2018 Audi A4 Reliability
The 2018 Audi A4 has 52 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and electrical system. Compared with nearby A4 model years (2016–2020), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the A4's typical year, while the 2020 drew 158 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
52
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2018 Audi A4 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 model year, filed between 2018 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 20 | 38% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 37% |
| Body structure | 7 | 13% |
| Air bags | 7 | 13% |
| Engine | 6 | 12% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 6 | 12% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 5 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 10% |
2018 Audi A4 recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2018 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17V675000 | Oct 25, 2017 | Body structure — body / door / hinge and attachments | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed. |
| 18V836000 | Nov 27, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air… |
| 19V547000 | Jul 24, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger… |
| 21V874000 | Nov 10, 2021 | Seats | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable… |
How the 2018 compares with nearby A4 years
Verdicts compare these A4 model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 26 | 0 | Engine | Better year |
| 2017 | 84 | 1 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2018 (this page) | 52 | 4 | Unknown or other | Solid |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | Electrical system | Too few reports |
| 2020 | 158 | 3 | Electrical system | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2018 Audi A4
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2018 Audi A4 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2018 Audi A4 reliability FAQ
Is the 2018 Audi A4 reliable?
The 2018 Audi A4 has 52 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and electrical system. Compared with nearby A4 model years (2016–2020), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the A4's typical year, while the 2020 drew 158 complaints.
What are the most common 2018 Audi A4 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Audi A4 are unknown or other (20), electrical system (19), body structure (7), air bags (7). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2018 Audi A4 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Audi A4, including 17V675000 (body structure — body / door / hinge and attachments) and 18V836000 (air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2018 Audi A4 compare with the 2017 and 2019 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2017 has 84 complaints and 1 recall (solid); the 2019 has 8 complaints and 1 recall (too few reports). The 2018 has 52 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2018 Audi A4?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Audi A4 research
Other Audi A4 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2018 A4, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.