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2008 Audi A4: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior84.6%
Transmission and shifting52.9%
Fuel system concerns52.9%
Engine operation42.3%
Electrical and battery issues42.3%
Steering behavior21.1%

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.

Air Bags
116
Engine
13
Power Train
12
Exterior Lighting
11
Electrical System
9
Fuel/Propulsion System
8
Tires
5
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags116
Engine13
Power Train12
Exterior Lighting11
Electrical System9
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Tires5
Vehicle Speed Control5

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00019
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,99920
75,000 to 99,99911
100,000 to 149,99914
150,000 and above0

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20081
20095
20105
20116
20123
20133
201410
20156
201642
201755
201824
20196
20201
20211
20222
20231
20241
20251
20262

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10242418 · 2008-09-16 (September 16, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI P6 TIRES. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2008 WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES. ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE TIRES. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS LOW. THE CONTACT PLACED AIR IN THE TIRE AND THEN HEARD A SLOW HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. HE ALSO STATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE TOP PORTION OF THE TIR…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242418 at NHTSA ↗

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 10262493 · 2009-03-19 (March 19, 2009)

I BOUGHT 2008 A4 ON LATE DECEMBER OF 2008. CAR CAME WITH THE PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASONS TIRES..OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS NOW HAVE 3600MILES ON THE CAR.. FIRST HAD 2 TIRE DAMAGES AFTER DRIVING ON MINOR BUMPY ROAD AT 25MPH.. 1 TIRE GOT PUNCTURED ON THE SIDEWALL 1 HAD BUBBLES ON IT.. WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED THE SAME SET OF TIRES AND REPLACE THEM.. AFTER 2 WEEKS, HAD ANOTHER BLOW OUT ON THE SAME EXACT SPOT ON THE SIDE WALL WITH SAME DAMAGE.. THEN AGAIN WEEK LATER.. ON NJ TURNPIKE AT HIGH SPEED HAD SUDDEN BLOW OUT..WHICH WAS RESULTED FROM …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262493 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10263913 · 2009-04-01 (April 1, 2009)

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, LIGHT TRAFFIC, 65MPH, 5PM, GOOD BUT WET CONDITIONS. SUN ROOF EXPLODED! VERY VERY LOUD. BASEBALL SIZED HOLE IN EXACT MIDDLE OF SUN ROOF WITH GLASS PUSHED OUTWARD (BOWL SHAPED). NO IMPACT WITH ROCKS OR ANYTHING ELSE NEAR BY. NO CAR IN FRONT BUT A CAR IN NEXT LANE. DEALER HAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. COST WAS ABOUT $800 FOR REPLACEMENT WHICH WARRANTY APPARENTLY DID NOT COVER ACCORDING TO DEALER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263913 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 10269588 · 2009-05-21 (May 21, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTI PRO CONTACT TIRES, SIZE P235/45R17. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE AND BEGAN EXPERIENCING TIRE FAILURES. WITHIN FIVE MONTHS, HE NOTICED BUBBLES ON TWO OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ONE OF THE TIRES RECENTLY HAD A BLOW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUED TO BLAME THE ROAD FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOW OUT WAS NOT CAUSED BY A…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269588 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10300114 · 2010-01-18 (January 18, 2010)

PURCHASED 2008 AUDI A4 NEW FROM DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER 2007. TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, NOTICE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM AT 1QT EVERY 1,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL BUT MY MECHANIC SAID IT IS NOT. WITH THE HELP OF A PRO-BONO ATTORNEY, CONTACTED AUDI AND DEMANDED REPAIR AT 12,000 MILES. AUDI REPLACED RINGS AND CAR WAS FINE FOR 24,000 MILES. AT 36,000 MILES, LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON - 1 QT LOW AGAIN. HAD OIL CHANGED BY MY MECHANIC AND TWO DAYS LATER A NEW PROBLEM - LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10300114 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 ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V376000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive | Air Bags

Reported: 2016-05-27 (May 27, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.

Consequence: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V382000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V032000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2017-01-11 (January 11, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V427000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2018-06-22 (June 22, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.

NHTSA campaign record ↗