Audi A4 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 7 model years (2018–2024), NHTSA has logged 251 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls for the Audi A4. That averages 5.6 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.13 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Luxury sedans segment it ranks #4 of 6 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 5.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across seven model years from 2018 to 2024, NHTSA has logged 251 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls for the Audi A4, averaging 5.6 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical at an index of 0.13 against all tracked vehicles. While the 2020 model year shows the highest rate with 23.5 complaints per year and sits at least 50% above the model's own average, the 2019 model year has the lowest rate at 1.0 complaint per year. The most common problem area is Electrical accounting for 58.6% of complaints, where these issues are 3.7 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles, with recurring terms including "mmi", "reboots", "camera", "backup" and "navigation". Owners report 4 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, though the complaint pace is falling with 32 filed in the last 12 months versus 163 in the previous year.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 50% above the 2018 and 2019 models (5 early complaints per model year versus 4).
The 2020 model year has the highest rate (23.5 complaints per year) and the 2019 model year the lowest (1.0). The 2020 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. Model years 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (58.6% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (16.7%) and Engine (7.6%). Electrical complaints are 3.7 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “mmi”, “reboots”, “camera”, “backup” and “navigation”. 9 complaints (3.6%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 4 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 32 complaints versus 163 in the previous 12 months — the pace is falling. The 2018 model year generated the most recent reports (19). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 63 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2021 (4). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Lexus ES, BMW 5 Series and BMW 3 Series; Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Mercedes-Benz C-Class have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 51 | 5.9 | 0.14 | 8 | 0.09 | 19 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 Fewest complaints | 8 | 1.0 | 0.02 | 1 | 0.01 | 0 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 Years to research carefully | 157 | 23.5 | 0.56 | 0 | 0.0 | 6 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 12 | 2.1 | 0.05 | 4 | 0.07 | 1 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 6 | 1.3 | 0.03 | 3 | 0.04 | 3 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 11 | 3.0 | 0.07 | 5 | 0.06 | 3 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2024 | 6 | 2.2 | 0.05 | 6 | 0.09 | 0 | 0 | Engine | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 32 · Previous 12 months: 163 Falling
Problem areas
Interior & equipment ›
42 · 16.7% · 1.87 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- mmi29
- reboots14
- camera16
- rebooting7
Engine
19 · 7.6% · 0.34 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- component available3
- water pump3
- leaving4
- overheating3
Airbags & seat belts
11 · 4.4% · 1.15 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- air7
- bags5
- recall7
- passenger4
Wheels, tires & suspension
9 · 3.6% · 1.44 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tire5
- information4
- act foia3
- pursuant freedom3
Brakes
6 · 2.4% · 0.39 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
6 · 2.4% · 0.42 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Transmission / powertrain
4 · 1.6% · 0.14 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure
2 · 0.8% · 0.09 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
2 · 0.8% · 0.12 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
2 · 0.8% · 0.44 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
1 · 0.4% · 0.09 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- mmi135
- reboots71
- camera100
- backup64
- navigation61
- user36
- rebooting29
- screen69
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 63 months
What owners report
While driving southbound on [XXX] near [XXX] in Mississippi, the advanced driver-assistance systems (lane assist and radar) did not operate as designed.
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.
My 2020 Audi A4 has an open safety recall campaign. Audi Corporate and my local dealership are formally refusing to perform the recall remedy unless I pay over $2,000 out-of-pocket to replace a broken J949 SOS Telematics Module.
The contact owns a 2020 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message SOS module no longer connected was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle failed to shut off.
The contact owns a 2020 Audi A4. The contact stated that the emergency-call/communication system was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under TSB: 91-20-29; however, the software update was unsuccessful due to the module.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Luxury sedans
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexus ES | 137 | 3.4 | 0.08 | Stable | Falling | 4 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 2 | BMW 5 Series | 184 | 4.0 | 0.09 | Improving | Steady | 1 | Airbags & seat belts |
| 3 | BMW 3 Series | 219 | 4.6 | 0.11 | Stable | Rising | 1 | Engine |
| 4 | Audi A4 | 251 | 5.6 | 0.13 | Worsening | Falling | 12 | Electrical |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 230 | 5.9 | 0.14 | Stable | Steady | 0 | Electrical |
| 6 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 331 | 7.5 | 0.18 | Improving | Steady | 0 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 12
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (4) · 2019 (1) · 2020 (3) · 2021 (4) · 2022 (3) · 2023 (1) · 2024 (0)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Audi A4 model year has the most complaints?
The 2020 model year has the highest rate (23.5 complaints per year) and the 2019 model year the lowest (1.0).
Is the Audi A4 getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 50% above the 2018 and 2019 models (5 early complaints per model year versus 4). In the last 12 months owners filed 32 complaints versus 163 in the previous 12 months — the pace is falling.
What are the most common Audi A4 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (58.6% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (16.7%) and Engine (7.6%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “mmi”, “reboots”, “camera”, “backup” and “navigation”.
How does the Audi A4 compare with other Luxury sedans?
Within the Luxury sedans segment it ranks #4 of 6 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 5.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Lexus ES, BMW 5 Series and BMW 3 Series; Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Mercedes-Benz C-Class have more.
Does the Audi A4 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 12 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2021 (4). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.