Recall Register

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Audi A4

Model years 1995–2022 · 27 recall campaigns · 2,417 complaints · 7 investigations · filed by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

The Audi A4 appears on NHTSA's register for model years 1995 to 2022: 27 recall campaigns (56 model-year entries) and 2,417 consumer complaints.

The component named most often in complaints is air bags (155.2 per 1,000 component mentions), followed by exterior lighting (122.5).

The 2006 model year has the most complaints (288). Recall campaigns peaked in 2021 with 5; complaints were received in the largest number in 2010 (247). Within Audi, this line ranks 1 of 61 by total complaints.

Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Model years

Model yearRecallsComplaintsvs line averageUnits in campaigns
1995 Audi A4 NHTSA record111%39,300
1996 Audi A448981%99,494
1997 Audi A469889%212,551
1998 Audi A44254231%188,445
1999 Audi A44190173%329,878
2000 Audi A429486%169,669
2001 Audi A41128117%62,812
2002 Audi A41179163%62,812
2003 Audi A43200182%118,323
2004 Audi A42181165%204,418
2005 Audi A43209190%465,821
2006 Audi A43288262%465,821
2007 Audi A43183167%465,821
2008 Audi A44163148%474,202
2009 Audi A42113103%41,802
2010 Audi A404743%—
2017 Audi A4 NHTSA record100%208,332
2018 Audi A4 NHTSA record100%208,332
2019 Audi A4 NHTSA record100%208,332
2020 Audi A4300%280,383
2021 Audi A4400%287,843
2022 Audi A4300%9,005

"vs line average" is the model year's complaints as a share of the line's average per model year (100% = average). A campaign covering several model years counts once per year. Model years with one campaign and fewer than 25 complaints are listed but have no page of their own; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record.

Components most reported

Air Bags155.2
Exterior Lighting122.5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic116.4
Electrical System110.6
Engine and Engine Cooling78.9
Power Train59.9
Engine44.6
Fuel System, Gasoline43.9
Vehicle Speed Control39.5
Steering34

Per 1,000 component mentions across all Audi A4 complaints (2,939 mentions).

Campaigns by year reported

96
00
04
08
12
16
20
24
Distinct NHTSA campaigns naming the Audi A4, by the year the Part 573 report was received.

Complaints by year received

96
00
04
08
12
16
20
24
Complaints about any Audi A4 model year, by year received.

Other Audi model lines

All 61 Audi model lines

Questions and answers

Which Audi A4 model years have the most recalls?

1997 (6), 1996 (4), 1998 (4). Across model years 1995–2022 there are 27 distinct campaigns.

Which Audi A4 model year has the most complaints?

2006, with 288 of the line's 2,417 complaints. Newer model years have had less time to accumulate reports.

What do owners of the Audi A4 complain about?

air bags (155.2 per 1,000 mentions), exterior lighting (122.5 per 1,000 mentions), service brakes, hydraulic (116.4 per 1,000 mentions). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint flat files, public domain, dated 29 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, dated 29 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019. Model names are as NHTSA records them; variants such as "Accord" and "Accord Hybrid" are separate lines. See the methodology.