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2009 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Audi A4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 76.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

71 reports with mileage · 49 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.

  • Engine. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

44 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2024
Air BagsEngineFuel/propulsion System

The turbo sounds like it's not going in/out of gear, oil going into spark plugs, radiator fluid leaking system getting real hot. Low engine poer picking up speed an issue. Air bag rear brake light malfunction, oil pressure not correct

NHTSA ODI #11579192

93,420 miles · Jan 7, 2020
Engine

PURCHASED VEHICLE 8/15/19 AT SELECT MOTORS INC, SMYRNA TN. CLEAN CAR FAX REPORT. ONGOING OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. INTAKE CAMSHAFT LOCKED UP FOLLOWING OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AT AUDI OF NASHVILLE. NOT DRIVEABLE NOW. AUDI OF NASHVILLE QUOTED CYLINDER HEAD AND ASSOCIATED PARTS, TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER, CAM ADJUSTER AND PISTONS. TSB-202…

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PURCHASED VEHICLE 8/15/19 AT SELECT MOTORS INC, SMYRNA TN. CLEAN CAR FAX REPORT. ONGOING OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. INTAKE CAMSHAFT LOCKED UP FOLLOWING OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AT AUDI OF NASHVILLE. NOT DRIVEABLE NOW. AUDI OF NASHVILLE QUOTED CYLINDER HEAD AND ASSOCIATED PARTS, TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER, CAM ADJUSTER AND PISTONS. TSB-2027731-8 BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. ENGINEERING DEFECT WITH PISTONS A KNOWN ISSUE. CONTACTED AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA. UNWILLING TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. CAR BEYOND THE 8YEAR/80,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY OFFERED FOLLOWING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. PAID CASH AT PURCHASE, PUT ROUGHLY 2,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND AND BEING TOLD WILL NEED TO SPEND AN ADDITIONAL $10,000-$13,000 TO GET THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN FOR A KNOWN ENGINEERING DEFECT WITH THE PISTONS AUDI IS UNWILLING TO CLASSIFY AS A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11297581

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

ENGINE COOLANT AND ENGINE LIGHT ETC CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD. BASED ON THE AUDI MESSAGE MY VEHICLE COULD CATCH ON FIRE.PLEASE SEND ME INFO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11253045

97,000 miles · May 13, 2019
Engine

DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT STARTED SHAKING. GOT THE CAR HOME AND WHEN I SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON IT RATTLED AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD IT CHECKED BY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER WERE THE PROBLEM AND I WAS JUST TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE NEXT D…

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DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT STARTED SHAKING. GOT THE CAR HOME AND WHEN I SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON IT RATTLED AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD IT CHECKED BY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER WERE THE PROBLEM AND I WAS JUST TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO TELL ME I NEEDED NEW CYLINDERS BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. QUOTED ME $7,500 TO REPAIR. I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE CLASS ACTION SUIT BECAUSE MY CAR DID NOT BREAK UNTIL AFTER THE WINDOW CLOSED. AUDI KNEW ABOUT THE FAILURE AND DID NOTHING TO WARN OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI #11207343

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2019
EngineStructure

I PURCHASED FROM A DEALERSHIP WITH WARRANTY AND WITH IN THE WEEK THE CAR NEEDED A QUART OF OIL, I COME TO FIND OUT THE CAR HAS BEEN TO AUDI DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS ADVISED THE VACUUM PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING OIL, THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THIS CAR IN AUCTION TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM …

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I PURCHASED FROM A DEALERSHIP WITH WARRANTY AND WITH IN THE WEEK THE CAR NEEDED A QUART OF OIL, I COME TO FIND OUT THE CAR HAS BEEN TO AUDI DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS ADVISED THE VACUUM PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING OIL, THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THIS CAR IN AUCTION TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WAS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE SINCE AUDI DIAGNOSED IT FOR THEM AND NO WORK HAD BEEN DONE. AUDI HAD A CALL BACK FOR THIS ISSUE AND HAD REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WHEN THE DEALERSHIP BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR LOAN ON A CAR THAT NEED OVER $6K IN REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE IT SELF.

NHTSA ODI #11183701

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2019
Engine

OIL CONSUMPTION IS HORRIBLE I'M REFILLING A QUART OF OIL EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND I DID RECEIVE NOTICE OF A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11175841

60,000 miles · Jan 24, 2019
EngineCrash

OIL CONSUMPTION I HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2012 AND FOUND OUT RECENTLY ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THROUGH THE INTERNET, WHEN MY CAR STARTED CONSUMING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE OWNER MANUAL SAYS A QUART PER ~1,200 MILES, BUT I'M GETTING OIL LIGHT AT ABOUT 400 MILES AFTER SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE WITH MULT…

