Audi A4 2009–2016
4th generation (B8, Typ 8K)
NHTSA data through 12 August 2026375 complaints, 217 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,000 and 100,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 10%
- 3,413
- 25%
- 40,000
- Median
- 77,800
- 75%
- 100,000
- 90%
- 127,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20,000 | 34 | 15.7% |
| 20,000–40,000 | 20 | 9.2% |
| 40,000–60,000 | 30 | 13.8% |
| 60,000–80,000 | 31 | 14.3% |
| 80,000–100,000 | 43 | 19.8% |
| 100,000–120,000 | 33 | 15.2% |
| 120,000–140,000 | 14 | 6.5% |
| 140,000–160,000 | 11 | 5.1% |
| 160,000–180,000 | 1 | 0.5% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 375 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009–2016 Audi A4, and 217 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,000 and 100,000 miles. The median is 77,800 miles.
The most-reported areas are the engine (36.3% of complaints, typically around 94,000 miles), the steering (10.9% of complaints, typically around 61,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (6.4% of complaints, typically around 56,000 miles).
2 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine94,000median 93,710 miles, middle half 68,000 to 112,000
- Steering61,000median 61,415 miles, middle half 28,000 to 89,000
- Transmission and driveline56,000median 56,500 miles, middle half 3,500 to 80,000
- Fuel and propulsion system86,000median 86,000 miles, middle half 46,000 to 104,000
- Engine and its cooling system24,000median 23,500 miles, middle half 5,000 to 72,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 136 | 36.3% | 94,000 | 68,000–112,000 |
| Steering | 41 | 10.9% | 61,000 | 28,000–89,000 |
| Airbag system | 36 | 9.6% | — | — |
| Transmission and driveline | 24 | 6.4% | 56,000 | 3,500–80,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 23 | 6.1% | 86,000 | 46,000–104,000 |
| Electrical system | 19 | 5.1% | — | — |
| Engine and its cooling system | 17 | 4.5% | 24,000 | 5,000–72,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 16 | 4.3% | — | — |
| Suspension | 9 | 2.4% | — | — |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 2.4% | — | — |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 77,800 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 36.3% of complaints (136 reports, 82 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 93,710 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 68,000 and 112,000 miles.
A single system taking 36.3% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The steering accounts for 10.9% of complaints (41 reports, 29 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 61,415 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 88,540 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 6.4% of complaints (24 reports, 15 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,413 and 80,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 6.1% of complaints (23 reports, 17 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,607 and 103,700 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 4.5% of complaints (17 reports, 15 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 23,500 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,800 and 72,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2009 model year drew the most — 150 complaints — while 2012 drew the fewest at 23. The median year sits at 33.
That makes 2009 an outlier: roughly 4.5 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 2 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 375 complaints filed against this generation, 9 reported a crash; 11 reported a fire; 6 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 2.4% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with a median of 77,800. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and the steering are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The steering in particular shows a median failure mileage of 61,415, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine — Excessive Oil Consumption (piston Rings) 2009–2012 (2.0T); corrected on the Gen3 engine from 2013
The early EA888 2.0T uses a piston design with 21 mm wrist pins and a ring pack that fails to control oil, producing consumption reported at over one quart per 1,000 miles. Audi initially replaced pistons and rings under warranty, later offering a revised crankcase breather element plus software. Subject of a class action settlement; the revised piston/ring kit is the durable fix.
Engine — Timing Chain Tensioner 2009–2013 (2.0T)
The hydraulic timing chain tensioner is poorly designed and commonly fails shortly after the warranty period, allowing the chain to go slack and jump a tooth on the camshaft, causing valve-to-piston contact and engine failure. Subject of a US class action filed by plaintiffs across 17 states; Audi revised the tensioner design.
Cooling — Water Pump / Thermostat Housing 2009–2016
The plastic water pump and integrated thermostat housing crack and leak coolant, a routine failure on this engine family.
Engine — Intake Valve Carbon Deposits 2009–2016
Carbon accumulation on the intake valves of the direct-injected 2.0T causing misfires, rough idle and lost power.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 150 | 90 |
| 2010 | 77 | 61 |
| 2011 | 17 | 10 |
| 2012 | 23 | 13 |
| 2013 | 28 | 17 |
| 2014 | 38 | 15 |
| 2015 | 24 | 7 |
| 2016 | 18 | 4 |
Recalls (2)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 17V032000 | 2018-03-30 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V376000 | 2016-10-31 | Air Bags |
What owners reported
New car purchase 2009, wheel shimmy noticed in first few days. I asked two other people to drive the car and no one ever felt the shake. I decided to wait until the first check in at 5k, of course the shimmy was more noticeable. The diagnosis is the control arms are faulty and redesigned parts are due to be installed…
2009 · 50 miles · Body structure
This Audi was a lemon from the start and botched repairs at the dealer have only made it worse. One the 2nd day we owned the car the oil light came on and we had to return it to the dealer for more oil. Over the next 2 years the car burned an excessive amount of oil starting at 1 qrt every 2500 miles and…
2009 · 100 miles · Engine and its cooling system
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Audi a4. The contact stated that there was a loud, groaning noise from the power steering. The vehicle was also difficult to turn at slow speeds, especially when trying to park. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the failure was caused by…
2009 · 300 miles · Steering
The wiper blades on 2009+ model year Audi a4 have a channel on the top surface that collects liquid/icy slush and in freezing conditions that liquid freezes making the blade rigid and incapable of clearing the glass resulting in zero visibility. Further, Audi is using a proprietary wiper blade mount which means that…
2009 · 500 miles · Visibility equipment
Built from 217 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page