
2013 Audi A4
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Audi A4 has 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 audi a4. while driving 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn left. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the contact parked the vehicle on the side of the road for ten minutes. once she continued driving, the failure recurred. the contact called van . ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
28
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
10 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR TEN MINUTES. ONCE SHE CONTINUED DRIVING, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED VAN
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE STRUCK A CURB AND THE "STEERING WHEEL DEFECTIVE DON'T DRIVE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUDI S
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AUDI INDIANAPOLIS (4610-B E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, (317) 853-4582) WHERE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR TEN MINUTES. ONCE SHE CONTINUED DRIVING, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED VAN ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
7 complaints- • THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING THROUGH OIL. IT HAS BEEN REQUESTING A QUART OF OIL BE ADDED JUST ABOUT EVERY 500-700 MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY 2019 AND AT FIRST IT WAS JUST EVERY 1200-900 MILES THAT THE CAR WOULD ASK FOR AN EXTRA QUART OF OIL. THEN IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS GOT
- • THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS TO GO FASTER OR UP A RAMP OR MERGING INTO THE FREEWAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC I TRUST. HE CHECKED MY CAR AND STATED IT IS LOSING POWER IN THE FOURTH CYLINDER. HE DID THE SPARK PLUGS AND OTHER TESTS, I'M NOT GOOD REMEMBERING THE NAMES. STA
- • 2013 Audi A4 with a 2.0 turbo engine approximately 62.5K miles and up to date with all services. I was driving on the highway at highway speeds when the engine suddenly started to misfire with a partial loss of power making the car difficult to steer. At that time the check engine light was not i
“THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING THROUGH OIL. IT HAS BEEN REQUESTING A QUART OF OIL BE ADDED JUST ABOUT EVERY 500-700 MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY 2019 AND AT FIRST IT WAS JUST EVERY 1200-900 MILES THAT THE CAR WOULD ASK FOR AN EXTRA QUART OF OIL. THEN IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS GOT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
3 complaints- • THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING THROUGH OIL. IT HAS BEEN REQUESTING A QUART OF OIL BE ADDED JUST ABOUT EVERY 500-700 MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY 2019 AND AT FIRST IT WAS JUST EVERY 1200-900 MILES THAT THE CAR WOULD ASK FOR AN EXTRA QUART OF OIL. THEN IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS GOT
- • JUST PURCHASED THE CAR APRIL 13, 2020. STRONG GASOLINE SMELL EMITTING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE AND IN CABIN. SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF CAR. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. DOES NOT MATTER IF THE GAS TANK IS FULL, HALF, OR EMPTY. CAN'T FIND ANY LEAKS UNDER THE HOOD, BUT STILL HAS A VE
- • My Audi A4 failed to start on the coldest day of the year when my daughter was out doing errands and left it for an extended time parked outside. When she returned and tried to start the car, she got an error message: "Steering defective! Do not drive vehicle!" She re-tried over a dozen times, leavi
“THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING THROUGH OIL. IT HAS BEEN REQUESTING A QUART OF OIL BE ADDED JUST ABOUT EVERY 500-700 MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY 2019 AND AT FIRST IT WAS JUST EVERY 1200-900 MILES THAT THE CAR WOULD ASK FOR AN EXTRA QUART OF OIL. THEN IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS GOT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
2 complaints- • MY CAR STARTED TO SMELL LIKE GAS INSIDE, AND IT WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR. I WENT TO AN AUOZONE TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC, IN THE SYSTEM IT HAD SAID IT WAS A VERY SMALL GAS LEAK AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY TO DRIVE. I KEPT DRIVING AND IT STILL SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE AND STRONGER EACH TIME. THEREFORE, I T
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUDI DOMINION (21105 IH-10
“MY CAR STARTED TO SMELL LIKE GAS INSIDE, AND IT WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR. I WENT TO AN AUOZONE TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC, IN THE SYSTEM IT HAD SAID IT WAS A VERY SMALL GAS LEAK AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY TO DRIVE. I KEPT DRIVING AND IT STILL SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE AND STRONGER EACH TIME. THEREFORE, I T”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
2 complaints- • Coolent migration from the coolant valve through the wire into the connection to ecu. This caused corrosion which in turn caused an unsafe driving condition by shutting the throttle pedal control to the engine off. This has been recalled on many other models and is quite prevalent in the a4 with man
- • After run collant pump caught fire and damaged the engine wiring harness. I reported it to progressive insurance and they came and inspected it at a body shop. They concluded it was due to an open recall on the vehicle so insurance refuses to cover it. Had car towed to Audi dealership and they repor
“Coolent migration from the coolant valve through the wire into the connection to ecu. This caused corrosion which in turn caused an unsafe driving condition by shutting the throttle pedal control to the engine off. This has been recalled on many other models and is quite prevalent in the a4 with man”
— 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 28 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR TEN MINUTES. ONCE SHE CONTINUED DRIVING, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED VAN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING THROUGH OIL. IT HAS BEEN REQUESTING A QUART OF OIL BE ADDED JUST ABOUT EVERY 500-700 MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY 2019 AND AT FIRST IT WAS JUST EVERY 1200-900 MILES THAT THE CAR WOULD ASK FOR AN EXTRA QUART OF OIL. THEN IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS GOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING THROUGH OIL. IT HAS BEEN REQUESTING A QUART OF OIL BE ADDED JUST ABOUT EVERY 500-700 MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE PROBLEM STARTED IN EARLY 2019 AND AT FIRST IT WAS JUST EVERY 1200-900 MILES THAT THE CAR WOULD ASK FOR AN EXTRA QUART OF OIL. THEN IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS IT HAS GOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: MY CAR STARTED TO SMELL LIKE GAS INSIDE, AND IT WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR. I WENT TO AN AUOZONE TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC, IN THE SYSTEM IT HAD SAID IT WAS A VERY SMALL GAS LEAK AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY TO DRIVE. I KEPT DRIVING AND IT STILL SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE AND STRONGER EACH TIME. THEREFORE, I T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Audi A4 — 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
- 28
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 1
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2013 Audi A4