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OIL CONSUMPTION I HAD THIS CAR SINCE 2012 AND FOUND OUT RECENTLY ABOUT OIL CONSUMPTION CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THROUGH THE INTERNET, WHEN MY CAR STARTED CONSUMING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE OWNER MANUAL SAYS A QUART PER ~1,200 MILES, BUT I'M GETTING OIL LIGHT AT ABOUT 400 MILES AFTER SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE WITH MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP I'M CURRENTLY DOING EVERY 10K MAINTENANCE WITH AND NONE HAVE ACTUALLY HELPED ME OUT SINCE I'M OUT OF WARRANTY OF 80K. I SPOKE WITH AUDI CORPORATE AND THEY SAY THEY WILL REVIEW WHEN THEY GET TO MY CASE WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH NEVER. THEY KEEP TELLING ME TO TAKE MY CAR IN TO DO PHASE 2 OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH IS GOING TO BE A SEVERAL GRAND REPAIR. I DID PHASE 1 OUT OF POCKET ROUGHLY 1,700 AND THEY FIXED PCV BREATHER VALVE, SEAL AND UPDATED SOFTWARE AFTER I REPLACED THE PCV BREATHER VALVE RECENTLY, BUT THEY SAID THE VALVE IS OLD, SO THEY REPLACED WITH NEWER ONE, BUT STILL PRETTY MUCH DOING THE SAME THING AND THAT'S CONSUMING OIL. AUDI CORPORATE SAY THEY WILL "REVIEW" MY CASE WHICH PRETTY MUCH MEANS I PAY OUT OF POCKET AND THEN THEY'LL SEE WHICH I DOUBT. THIS CAR IS LITERALLY A HEADACHE NEVER BUYING AN AUDI AGAIN. AUDI IS CROOKED AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO BAIT ME INTO REPAIRING THE CAR FURTHER WHICH WILL ULTIMATE LEAD TO A 10K ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NOT ON MY DIME.

NHTSA ODI #11171935

109,000 miles · Dec 6, 2018
Engine

THIS CAR IS BURNING OIL IN A EXTREMELY DANGER SPEED

NHTSA ODI #11156605

141,000 miles · Sep 30, 2018
Engine

MY CAR WAS OVER HEATING DUE TO A WATER PUMP AND MY TIMING CHAIN IS GOING AND I GOT A RECALL LETTER 2 DAYS LATER ON THE TIMING CHAIN AND NOW MY ALTERNATOR IS GOING OUT

NHTSA ODI #11132406

85,000 miles · Sep 6, 2018
Engine

AT 70K CAR WAS CONSUMING OIL EVERY 1K HAVING TO TOP OFF A LITER OF OIL. DEALER ADV THIS WAS NORMAL BECAUSE OF TURBO ENGINE. IGNORED THE ISSUE UNTIL GOT WORST TOPPING OFF EVERY 750MI'S THEN TO EVERY 200-300MI. DEALER CHECKED & ADV NEEDED TURBO ASSY REPLACEMENT BEFORE THEY WOULD CHECK ON THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. COST TO REPAIR $…

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AT 70K CAR WAS CONSUMING OIL EVERY 1K HAVING TO TOP OFF A LITER OF OIL. DEALER ADV THIS WAS NORMAL BECAUSE OF TURBO ENGINE. IGNORED THE ISSUE UNTIL GOT WORST TOPPING OFF EVERY 750MI'S THEN TO EVERY 200-300MI. DEALER CHECKED & ADV NEEDED TURBO ASSY REPLACEMENT BEFORE THEY WOULD CHECK ON THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. COST TO REPAIR $3,925+ TAX. COULDN'T AFFORD THAT SO LIVED W/ISSUE FOR A WHILE. DOING RESEARCH ON INTERNET I FOUND THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM W/THIS CAR/YEAR AND THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT & AUDI HAD TO PAY TO REPAIR FOR THIS OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE FOR FREE BUT ONLY IF YOU PUT THE CLAIM IN BY A CERTAIN DATE.I DIDN'T KNOW OF THIS SO I COMPLAINED TO THE AUDI DEALER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE FOR MY CAR TO BE HONORED. THE DEALER THEN WOULD PERFORM A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST FOR $300 WITH A FEW NEW SEALS AND BOLTS.IF AFTER THE TEST IT STILL CONSUMED OIL RAPIDLY THEY ADVISED MAYBE AUDI CORP WOULD HONOR THE REPAIRS OR AT LEAST HELP COVER A PARTIAL AMOUNT SINCE I WAS A DEDICATED CUSTOMER GETTING ALL MY SERVICES DONE AT AUDI. AFTER TESTING IT FAILED & WAS DIAGNOSED THAT I NEEDED NEW PISTONS/TURBO ETC.TO FIX THIS. BASICALLY SOUNDED LIKE A NEW ENGINE.WENT TO AUDI CORP. & SUBMITTED THE COMPLAINT & ALL SHOWED ALL RECEIPTS OF SERVICES DONE TO THE CAR TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP HONOR THE REPAIR BUT END RESULTS THEY DIDN'T DO MUCH & WAS ADVISED BY DEALER IT WOULD COST ME $7000 TO FIX. I ENDED UP DECLINING SERVICE FROM THE AUDI DEALERSHIP & WENT TO A LOCAL AUDI MECHANIC SHOP TO AT LEAST PERFORM THE TURBO REPAIR & THAT COST ME NEAR $5K. THIS IS A LEMON OF A CAR & AUDI KNOWS IT! THERE SHOULD OF BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS FIX BUT INSTEAD LET THEIR CUSTOMERS SUFFER SPENDING LOADS OF MONEY ON REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #11124722

Official recalls

2

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.

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

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: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.

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.