Audi A4: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Audi A4 problems by model year, from 725 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2010 (87%, 53 drivetrain complaints), 2011 (82%, 31 drivetrain complaints) and 2012 (80%, 35 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 10 Audi A4 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 4 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2020 (1%), 2018 (30%) and 2013 (31%). 2018 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2012 (80%) to 2013 (31%), down 49 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2010 drew the most drivetrain complaints (53 of 267 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Audi A4 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 A4 | very high | 87% | 53 | 64 | 1/10 | 0 |
| 2011 A4 | very high | 82% | 31 | 42 | 2/10 | 0 |
| 2012 A4 | very high | 80% | 35 | 45 | 3/10 | 0 |
| 2013 A4 | no elevated signal | 31% | 32 | 111 | 8/10 | 0 |
| 2014 A4 | high | 51% | 36 | 76 | 6/10 | 0 |
| 2015 A4 | very high | 70% | 26 | 44 | 4/10 | 0 |
| 2016 A4 | high | 57% | 13 | 26 | 5/10 | 0 |
| 2017 A4 | high | 50% | 27 | 82 | 7/10 | 1 |
| 2018 A4 | no elevated signal | 30% | 13 | 51 | 9/10 | 4 |
| 2019 A4 | too few to score | – | 3 | 8 | – | 1 |
| 2020 A4 | no elevated signal | 1% | 1 | 157 | 10/10 | 3 |
| 2021 A4 | too few to score | – | 2 | 12 | – | 4 |
| 2022 A4 | too few to score | – | 3 | 6 | – | 3 |
| 2023 A4 | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Audi A4 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Audi A4 recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns across the Audi A4 years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
6 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2017 | 17V675000 | structure: body: door: hinge and attachments | 2018 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V836000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2018 |
| Jul 2019 | 19V547000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2018 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V295000 | suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly | 2020 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V874000 | seats | 2017, 2018, 2020 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V034000 | tires | 2020 |
What the free pages leave out on the Audi A4
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Audi A4
What are the worst years for the Audi A4?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Audi A4 years are the 2010 (87% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2011 (82% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2012 (80% of relevant complaints, very high). 7 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Audi A4?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Audi A4 years are the 2020 (1%), the 2018 (30%) and the 2013 (31%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Audi A4 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 267 of 640 relevant NHTSA complaints (42%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Is the Audi A4 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 10 Audi A4 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 42% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Audi A4?
No. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns across the Audi A4 years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.