With around 250,000 vehicles sold each year in the US, Audi is a high-performing luxury brand with a German basis that sells well. It ranks fourth among the most popular luxury brands. In 2020, Audi sold more than 1.5 automobiles worldwide, which is an 8.3% decline from the prior year.
Audi gained its market share in the majority of important markets, despite reduced overall sales. The most important single market for Audi was China, where sales increased by more than 5% to a record level. Even though it has a strong following and is a well-known brand, it occasionally disappoints. Consider purchasing one. These Audi A4 model years should be avoided.
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Quick answer: 2008, 2009, 2011
Although these model years are all relatively recent in comparison to when the A4 was first released, there’s a strong possibility that if you’re looking for a secondhand car, they will all have more than 65k miles on them. This implies that when it comes to maintenance, you might not be able to discern when something needs minor maintenance or a major overhaul. Once the A4 has accumulated more than 70,000 miles, fuel economy becomes a regular complaint. Drivers have reported receiving less than 300 miles per tank, which is significantly fewer than the 415 miles it should be getting.
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Complaints by year
- 2021 – 0
- 2020 – 0
- 2019 – 0
- 2018 – 0
- 2017 – 12
- 2016 – 2
- 2015 – 1
- 2014 – 6
- 2013 – 11
- 2012 – 9
- 2011 – 23
- 2010 – 18
- 2009 – 35
- 2008 – 20
- 2007 – 12
Issues:
- oil problems
- Airbags
- climate regulation
The oil consistently caused routine issues during the Ad model year. This included oil leaks, an incorrect estimation of the amount of oil in the tank between replacements, and other issues. It was very typical to observe problems with the air conditioning after a while. It runs well when maintained and is a reasonably comfortable drive, with the exception of occasional mechanical issues.
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Recalls:
Airbags: On the 2008 model, there were five different airbag recalls, including one for delayed deployment on the driver’s side, one for explosion during deployment, and one for excessive corrosion and failure.
motor failure
It had some issues, much like the 2008 model year, but overall it’s a respectable used luxury car. This vehicle is still to be avoided because it had the same recalls as the previous year and had comparable mechanical concerns. This model year is considered to have more long-lasting repair expenditures that accumulate over time due to low fuel economy and excessive usage.
Recalls
Airbags: The same five airbag recalls from the 2008 model, including excessive corrosion and failure, explosion during deployment, and delayed deployment on the driver’s side, persisted into the 2009 model.
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Audi A4 model year to avoid – 2011
2011 was the Audi A4’s worst-performing model year. The engine accounted for the majority of the mechanical issues and problems that the Audi A4 had during this model year. The 2011 Audi A4 was frequently criticized for being extremely inefficient with fuel and gobbling up gas. This might not be a life-threatening circumstance, but it can become one of the more costly ones over time.
This means that the owner of a 2011 Audi A4 will not only need to fill up their tank more frequently, but also that it will cost more money to fix the issue permanently. The average cost of this repair was well over $5,000, with many owners opting to completely replace the engine. Although the 2011 model year is frequently regarded as the worst model year overall, the 2009 model year tops it in terms of the total number of complaints received.
One could anticipate that the average cost of repairs would be substantially greater given that 2009 had an increase in overall complaints. However, that’s where the 2011 comes into play, as many owners chose to completely replace the engine, driving up the cost of the repair.
The Audi A4 model years from 2008 to 2011 generally saw a number of complaints, the majority of which were centered around the car’s high oil consumption and subpar engine performance. These excessive oil consumption problems all happened at roughly the same total mileage and were expensive to fix. Around 60,000 miles, on average, these vehicles began to experience noticeable performance decreases, while the model years that followed saw improvements.
The 2011 didn’t have any significant recalls that consumers should be aware of, unlike the previous two model years on this list that you should stay away from. Instead of serious safety concerns, its problems are largely related to general wear and tear maintenance.
Remember that the Audi A4 has been available since 1996, and older models with older engines will probably need more repairs. Even though the 2002 model was praised at the time as one of the best, keeping one today would be unaffordable.
When customers see a used Audi for sale, they are intrigued by the pricing and the amount of money they can save on a high-end vehicle. They don’t immediately think about how much money this car will end up costing them in the long term. The majority of Audis are designed to run without any problems for the first three years, but after that, they demand a lot of maintenance.
What are the good Audi A4 model years?
After some time on the road, the Audi A4 has its share of issues, although not all model years are equally problematic. A4 vehicles from 2013 and newer are typically thought to be more dependable than versions from earlier years, with owners reporting fewer issues. There have only been a few recorded recalls in the previous five years, which is probably because the car has relatively little miles on it and newer technology all around.
Most of the time, buying a used Audi is not a wise financial decision. When accumulated over time, all of those trips to the mechanic may add up to a sizable sum of money. Each model is distinctive in its own way, but if you’re looking at used Audi A4 models, models from more recent years are a better option.
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What year Audi A4 is most reliable?
It is generally acknowledged that 2001 is the most dependable year for the Audi A4. The original B5 was produced until this year, and if you can find one with the 1.9 TDI, it’s worth buying. The 1.9 TDI is an extremely dependable engine; some of them have been driven 500,000 miles while receiving routine maintenance and are still on the road.
The 2001 Audi A4’s only drawback is that it lacks some of the more modern equipment seen in more recent models. 2010 is a fantastic year to look at if you’re seeking for something with improved technology. Around that time, Audi was making some excellent vehicles and received the fewest complaints annually.
In terms of dependability, Audi has experienced some ups and downs over the years, but they appear to be returning to the correct track. If you are considering a new A4, I wouldn’t worry about it surviving up to more than 150,000 kilometers.
What Audi A4 years to avoid?
If you’re considering the Audi A4, you should steer clear of 2011 and 2014. Compared to the other years, these had the most complaints. The 2011 A4’s terrible oil consumption is the main issue that has been brought up.
For the 2011 model year, the A4’s oil system became unnecessarily complicated, which caused it to use oil significantly more quickly than other vehicles. As a result, the car eventually runs out of oil. Due to insufficient lubrication, a car with low oil can suffer more engine damage.
Because replacing the oil system in an A4 from 2011 or 2014 would cost roughly $6,000, many people choose to replace the engine instead. The entire engine has to be taken apart in order to be repaired, which takes a lot of time and increases the cost for the business.
Which Audi A4 engine is best?
The 1.9L TDI engine is the greatest one you can purchase for an Audi A4. This excellent diesel engine generates 228 pound-feet of torque and 130 horsepower. Even while it might not seem like much, that is a fantastic choice for the A4, a compact car.
The 1.9L TDI engine excels in this regard. These little diesel motors are some of the most durable ones ever made. There are several of them still on the road today who have driven more than 300,000 miles, and some of them have exceeded 500,000. If they choose to swap engines, many consumers opt to replace the gasoline engines in their A4s with the 1.9L TDI.
Although it’s an older option, the A4’s 1.9L engine has been reliable over the years. If you’re considering an Audi and want it to survive longer, you should think about choosing a diesel model because they have better gas mileage and a longer lifespan than their gasoline counterparts.