2008 Audi A4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
175 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 72 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 116 of 175 complaints (66.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 116 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
Air Bags: 116; Engine: 13; Power Train: 12; Exterior Lighting: 11; Electrical System: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Tires: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 103 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 55 |
| 2018 | 24 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2008: 1; 2009: 5; 2010: 5; 2011: 6; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 10; 2015: 6; 2016: 42; 2017: 55; 2018: 24; 2019: 6; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10262066 · 2009-03-16 (March 16, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HEARD A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM HER BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT AUDI USES SEMI-METALLIC MATERIAL INSIDE THE BRAKE PADS AND ALL THEIR VEHICLES MAKE THE SAME NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS MORE CONCERNED OF THE NOISE, RATHER THAN THE SAFETY ASPECT. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS WILLING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10400705 · 2011-05-12 (May 12, 2011)
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR, A 2008 AUDI A4, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I MANAGED TO BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I MANUALLY HAD TO PULL THE GAS PEDAL OFF OF THE FLOOR. I AUTOMATICALLY WENT TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP FOR ANSWERS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10400705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10671686 · 2015-01-11 (January 11, 2015)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING OUT OF CONTROL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895274 · 2016-08-12 (August 12, 2016)
THE PARK,REVERSE,NEUTRAL,DRIVE DISPLAY FLASHES WHICH INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING IN CAUTION MODE. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN IN REVERSE AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING IT SEEMS AS IF IT WANTS TO CHANGE GEARS SUCH AS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 MODELS. MY RESEARCH ALSO INDICATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. I AM NOT AWARE IF THIS PROBLEM AFFECTED OTHER YEAR MODELS OR IF AUDI CORRECTED THE PROBLEM AFTER 2008. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2016 WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10895274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462685 · 2012-06-22 (June 22, 2012)
PROBLEM: PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CAM AND CAM FOLLOWER RESULTING IN P0087 ERRORS. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO RUN VERY ERRATIC, SURGING AND BUCKING AND A GENERAL LOSS OF POWER. THERE IS AN AUDI TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THIS VERY ISSUE FOR MY 2005, 2006 AND 2007. THIS IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM! MY 2008 AUDI SHOULD BE COVERED. --- AT AROUND 60K MILES THE CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING THE DREADED PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CAM LOBE FOLLOWER AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP LOBE. THE FOLLOWER WAS REPLACED BUT THE CAM WAS NOT. THE CAR WAS TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,087 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10630858 · 2014-09-04 (September 4, 2014)
2008 AUDI A4 AVANT WITH THE 2.0 LITER TURBO MOTOR/ ENGINE CODE IS BWT. CAMSHAFT LOBE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PREMATURE WORN OUT. AUDI KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN 2010 ABOUT THE PREMATURE WEAR ON THE CAMSHAFT LOBE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10302748 · 2010-01-27 (January 27, 2010)
2008 AUDI A4 STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH OTHER DRIVERS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT WOULD MOVE A FEW YARDS BEFORE STALLING AGAIN. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. IT TURNED OUT THE STALLING WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10302748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10269117 · 2009-05-18 (May 18, 2009)
SINCE WE LEASED OUR 08 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0T WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR SEEMING TO LOOSE POWER AND JERK USUALLY WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 60 AND 70MPH. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED OR REPAIRED THE FOLLOWING UNDER WARRANTY: TWO DIVERTER VALVES (FIRST AT 500 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 1200 MILES) THE CAR WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN COLD AS IF RUNNING ON 2CYL, REMOVED AN AIR FILTER PRE-SCREEN (AT 5000 MILES SCHEDULED SERVICE), REPLACED THE TURBO CHARGER AND BATTERY POWER CABLE (8500 MILES). UN-FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE CONTINUE…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269117 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595440 · 2014-06-01 (June 1, 2014)
I TOO AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY AUDI A4 TURBO I HAVE TO PUT OIL IN MY VEHICLE SEEMS LIKE EVERY MONTH OR SO. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS AND I HAVE HAD 2 OIL CHANGES AND ABOUT 10 QUARTS OF OIL IN THAT TIME. MY MECHANIC SAYS WITH SYNTHETIC OIL YOU SHOULD ONLY NEED OIL CHANGES TWICE A YEAR. I TOO KEEP GETTING TOLD THIS IS NORMAL...THIS IS NOT NORMAL, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION....THIS CAN NOT BE GOOD FOR MY ENGINE. I ALSO WENT TO HAVE MY AC LOOKED AT AND FOUND THAT THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHEN IT COME…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11479453 · 2022-08-15 (August 15, 2022)
i was in a pretty bad car accident, the car was totaled but the air bags didn’t deploy and i slammed my head on my steering wheel, i got side swiped and the driver door wasn’t able to be opened i had to kick it open and the front of the car hit a concrete pole going roughly 35 mph or more.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11595625 · 2024-06-20 (June 20, 2024)
Bought this car from a guy add said car runs great has smog, reg ,ac works great (not )my boyfriend before I could say anything gave guy money and I signed the bill of sale I said should test drive it so drove to my mechanic in vista ca and he said a German car oh boy and I said ouch so he said to bring it back by after checking it out so he could look in to it further so got in car that had spiderwebs on the motor my guy don't know much about cars so we went back and car stopped steering locked up ignition locked up car shut down in middle of …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11595625 at NHTSA ↗