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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

175 reports
500 miles · May 18, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

SINCE WE LEASED OUR 08 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0T WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR SEEMING TO LOOSE POWER AND JERK USUALLY WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 60 AND 70MPH. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED OR REPAIRED THE FOLLOWING UNDER WARRANTY: TWO DIVERTER VALVES (FIRST AT 500 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 1200 MILES) THE CAR WOU…

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SINCE WE LEASED OUR 08 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.0T WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR SEEMING TO LOOSE POWER AND JERK USUALLY WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 60 AND 70MPH. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED OR REPAIRED THE FOLLOWING UNDER WARRANTY: TWO DIVERTER VALVES (FIRST AT 500 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 1200 MILES) THE CAR WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN COLD AS IF RUNNING ON 2CYL, REMOVED AN AIR FILTER PRE-SCREEN (AT 5000 MILES SCHEDULED SERVICE), REPLACED THE TURBO CHARGER AND BATTERY POWER CABLE (8500 MILES). UN-FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE CONTINUES WITH THE PROBLEM AT 13,880 MILES. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE CONSUMES OIL AND NOW ONLY GIVES US 15-17MPG IN THE CITY, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TOLD ARE BOTH NORMAL BY MAPLEWOOD AUDI. I CAN SAY THAT IF WE HAD KNOW ABOUT THE VEHICLES OIL CONSUMPTION, POOR FUEL MILEAGE (ESPECIALLY FOR A 4CYL ENGINE) AND THE ENGINE JERK WE WOULD HAVE NEVER LEASED THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269117

6,700 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Structure

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, LIGHT TRAFFIC, 65MPH, 5PM, GOOD BUT WET CONDITIONS. SUN ROOF EXPLODED! VERY VERY LOUD. BASEBALL SIZED HOLE IN EXACT MIDDLE OF SUN ROOF WITH GLASS PUSHED OUTWARD (BOWL SHAPED). NO IMPACT WITH ROCKS OR ANYTHING ELSE NEAR BY. NO CAR IN FRONT BUT A CAR IN NEXT LANE. DEALER HAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM.…

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DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, LIGHT TRAFFIC, 65MPH, 5PM, GOOD BUT WET CONDITIONS. SUN ROOF EXPLODED! VERY VERY LOUD. BASEBALL SIZED HOLE IN EXACT MIDDLE OF SUN ROOF WITH GLASS PUSHED OUTWARD (BOWL SHAPED). NO IMPACT WITH ROCKS OR ANYTHING ELSE NEAR BY. NO CAR IN FRONT BUT A CAR IN NEXT LANE. DEALER HAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. COST WAS ABOUT $800 FOR REPLACEMENT WHICH WARRANTY APPARENTLY DID NOT COVER ACCORDING TO DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263913

3,200 miles · Mar 19, 2009
TiresWheels

I BOUGHT 2008 A4 ON LATE DECEMBER OF 2008. CAR CAME WITH THE PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASONS TIRES..OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS NOW HAVE 3600MILES ON THE CAR.. FIRST HAD 2 TIRE DAMAGES AFTER DRIVING ON MINOR BUMPY ROAD AT 25MPH.. 1 TIRE GOT PUNCTURED ON THE SIDEWALL 1 HAD BUBBLES ON IT.. WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED THE SAME SET O…

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I BOUGHT 2008 A4 ON LATE DECEMBER OF 2008. CAR CAME WITH THE PIRELLI P6 FOUR SEASONS TIRES..OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS NOW HAVE 3600MILES ON THE CAR.. FIRST HAD 2 TIRE DAMAGES AFTER DRIVING ON MINOR BUMPY ROAD AT 25MPH.. 1 TIRE GOT PUNCTURED ON THE SIDEWALL 1 HAD BUBBLES ON IT.. WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED THE SAME SET OF TIRES AND REPLACE THEM.. AFTER 2 WEEKS, HAD ANOTHER BLOW OUT ON THE SAME EXACT SPOT ON THE SIDE WALL WITH SAME DAMAGE.. THEN AGAIN WEEK LATER.. ON NJ TURNPIKE AT HIGH SPEED HAD SUDDEN BLOW OUT..WHICH WAS RESULTED FROM SIDEWALL PUNCTURE..AND AGAIN ENDED UP WITH FLAT TIRE AND A BUBBLE ON THE OTHERS.. I'VE NOTICED THE SAME PATTERN HERE FIRST YOU GET BUBBLE EASILY FROM NORMAL TYPE OF DRIVING GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPY OR ROUGH ROADS.. THEN ALL THE SUDDEN THAT BUBBLE BLOWS OUT, END UP GETTING THE BLOW OUT OR A PUNCTURE.. I CONTACTED PIRELLI TIRES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY DENIED ON DEFECTIVE TIRE ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL.. THEY SAID THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH BLOW OUTS CAUSE FROM ROAD HAZARDS.. WHEN THE TIRE IT SELF ARE DEFECTIVE IN A WAY.. THEY SHOULD REALLY RECALL THIS TIRE OR GET THEM OFF THE MARKET BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT OR KILLED... THANK GOD I AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BUT IT WAS REAL DANGEROUS.. IT COULD BE YOURSELF OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER.. I FIND PIRELLI TIRES HIGHLY RESPONSIBLE ON THIS MATTER. AND AUDI AMERICA AND NHTSA SHOULD DEAL WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262493

10,000 miles · Mar 16, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HEARD A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM HER BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT AUDI USES SEMI-METALLIC MATERIAL INSIDE THE BRAKE PADS AND ALL THEIR VEHICLES MAKE THE SAME NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS MORE CONCERNED OF THE NOISE, RATHER TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HEARD A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM HER BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT AUDI USES SEMI-METALLIC MATERIAL INSIDE THE BRAKE PADS AND ALL THEIR VEHICLES MAKE THE SAME NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS MORE CONCERNED OF THE NOISE, RATHER THAN THE SAFETY ASPECT. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WAS WILLING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10262066

3,950 miles · Sep 16, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI P6 TIRES. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2008 WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES. ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE TIRES. THE FRONT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 AUDI A4. THE VEHICLE HAS PIRELLI P6 TIRES. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2008 WITH THE ORIGINAL TIRES. ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE TIRES. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS LOW. THE CONTACT PLACED AIR IN THE TIRE AND THEN HEARD A SLOW HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. HE ALSO STATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE TOP PORTION OF THE TIRE, THE INNER WALL CAME APART. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO GO TO DISCOUNT TIRES SO THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE TIRES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,950.

NHTSA ODI #10242418

Official recalls

4

18V427000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.