Audi · A4 · 2016
0
Recalls
24
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2016 Audi A4 has no recalls and 24 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (5 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Frontal Crash Test

Side Crash Test

Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
9.9% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
Car has 69,700 miles. All Audi suggested maintenance has been done. Synthetic oil changed every 5,000 miles (more frequently than Audi 10,000 mile recommendation). At 60,000 mile oil change, engine used 1 qt of oil. At 65,000 miles engine used 2 qts oil. At 69,500 mile oil change engine used 3.5 qts of oil. Audi is not sure this is excessive oil use. Must perform oil consumption test at our expense. Really?!?! Audi solution is for us to pay $8,500 for new pistons and rings. From what I see online, this is a common problem, a manufacturer defect that Audi is unwilling to stand behind. Please share my complaint with Audi USA. Registered a complaint with them also.
We live in Montana where it gets very cold on a regular basis while driving our Audi the steering wheel ceased to function and would not allow us to control the vehicle this occurred three times. A warning on the dash came up that said steering malfunction stopped vehicle but it was very scary and intimidating to know that your steering wheel could quit at any time we got stranded and took it to a dealer and they said that the steering rack computer had failed and could not get the part for at least a month since they had so many of these vehicles having the exact same issue in the United States the dealership stated that the other three dealers locally to them all were waiting on the same exact part for the same problem they charge us $6,000 to repair it I would think that if so many of the same vehicles are having the same problems that there's no parts available in the country that it should be a recall and the manufacturer should be responsible for the issue what can we do?
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A4. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started shaking. The EPC warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with cylinder #4 failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
The car is completely not safe it seems to have a mind of its own and that’s saying that I’ve maintained everything up to par and it’s still a safety hazard
Ok before my previous incident it must’ve been 2 weeks ago that my car just sped up and broke on it’s on on a 65 mile road it’s to the point that I’m very hesitant to drive the car but it’s my only means of commute it’s just a total safety problem and I don’t feel safe one bit
According to TSB 401548, car dealership/manufacture will not provide extended warranty to repair premature wheel bearing due to vehicle VIN not in their system as an affected vehicle. The 2016 A4 has premature wheel bearing as described in the TSB 401548. Covered vehicles are 2016 Audi A4. Faulty wheel bearing may result in loss of control of vehicle and will not pass Pennsylvania State Inspection. This is a safety defect and a wheel bearing should not fail with only 63,000 miles on the vehicle. Please assist. Thank you.
Rubber boot around the electronic steering rack wore out after only 30k miles. This has caused no warning lights, and very dangerous behaviour from the steering mechanisms. To include the steering wheel locking up mid turn, and the steering wheel "stuttering" due to the electronic motor failing.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE DETECTED A BURNING ODOR. THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND EPC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION TO REFUEL THEN BACK TO HIS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WHEN HE NOTICED THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE WENT OUT ON IT'S OWN. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Brucken motors, I purchased an Audi a4 that was advertised on your Facebook as safe, reliable, and dependent. I came to you with a down payment in hand, stating that I needed a car that drove without issues. I can afford minor repairs, but I wanted something with a clean HISTORY and service RECORD. Zachary Laney, the salesman, claimed that there was nothing wrong with this car. I asked about the headlight and was told, "Oh no, it's just a bulb! I will buy it so you can replace it." Asked about any issues and was told the car was absolutely clean. Sure enough, less than a week after I bought it, it started acting up. I took it to the mechanic to remedy the issue, paid out of pocket even though I was sold a warranty (mistake number two on your part) that I was told would cover most issues. My mechanic is experienced and has taken care of many cars, and sure enough, the issue was not fixed. It was only covered up with makeup per say. I gave it another chance and the vehicle broke down again. This vehicle, which mind you, I put a 4000 dollar down payment on, pay a 17!!!! percent interest rate even though I was told 7 and lied to on paper, is costing me over 470 a month for just the payment. Let alone the repairs. I haven't driven the car a month. Literally. I've paid on it for four months, and it's been in the shop. I let you guys know this and was ignored constantly. I was told that the check engine codes were cleared at one point which means that you KNEW this vehicle was bad. ONTOP of it all, this car was STOLEN and had title ISSUES. THERE WAS ALSO MINOR DAMAGE and a LONG service history
