Illustration2008 AUDI A4 AVANT WITH THE 2.0 LITER TURBO MOTOR/ ENGINE CODE IS BWT. CAMSHAFT LOBE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PREMATURE WORN OUT. AUDI KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN 2010 ABOUT THE PREMATURE WEAR ON THE CAMSHAFT LOBE AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
2008 Audi A4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most A4 years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Audi A4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
190–25K
825–50K
2050–75K
1175–100K
14100–150K
0150K+
72 reports with mileage · 103 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 116 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
Engine complaints
13 reportsI TOO AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY AUDI A4 TURBO I HAVE TO PUT OIL IN MY VEHICLE SEEMS LIKE EVERY MONTH OR SO. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS AND I HAVE HAD 2 OIL CHANGES AND ABOUT 10 QUARTS OF OIL IN THAT TIME. MY MECHANIC SAYS WITH SYNTHETIC OIL YOU SHOULD ONLY NEED OIL CHANGES TWICE A YEAR. I TOO KEEP GETTING TOLD THIS IS NOR…
Read full complaint
I TOO AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY AUDI A4 TURBO I HAVE TO PUT OIL IN MY VEHICLE SEEMS LIKE EVERY MONTH OR SO. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY 6 MONTHS AND I HAVE HAD 2 OIL CHANGES AND ABOUT 10 QUARTS OF OIL IN THAT TIME. MY MECHANIC SAYS WITH SYNTHETIC OIL YOU SHOULD ONLY NEED OIL CHANGES TWICE A YEAR. I TOO KEEP GETTING TOLD THIS IS NORMAL...THIS IS NOT NORMAL, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION....THIS CAN NOT BE GOOD FOR MY ENGINE. I ALSO WENT TO HAVE MY AC LOOKED AT AND FOUND THAT THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO THE AC THIS CAR IS TURNING OUT TO BE NOT WORTH THE MONEY AT ALL. I CANT NOT BELIEVE AUDI IS SELLING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH AUDI IN THE PAST BUT THIS TIME I THINK I HAVE HAD ENOUGH. *TR
PROBLEM: PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CAM AND CAM FOLLOWER RESULTING IN P0087 ERRORS. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO RUN VERY ERRATIC, SURGING AND BUCKING AND A GENERAL LOSS OF POWER. THERE IS AN AUDI TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THIS VERY ISSUE FOR MY 2005, 2006 AND 2007. THIS IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM! MY 2008 AUDI SHOULD BE …
Read full complaint
PROBLEM: PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CAM AND CAM FOLLOWER RESULTING IN P0087 ERRORS. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO RUN VERY ERRATIC, SURGING AND BUCKING AND A GENERAL LOSS OF POWER. THERE IS AN AUDI TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THIS VERY ISSUE FOR MY 2005, 2006 AND 2007. THIS IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM! MY 2008 AUDI SHOULD BE COVERED. --- AT AROUND 60K MILES THE CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING THE DREADED PREMATURE WEAR OF THE CAM LOBE FOLLOWER AND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP LOBE. THE FOLLOWER WAS REPLACED BUT THE CAM WAS NOT. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO MY AUDI MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT AUDI HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP, CAM FOLLOWER AND THE CAM TO 120,000 MILES AND MINE WOULD BE COVERED. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE AUDI DEALER THEY DID EVERYTHING THAT HAD A RECALL AND TOLD ME TO TRY IT. THE PROBLEM QUICKLY RETURNED AND I HAD MY MECHANIC REMOVE THE HIGH PRESSURE PUMP AND WE LOOKED AT THE WEAR ON THE FOLLOWER AND CAM. THE CAM AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWER WERE EXTREMELY WORN. I DO HAVE PICTURES FROM THEN AND NOW THAT THE CAM AND FOLLOWER HAVE BEEN REPLACED, I HAVE THE OLD PARTS AS WELL. NEXT TOOK IT BACK TO AUDI DEALERSHIP EXPECTING TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM AND WAS NOT COVERED. THEY THEN TOLD ME I NEEDED A CAM AND FOLLOWER AND I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE. I WOULD AUDI TO REIMBRUSE ME FOR THE WORK I HAD PERFORMED. *TT
Official recalls
418V427000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 22, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
17V032000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 11, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
16V382000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 1, 2016
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.
16V376000 · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
May 27, 2016
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Consequence: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
Air Bags
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Consequence: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.