There are 7 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2016 Audi A4in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
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
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.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO ENTER TRAFFIC FROM A COMPLETE STOP, & INPUTTING A SIGNIFICANT TROTTLE DEMAND, USUALLY ENGINE DOES NOT ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS (SOMETIMES IT ACCELERATES NORMALLY. THIS IS NOT TURBO LAG). AFTER NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT A COUPLE OF TIMES, I CANNOT RELY ON REQUIRED ACCELERATION, AND CONSIDER THIS CONDITION VERY DANGEROUS, AND AM RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS 8 MONTHS OLD AND HAS AMASSED LESS THAN 5000 MILES. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, REGARDLESS OF THE CAR BEING IN NORMAL OR SPORT MODES, THE LAST BEING 11.22.16
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026