018 A4 sedans and allroads can come loose and leave sharp edges exposed. Dealers replace the trim.
Symptoms
Loose or lifted speaker trim on the door panels
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Apple CarPlay won’t start or MMI goes blank (2017 bulletin) (2017)
Minor
Generation:
B9 (2017–2025)
Years:
2017
Powertrain:
All (MIB2 High Scale infotainment)
Audi bulletin TSB 2050569 covers 2017 A3, A4, A5 and Q5 with the MIB2 High Scale system (PR code 7UH) built after week 22 of 2016. A known software issue can turn the MMI screen black when Apple CarPlay starts or stop CarPlay from launching; a software update fixes it.
Symptoms
MMI screen goes black when an iPhone is plugged in
CarPlay will not launch
Check before buying
Plug in an iPhone on the test drive and confirm CarPlay launches
Ask whether the MMI software was updated under TSB 2050569
The lock nut on the rear-axle trailing arm of many 2020–2021 Audis, including the A4 sedan and allroad and S4, can break from stress corrosion and misalign the rear axle. Recall 21V295 replaced the nuts; follow-up recall 22V034 covers cars whose rear alignment was not checked after that repair.
Symptoms
Car pulls or tracks oddly
Uneven rear tire wear
Check before buying
Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
Ask an Audi dealer for the repair order showing the recall work
Audi bulletin TSB 2070349 covers coolant loss traced to the coolant pump on V6 TFSI engines, listing the 2018–2024 S4 and S5 along with other V6 TFSI Audis. The revision notes that in some cases a P0299 underboost code is logged because coolant from the leaking pump contaminates a switch valve. Outside warranty the bulletin is informational only.
Symptoms
Coolant warning lamp
Coolant level dropping with no obvious puddle
Check-engine light, sometimes with an underboost code
Check before buying
Check the coolant reservoir level cold
Ask for records of any coolant-pump replacement
Have a pre-purchase inspection pressure-test the cooling system
Owners filed 1,080 complaints about the Audi A4 with NHTSA for the model years below, the most for the 2020 model year (175). The components cited most often are engine, electrical system and unknown or other. Counts are raw filings, not rates: newer and higher-volume years naturally collect more, and a complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.
NHTSA owner complaints for the Audi A4 by model year (all US body styles and S/RS variants, de-duplicated by NHTSA complaint number), as of November 2026
Model year
Complaints
Crash or fire reported
Injury reported
Safety-critical component
2025
1
1
0
1
2024
6
0
0
3
2023
11
1
1
5
2022
8
0
0
4
2021
15
3
1
6
2020
175
1
0
3
2019
10
0
1
7
2018
59
4
1
24
2017
84
4
2
38
2016
26
2
0
17
2015
45
4
4
35
2014
93
4
0
75
2013
144
8
4
124
2012
67
4
1
59
2011
68
2
1
60
2010
124
2
0
115
2009
144
9
2
75
Most-cited components across these years: Engine (265) · Electrical system (223) · Unknown or other (169) · Power train (152) · Steering (146) · Air bags (110). A complaint can name more than one component.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints database, queried by CarWhere for every NHTSA model name filed for this nameplate (A4, A4 ALLROAD, A4 AVANT, A4 CABRIOLET, AUDI A4, AUDI A4 ALLROAD, AUDI S4, S4). “Safety-critical component” counts complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or death, or name the engine, power train, steering, service brakes or fuel system.
Related A4 research
This page explains specific mechanical issues and recalls. Which model years drew the most owner complaints relative to the rest of the model’s history is answered in the years-to-avoid research where CarWhere publishes it.
Engine, transmission and packages decide which of these issues apply. The CarWhere Audi build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.
What years of the Audi A4 have oil consumption problems?
Audi’s bulletin TSB 2027731 covers 2009–2011 A4s with the 2.0L TFSI (engine code CAEB). The Asghari class settlement covered the same cars. Audi reduced crankcase pressure in production starting with model year 2012.
Does the Audi A4 have a timing chain problem?
Two class settlements cover the EA888 2.0 TFSI: Timing Chain I for 2009–2012 A4s and Timing Chain II for 2012–2015 A4s. Both extend coverage for timing chain or tensioner failure to 10 years or 100,000 miles from the in-service date.
What is the Audi A4 coolant pump recall?
Recalls 17V002 and 18V229 cover 2013–2016 A4 sedans and allroads with the 2.0 TFSI. The electric coolant pump can be blocked by debris or short from moisture and overheat, which raises the risk of fire. Dealers updated software and then replaced the pumps.
Are there airbag recalls on the B9 Audi A4?
Yes. 19V547 and 21V874 cover 2017–2020 A4 sedans and allroads whose passenger occupant-sensor wiring can disable the passenger airbag. 14V667 covers 2013–2015 B8.5 cars whose front airbags might not fire after a side impact.
How do I check a used Audi A4 for open recalls?
Enter the 17-digit VIN in NHTSA’s recall lookup or have an Audi dealer run it. Recall repairs are free regardless of mileage or owner, and the dealer can print the completed-campaign history.
Sources
Issue descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the sources below. Repair costs are shown only where a source states them and vary by shop and region.
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by AUDI AG or Audi of America. Audi, quattro, TFSI, S tronic, e-tron and the model names are trademarks of their owners.