Audi A4 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 251 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Audi A4 across 24 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (44). The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (22% of reports).
- 251engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $7,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 55 of 251 complaints (22%)
- Timing chain: mentioned in 28 of 251 complaints (11%)
- Class action: mentioned in 18 of 251 complaints (7%)
- Piston rings: mentioned in 14 of 251 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Audi A4 at $7,000, and half of them between $2,750 and $9,250.
Based on 25 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 148 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 251 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 9 a fire.
Audi A4 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 A4 | 1 | 50% | — |
| 2023 A4 | 3 | 30% | — |
| 2022 A4 | 2 | 33% | — |
| 2021 A4 | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2019 A4 | 2 | 20% | — |
| 2018 A4 | 5 | 11% | 14,000 |
| 2017 A4 | 22 | 40% | 28,000 |
| 2016 A4 | 7 | 64% | 47,000 |
| 2015 A4 | 10 | 53% | 60,000 |
| 2014 A4 | 13 | 41% | 97,000 |
| 2013 A4 | 6 | 25% | 102,500 |
| 2012 A4 | 13 | 68% | 118,500 |
| 2011 A4 | 7 | 64% | 111,000 |
| 2010 A4 | 37 | 58% | 101,000 |
| 2009 A4 | 44 | 37% | 84,000 |
| 2008 A4 | 13 | 7% | 61,087 |
| 2007 A4 | 17 | 9% | 78,227 |
| 2006 A4 | 15 | 5% | 90,438 |
| 2005 A4 | 10 | 5% | 130,000 |
| 2004 A4 | 7 | 4% | 109,750 |
| 2003 A4 | 7 | 3% | 129,000 |
| 2002 A4 | 5 | 3% | 150,000 |
| 2001 A4 | 2 | 2% | 101,756 |
| 1998 A4 | 2 | 1% | 158,238 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ecm)
Model years: 2022
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022 Audi A6 Sedan, A4 Sedan, Q5, and Q5 Sportback vehicles. The semiconductor inside the engine control unit may short-circuit and cause an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine control unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 24iH.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system
Model years: 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the engine backfires during a cold-start, an air screen which is loosely seated in the air flow meter can become damaged.
Risk: Screen pieces could enter the intake air flow system and prevent the throttle plate from returning to its full idle position.
Fix: Dealers will install a retaining ring to hold the air screen in place.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
my initial water pump from Audi was replaced via recall. then I recently changed the thermostat hose and my water pump started leaking again. can you please look into these faulty water pumps?
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…
Oil consumption is extremely high this vehicle burns way to much oil in short amount of time. Oil has to be added every 300 to 400 miles and there are no leaks present
The engine oil level has been gradually dropping and has required monitoring and/or adding oil between normal service intervals. The exact source is unknown. It may involve abnormal oil consumption, an external oil leak, internal engine oil consumption, PCV/oil separator issue, turbo-related oil…
The vehicle displayed a low coolant warning and the coolant reservoir was low. Audi dealer service records dated on or about 02/14/2025 document the concern as: âclient states low coolant warning was on, coolant reservoir is low, diagnose and advise.â The dealer performed coolant-related work…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Audi A4s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 251 owner complaints about engine for the Audi A4. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Audi A4 engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Audi A4?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,000 (half paid between $2,750 and $9,250), from 25 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Audi A4?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 55 of 251 complaints, followed by “timing chain” (28).
Other Audi A4 problems
See all Audi A4 problems.