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2014 Audi A4 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
51%
36 of 70 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

51% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2014 Audi A4 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 68% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 47%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2014 Audi A4 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 36 of 70 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Audi A4 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%), and the largest group is filed under engine (27). For comparison, the 2013 scores 31% and the 2015 scores 70%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
36
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
76
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
1 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE27 · 36%
STEERING24 · 32%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM6 · 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6 · 8%
POWER TRAIN5 · 7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4 · 5%

The years either side

2010
87%
53 of 64
2011
82%
31 of 42
2012
80%
35 of 45
2013
31%
32 of 111
2014
51%
36 of 76
2015
70%
26 of 44
2016
57%
13 of 26
2017
50%
27 of 82
2018
30%
13 of 51
2019
too few complaints
2020
1%
1 of 157
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other luxury sedans with no elevated signal in 2014

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,VISIBILITY/WIPER08/28/2026
I am reporting severe vehicle safety defects and merchant safety non-compliance regarding a 2014 Audi A4. The vehicle was financed with severe, undisclosed engine defects, specifically extreme oil consumption and catastrophic coolant leaks. When I requested warranty repairs, a dealership representative named Stephen ex…
ENGINE11/19/2025
The timing chain and tensioner in my 2014 Audi A4 Quattro (VIN: [XXX] ) failed without warning, causing the engine to suddenly stall and become inoperable while in motion. This presented a serious safety hazard. Although my vehicle is slightly outside the settlement mileage and time limit, timing chains are considered…
ENGINE01/30/2025
Hi My name is [XXX] and I have an 2014 Audi A4 that has been consuming to much oil ever since I bought it . I see the vehicles contained defective pistons that caused excessive oil consumption. Can you please help with this ? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Three of 36 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Before you buy a 2014 Audi A4

Questions people ask about the 2014 Audi A4

Does the 2014 Audi A4 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 36 of 70 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Audi A4 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2014 Audi A4?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2014 Audi A4.

Which Audi A4 years are better?

Among the Audi A4 years we track, the 2020 (1%), the 2018 (30%) and the 2013 (31%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (51%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2014 Audi A4?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2014 Audi A4 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.