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2009 Audi A4 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

120 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 120 complaints (36.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1310.8%
Braking behavior75.8%
Transmission and shifting65.0%
Engine operation32.5%
Electrical and battery issues32.5%
Fuel system concerns32.5%

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.

Engine
44
Air Bags
32
Steering
15
Fuel/Propulsion System
7
Unknown Or Other
7
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Power Train
5
Exterior Lighting
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine44
Air Bags32
Steering15
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Unknown Or Other7
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Power Train5
Exterior Lighting4

Engine: 44; Air Bags: 32; Steering: 15; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Power Train: 5; Exterior Lighting: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
12
50,000 to 74,999
15
75,000 to 99,999
21
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,99912
50,000 to 74,99915
75,000 to 99,99921
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 0

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 49 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.

2009
3
2010
15
2011
3
2012
8
2013
5
2014
9
2015
14
2016
19
2017
14
2018
14
2019
10
2020
1
2021
2
2024
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20093
201015
20113
20128
20135
20149
201514
201619
201714
201814
201910
20201
20212
20243

2009: 3; 2010: 15; 2011: 3; 2012: 8; 2013: 5; 2014: 9; 2015: 14; 2016: 19; 2017: 14; 2018: 14; 2019: 10; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2024: 3

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 10269976 · 2009-05-26 (May 26, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN MAKING TURNS AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. IN ADDITION, THE EXTERIOR SIDE MIRRORS ARE DESIGNED WITH ALUMINUM INTERIOR, WHICH PROJECTS A GLARE. THE ONLY OBJECT THAT IS VISIBLE IS THE DASHBOARD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THREE DEALERS AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE STEERING FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CONTROL ARM CLIP AND THE STEERING LOWER ARM CONTROL. REPLACING THE PARTS WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269976 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10304445 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

I EXPERIENCE SEVER SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEELS WHEN TURNING WHILE PARKED OR MOVING AT A SPEED BELOW 5MPH. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304445 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10323493 · 2010-04-02 (April 2, 2010)

2009 AUDI A4-MAKES NOISE WHEN SUSPENSION IS MOVING,SO WE INSPECTED IT AND FOUND OUT ON ALL FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS,THE BUSHINGS ARE CRACKED.IF NOT REPLACED IT WILL BRAKE,WHICH CAN CAUSE LOST OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323493 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10358548 · 2010-09-30 (September 30, 2010)

PARKED IN AN INCLINE, I ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF A DRIVE WAY. I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH NO RESISTANCE AT ALL. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE QUICKLY TO PREVENT FROM GOING THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. ALTHOUGH I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING IN REVERSE. I HAD TO GET THE ENGINE RPM UP FAIRLY HIGH TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE AT ALL. IT WAS LIKE I HAD THE PARKING BRAKE ON BUT IF I LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WOULD AGAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358548 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10345120 · 2010-07-25 (July 25, 2010)

I WAS DRIVING MY NEW 2009 AUDI A4 WHICH HAD LESS THAN 3500 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME WHEN FIRST THE TRANSMISSION CHANGES BEGAN TO BE VERY ABRUPT. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AT FIRST AND TRAFFIC ON THE WESTSIDE HIGHWAY IN NEW YORK CITY WAS FAIRLY CONGESTED SO THE SPEEDS WERE NOT THAT HIGH. SUDDENLY, THE TRANSMISSION STOPS SHIFTING ALL TOGETHER AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAR'S DASHBOARD TURN ON BEFORE THE ENGINE SIMPLY SHUTS OFF I ROLL TO A HALT IN THE CENTER LANE OF THE WESTSIDE HIGHWAY AND USE THE BATTERY TO TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. I REPEATEDLY TRIED TO R…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,413 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345120 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10732845 · 2015-07-09 (July 9, 2015)

VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND STARTED TO SHAKE. PARKED AND STOPPED ENGINE. ON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART IT BRIEFLY FIRED BUT THEN DIED AND STALLED. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE RESULTED IN IT TURNING OVER WITH NO APPARENT FIRING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALER AND WE WERE INFORMED IT WAS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN SLIP. IT APPEARS FROM INFORMATION ONLINE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN THIS 2009 B8 2.0T ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. THE HEAD AND PISTONS WERE ALL DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE WAS DECLARED UNREPAIRABLE BY THE AUDI DEALER. DEALER …

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732845 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10794415 · 2015-11-17 (November 17, 2015)

THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BUCK SUDDENLY AND STALL WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.

Owner-reported narrative. 103,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794415 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10345121 · 2010-07-25 (July 25, 2010)

I HAD JUST GONE TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WAS UNLOADING THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES WERE NOT VISIBLE THROUGH THE SLOTS OF THE SEATS ANYMORE. I TRIED TO FEEL FOR THEM AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT WAS TOO FAR FORWARD AND THE CURVED PART AT THE BACK OF THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER TUCKED TO THE SEAT BACK. AS I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF I COULD PUT IT BACK INTO POSITION THE SEAT COMPLETELY DISLODGED FROM THE CAR AND THE GLUE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ATTACHING THE SEAT TO THE CAR, THE WIRING AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345121 at NHTSA ↗