2013 Audi A4 ALLROAD
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Audi A4 ALLROAD has 105 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (45% of all complaints), specifically: after 3500 miles the vehicle developed a "notchy" sensation in the steering feel that varied in intensity and would occur at random times. this notchy sensation would occur any speed above 20mph, as if switched on. when symptoms would occur there would be a heavy, notchy feeling on either side of . ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
105
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
47 complaints- • AFTER 3500 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A "NOTCHY" SENSATION IN THE STEERING FEEL THAT VARIED IN INTENSITY AND WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS NOTCHY SENSATION WOULD OCCUR ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH, AS IF SWITCHED ON. WHEN SYMPTOMS WOULD OCCUR THERE WOULD BE A HEAVY, NOTCHY FEELING ON EITHER SIDE OF
- • AT ANY SPEED, MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL THROUGH CENTER PRESENTS A "NOTCHY" FEEL, WHERE RESISTANCE IS FELT AND THEN THE WHEEL JUMPS TO ANOTHER POSITION. THESE "NOTCHES" ARE FELT THROUGH ABOUT 10-20 DEGREES OFF CENTER. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN A STRAIGHT LINE AS THE STEERING
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECAME VERY IRREGULAR AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAUSING THE CONTACT TO SWERVE IN AND OUT OF HIGHWAY LANES. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT DOWN. AFTER RESTARTING, THE FAILURE CEASED. THE FAILUR
“AFTER 3500 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A "NOTCHY" SENSATION IN THE STEERING FEEL THAT VARIED IN INTENSITY AND WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS NOTCHY SENSATION WOULD OCCUR ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH, AS IF SWITCHED ON. WHEN SYMPTOMS WOULD OCCUR THERE WOULD BE A HEAVY, NOTCHY FEELING ON EITHER SIDE OF ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
16 complaints- • WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC, LET OFF BRAKE TO ACCELERATE WHILE TURNING WHEN THE ENGINE HESITATED. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT THIS MOMENT RESULTED IN MINIMAL CAR MOVEMENT PLACING MY CAR IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL MORE AND THE CAR
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALVE FRACTURED, WHI
- • TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE AT 114KM , CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO SKIPS A TOOTH OR TWO, RESULTS IN ENGINE DAMAGED TO THE HEAD VALVES AND ENTIRE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THIS COULD RESULTS IN FATAL CAR ACCIDENTS DURING DRIVING TO EVERYONE.
“WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC, LET OFF BRAKE TO ACCELERATE WHILE TURNING WHEN THE ENGINE HESITATED. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT THIS MOMENT RESULTED IN MINIMAL CAR MOVEMENT PLACING MY CAR IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL MORE AND THE CAR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
9 complaints- • AFTER 3500 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A "NOTCHY" SENSATION IN THE STEERING FEEL THAT VARIED IN INTENSITY AND WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS NOTCHY SENSATION WOULD OCCUR ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH, AS IF SWITCHED ON. WHEN SYMPTOMS WOULD OCCUR THERE WOULD BE A HEAVY, NOTCHY FEELING ON EITHER SIDE OF
- • SUDDEN ACCELARATION WAS OBSERVED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AUDI A4. HOWEVER, NO ACCIDENTS OCCURED DUE TO THIS. AUDI SHOULD TAKE A LOOK INTO POSSIBLE ELCTROMECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN 2013 AUDI. *TR
- • I WAS LOADING MY DOGS INTO THE CAR. THE KEYS WERE SITTING ON DASH BECAUSE MY HANDS WERE FULL. I HAD AN 8 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR IN HER CAR SEAT. AS I CLOSED THE LAST DOOR, THE CAR LOCKED WITH THE KEYS AND THE BABY INSIDE IT. I WAS IN A FAIRLY REMOTE PLACE BUT WAS ABLE TO GET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO G
“AFTER 3500 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A "NOTCHY" SENSATION IN THE STEERING FEEL THAT VARIED IN INTENSITY AND WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS NOTCHY SENSATION WOULD OCCUR ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH, AS IF SWITCHED ON. WHEN SYMPTOMS WOULD OCCUR THERE WOULD BE A HEAVY, NOTCHY FEELING ON EITHER SIDE OF ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
9 complaints- • MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A SLIGHT DOWN-SLOPE. WHEN PARKED THERE WITH MY AUDI A4 2.0T'S FRONT END FACING DOWN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I PUT MY AUDI IN REVERSE, MOVE MY FOOT FROM BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL AND ATTEMPT TO BACK UP THE DOWN-SLOPE, BUT MY AUDI AGGRESSIVELY ROLLS FORWARD AS I CONTINUE TRYING TO AC
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT VALVE FRACTURED, WHI
- • I JUST BOUGHT AN 2013 AUDI A4 ON 4/6/17, I DROVE IT FOR A WEEK AND THE CAR STARTED TO GIVE ME TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING, THE CAR JERKS AND CLUNKS WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR EVEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES. I BELIEVE AUDI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND MAKE THIS A MANDATORY
“MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A SLIGHT DOWN-SLOPE. WHEN PARKED THERE WITH MY AUDI A4 2.0T'S FRONT END FACING DOWN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I PUT MY AUDI IN REVERSE, MOVE MY FOOT FROM BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL AND ATTEMPT TO BACK UP THE DOWN-SLOPE, BUT MY AUDI AGGRESSIVELY ROLLS FORWARD AS I CONTINUE TRYING TO AC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
5 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC AND NO LONGER CENTERED. THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO CENTER AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SPUN INTO A CIRCLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND SIDESWIPED ANOT
- • REAR ENDED A TRUCK AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC AND NO LONGER CENTERED. THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 105 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: AFTER 3500 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A "NOTCHY" SENSATION IN THE STEERING FEEL THAT VARIED IN INTENSITY AND WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS NOTCHY SENSATION WOULD OCCUR ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH, AS IF SWITCHED ON. WHEN SYMPTOMS WOULD OCCUR THERE WOULD BE A HEAVY, NOTCHY FEELING ON EITHER SIDE OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC, LET OFF BRAKE TO ACCELERATE WHILE TURNING WHEN THE ENGINE HESITATED. PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT THIS MOMENT RESULTED IN MINIMAL CAR MOVEMENT PLACING MY CAR IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL MORE AND THE CAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: AFTER 3500 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A "NOTCHY" SENSATION IN THE STEERING FEEL THAT VARIED IN INTENSITY AND WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS NOTCHY SENSATION WOULD OCCUR ANY SPEED ABOVE 20MPH, AS IF SWITCHED ON. WHEN SYMPTOMS WOULD OCCUR THERE WOULD BE A HEAVY, NOTCHY FEELING ON EITHER SIDE OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: MY DRIVEWAY IS ON A SLIGHT DOWN-SLOPE. WHEN PARKED THERE WITH MY AUDI A4 2.0T'S FRONT END FACING DOWN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I PUT MY AUDI IN REVERSE, MOVE MY FOOT FROM BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL AND ATTEMPT TO BACK UP THE DOWN-SLOPE, BUT MY AUDI AGGRESSIVELY ROLLS FORWARD AS I CONTINUE TRYING TO AC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Audi A4 ALLROAD — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 105
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 7
- Injury reports
- 7
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Audi A4 ALLROAD