2011 Audi A4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2011 Audi A4 has 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: leaking oil 4 cylinders had oil sitting on top of pistons and oil was leaking down cylinders walls passes pistons rings no good and damage on cylinder walls.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

7 complaints

41%

• LEAKING OIL 4 CYLINDERS HAD OIL SITTING ON TOP OF PISTONS AND OIL WAS LEAKING DOWN CYLINDERS WALLS PASSES PISTONS RINGS NO GOOD AND DAMAGE ON CYLINDER WALLS
• OIL CONSUMPTION REALLY HIGH. BURNING TOO MUCH OIL, CAUSING MY ENGINE TO RUN ON LOW OIL, AND RUINING THE ENGINE.
• THE ENGINE BURNS TOO MUCH OIL FROM THE PISTOLS. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY LEAKS OUTSIDE THE ENGINE SO IT THEY TOLD ME IT BURNS THE OIL FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE. AND THEY CANT FIX THE PROBLEM.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“LEAKING OIL 4 CYLINDERS HAD OIL SITTING ON TOP OF PISTONS AND OIL WAS LEAKING DOWN CYLINDERS WALLS PASSES PISTONS RINGS NO GOOD AND DAMAGE ON CYLINDER WALLS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints

18%

• VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SEVERE JUDDERING. TRANSMISSION JERKS CONTINUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS, AND MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI'S. FIX IS $6000.00, MAKING CAR WORTHLESS.
• PURCHASED CAR USED FROM AUDI OF NORTH PARK IN SAN ANTONIO, TX WITH APPROX 73K MILES ON IT. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR LESS THAN 2K MILES. THE CAR WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE IN REVERSE. I SEARCHED FORUMS AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
• Vehicle has horrible oil consumption due to piston rings being defective upon manufacture. Vehicle will have slew of problems, including stopping in the middle of the street, risking the lives of everyone in the car. Audi Dealer knows of the problem with the model from this year (B8) and they refuse

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SEVERE JUDDERING. TRANSMISSION JERKS CONTINUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS, AND MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI'S. FIX IS $6000.00, MAKING CAR WORTHLESS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints

12%

• PURCHASED CAR USED FROM AUDI OF NORTH PARK IN SAN ANTONIO, TX WITH APPROX 73K MILES ON IT. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR LESS THAN 2K MILES. THE CAR WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE IN REVERSE. I SEARCHED FORUMS AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
• ON MY CAR WHEN I'M DRIVING ANYWHERE AFTER I PUT MY CRUISE CONTROL ON IF I PRESS UP OR DOWN ON THE CRUISE CONTROL TO CHANGE THE SPEED THE CAR WILL EITHER BRAKE OR SPEED UP AND IT WON'T STOP UNTIL I HIT MY BRAKES HARD AND TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPLETELY OFF WHICH IS ALSO AN ISSUE BECAUSE MY BRAKES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“PURCHASED CAR USED FROM AUDI OF NORTH PARK IN SAN ANTONIO, TX WITH APPROX 73K MILES ON IT. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR LESS THAN 2K MILES. THE CAR WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE IN REVERSE. I SEARCHED FORUMS AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

1 complaints

• LEAKING OIL 4 CYLINDERS HAD OIL SITTING ON TOP OF PISTONS AND OIL WAS LEAKING DOWN CYLINDERS WALLS PASSES PISTONS RINGS NO GOOD AND DAMAGE ON CYLINDER WALLS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“LEAKING OIL 4 CYLINDERS HAD OIL SITTING ON TOP OF PISTONS AND OIL WAS LEAKING DOWN CYLINDERS WALLS PASSES PISTONS RINGS NO GOOD AND DAMAGE ON CYLINDER WALLS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

1 complaints

• ON MY CAR WHEN I'M DRIVING ANYWHERE AFTER I PUT MY CRUISE CONTROL ON IF I PRESS UP OR DOWN ON THE CRUISE CONTROL TO CHANGE THE SPEED THE CAR WILL EITHER BRAKE OR SPEED UP AND IT WON'T STOP UNTIL I HIT MY BRAKES HARD AND TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPLETELY OFF WHICH IS ALSO AN ISSUE BECAUSE MY BRAKES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“ON MY CAR WHEN I'M DRIVING ANYWHERE AFTER I PUT MY CRUISE CONTROL ON IF I PRESS UP OR DOWN ON THE CRUISE CONTROL TO CHANGE THE SPEED THE CAR WILL EITHER BRAKE OR SPEED UP AND IT WON'T STOP UNTIL I HIT MY BRAKES HARD AND TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPLETELY OFF WHICH IS ALSO AN ISSUE BECAUSE MY BRAKES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 17 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: LEAKING OIL 4 CYLINDERS HAD OIL SITTING ON TOP OF PISTONS AND OIL WAS LEAKING DOWN CYLINDERS WALLS PASSES PISTONS RINGS NO GOOD AND DAMAGE ON CYLINDER WALLS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE HAS 73,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SEVERE JUDDERING. TRANSMISSION JERKS CONTINUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS, AND MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI'S. FIX IS $6000.00, MAKING CAR WORTHLESS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: PURCHASED CAR USED FROM AUDI OF NORTH PARK IN SAN ANTONIO, TX WITH APPROX 73K MILES ON IT. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR LESS THAN 2K MILES. THE CAR WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE IN REVERSE. I SEARCHED FORUMS AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: LEAKING OIL 4 CYLINDERS HAD OIL SITTING ON TOP OF PISTONS AND OIL WAS LEAKING DOWN CYLINDERS WALLS PASSES PISTONS RINGS NO GOOD AND DAMAGE ON CYLINDER WALLS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)