GEAR SHIFTER PIN BROKE VIN # DOESN'T MATCH MY NAME NOR DMV
ONLY 500 MILES FOLLOWING AN AUDI OIL CHANGE, THE OIL SENSOR LIGHT WENT OFF NOTIFYING US TO ADD ONE QUART OF OIL. WE ADDED ONE QUART OF OIL AND CONTINUED DRIVING AND THEN THE LIGHT WENT OFF AGAIN. WE CALLED AUDI SERVICE AND THEY TOLD US TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND ADD ANOTHER QUART OF OIL. WE DID AND REPEATED ONE MORE TIME AFTER ANOTHER HOUR (75 MILES). AFTER FILLING THE THIRD TIME AND DRIVING, WHITE SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING FROM THE VEHICLE AND WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP 233 MILES FROM WHERE WE WERE. THEY SAID THAT THE OIL GAUGE WAS FAULTY WHICH SENT FALSE READINGS TO THE COMPUTER. THEY SAID THAT THIS THEN CAUSED OIL TO GO DIRECTLY INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THUS CAUSING THE SMOKE AND FIRE HAZARD. CAR ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
WATER PUMP FAILURE - LEAKING AFTER 47,000 MILES. COOLANT LEVEL DOWN TO MINIMUM LEVEL IN ENGINE
INITIALLY MY FUEL PUMP BEGAN LEAKING FUEL. TWO WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT, THE NEW AUDI FACTORY FUEL PUMP BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THE SECOND TIME, A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL BEGAN LEAKING AROUND THE FUEL INJECTORS. THIS WAS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING AND FALLING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND OTHER PARTS.
FUEL PUMP BEGAN LEAKING AT 55,000 MILE MARK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI CHANTILLY, 14839 STONECROFT CENTER CT, CHANTILLY, VA 20151, (703) 956-2100) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL A DEALER TO SEE IF THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RECALL LETTER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
SAFETY RECALL 19N4 THIS RECALL STATES THAT THE CAR CAN GO ON FIRE BUT THEY AREN'T REPLACING THE PART TILL NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER. THEY SUGGEST PARKING OUTSIDE AND AWAY FROM PROPERTY WHICH ISN'T AN OPTION FOR ME. I SUPPOSE TO WAIT 6 MONTH WHEN THE CAR CAN GO ON FIRE? AT PRESENT I LIVE IN A BUILDING AND PARK IN A GARAGE WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES - STREET PARKING IS DIFFICULT AND AUDI WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE SOONER OR END MY LEASE. *JS
WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS ON MY AUDI IT TAKES A WHILE TO GO IT FEELS LIKE IT HAS NO POWER IT ALSO HAS BEEN SHAKING REALLY BAD ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP HILL. IT HAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YOUR RIDING A BIKE ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE WHILE IT'S IN MOTION IN BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE FASTER I GO IN THE VEHICLE THE MORE IT SHAKES AND THE MORE I HEAR THE NOISE AS WELL. THERE IS NO LIGHT INDICATING THAT MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM BUT THERE DEFINITELY IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY AUDI AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT?
THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING BECAME DEFECTIVE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 75 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT, NEARLY CAUSING A HIGH SPEED COLLISION WITH A SEMI. THE ERROR MESSAGE "STEERING IS DEFECTIVE, DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE" DISPLAYED AND HAS NOT GONE AWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A4. UPON ACTIVATING THE AIR CONDITIONER, AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR EMERGED FROM THE VENTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 24 complaints
The 2016 Audi A4 has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 24 owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Audi A4.
The 2016 Audi A4 received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2016 Audi A4 are engine (5 reports), unknown or other (3 reports), engine and engine cooling (2 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2016 Audi A4. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
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This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.