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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.

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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

Steering complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2021
Steering

I bought the car recently and drove it on the freeway, on the way back home I noticed a shaking/Vibration coming from the right side of the vehicle. It made the car very hard to control and staying in one lane was almost impossible. It swerves left to right uncontrollably at random times. I haven't taken it in to any dealership…

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I bought the car recently and drove it on the freeway, on the way back home I noticed a shaking/Vibration coming from the right side of the vehicle. It made the car very hard to control and staying in one lane was almost impossible. It swerves left to right uncontrollably at random times. I haven't taken it in to any dealership or manufacturer to check it out for me, also there's no warning lights on the dashboard at all. And I believe the owner I bought it from knew of this issue but didn't let me know so I'm really just as in the Blind as well. I don't know what else to do because I can't keep driving the car with uncontrollable force and putting kids in danger or anybody else's.

NHTSA ODI #11426196

92,000 miles · Feb 2, 2018
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE WAS REVVING WHILE IT WAS IDLE AND AT LOW SPEED, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO STEER THE CAR AND KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD FAILED AND HAD CAUSED SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE, CAUSING THE PISTONS TO FIRE PREMATUR…

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DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE WAS REVVING WHILE IT WAS IDLE AND AT LOW SPEED, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO STEER THE CAR AND KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD FAILED AND HAD CAUSED SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE, CAUSING THE PISTONS TO FIRE PREMATURELY. PREVIOUSLY THE TENSIONER WAS REPLACED IN 2014 BY AUDI WHEN THE CAR HAD ~50K MILES AND WAS REPORTED AS A "WEAK TENSIONER". MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 92K MILES. I BELIEVE THAT NO REPLACEMENT TENSIONER SHOULD ONLY LAST 40K MILES AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND PUT CONSUMERS AT RISK OF NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THEIR CARS.

NHTSA ODI #11066633

96,546 miles · Jul 26, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemSteeringSuspensionFire

MY CAR HAS A LEAKING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LEAK FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE STEEL LINE CONNECTS DIRECTLY TO THE FILTER AND IS LEAKING FROM THE STAINLESS STEAL LINE. THE POWER STEERING METAL HOSE LINES ARE INCORRECT FROM THE FACTORY AND DO NOT SUPPLY ENOUGH PRESSU…

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MY CAR HAS A LEAKING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LEAK FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE HOSE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE STEEL LINE CONNECTS DIRECTLY TO THE FILTER AND IS LEAKING FROM THE STAINLESS STEAL LINE. THE POWER STEERING METAL HOSE LINES ARE INCORRECT FROM THE FACTORY AND DO NOT SUPPLY ENOUGH PRESSURE IN THE LINE TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL FROM A VERY HARSH LOW SPEED SHUDDER WHEN TURNING. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAIL AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. NONE OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED ON THIS YEAR CAR. THIS MODEL AUDI IS AN ABSOLUTE LEMON HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES AND EXTREME REPAIRS AND HUGE COSTS WHEN TRYING TO FIX THEM. I HAVE THE PAPER WORK FOR THESE FIXES AND WHAT IT TAKES TO REPAIR THEM CORRECTLY. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THIS CAR REPAIRED FROM AUDI FOR THE PISTON RING OIL FAILURE WHICH THEY HAD TO REPLACE PER THE LAWSUIT THEY WERE HIT WITH AND STILL DENIED ANY WRONG DOING. PLEASE FORCE THIS COMPANY TO RIGHT THESE ISSUES THEY IGNORED IN THE FACE OF PROFITS INSTEAD OF DOING RIGHT BY THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ODI #10888525

27,000 miles · May 4, 2016
Steering

WHEN I AM BACKING UP, WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE REST OF THE COLUMN SHUDDER, VIBRATE AND MAKES A RUMBLING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #10862969

65,000 miles · Apr 29, 2016
Steering

EVERY TIME I PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL (NOT GIVING ANY GAS), THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE REST OF THE COLUMN SHUDDER, VIBRATE AND MAKE A RUMBLING NOISE

NHTSA ODI #10862198

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2015
Steering

WHEN DRIVING CAR IT BECOMES REALLY DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. OFF AND ON. I MYSELF ALMOST HIT SOMEONE WHEN MAKING A TURN AT AROUND 20 MPH, I HAD TO BRAKE AND TURN WITH BOTH HANDS USING ALOT OF FORCE. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MY DAUGHTER AS WELL. STARTED HAPPENING THE END OF LAST YEAR. CALLED DEALERS A…

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WHEN DRIVING CAR IT BECOMES REALLY DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. OFF AND ON. I MYSELF ALMOST HIT SOMEONE WHEN MAKING A TURN AT AROUND 20 MPH, I HAD TO BRAKE AND TURN WITH BOTH HANDS USING ALOT OF FORCE. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MY DAUGHTER AS WELL. STARTED HAPPENING THE END OF LAST YEAR. CALLED DEALERS AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #10731284

40,502 miles · Mar 20, 2015
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO ROTATE BECAUSE OF A STRONG RESISTANCE TO ROTATION. THIS BEHAVIOR WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL IN NORMAL TRAFFIC WITHOUT EXTREME FORCE. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP TESTED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE "INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT" BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. A CARS STEERI…

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THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO ROTATE BECAUSE OF A STRONG RESISTANCE TO ROTATION. THIS BEHAVIOR WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL IN NORMAL TRAFFIC WITHOUT EXTREME FORCE. THE AUDI DEALERSHIP TESTED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE "INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT" BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. A CARS STEERING SHOULD WORK FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I QUOTE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN'S REPORT: 'CONFIRMED CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND FOUND THE STEERING WAS JERKY AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. INSPECTED STEERING COMPONENTS AND FOUND THAT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS BINDING CAUSING THE STEERING TO JERK. REMOVED AND REPLACED SHAFT AND TESTED AND FOUND CAR TO BE OPERATING AS DESIGNED." I REQUESTED THE REPLACED PART WHICH I HAVE. (PART NUMBER 8K1 419 753 F). THE PART INCLUDES TWO UNIVERSAL JOINTS , ONE ON EACH END. EACH UNIVERSAL JOINT INCLUDES TWO FLEXIBLE BEARINGS WHICH ALLOW THE SHAFT TO BE FREE TO ROTATE FOR CHANGE IN ANGULAR POSITION. ONE OF THE ROTATING PINS WAS FROZEN AND WOULD NOT ROTATE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND MAY BE OCCURRING ON MANY OF THIS TYPE OF SHAFT. THE NUMBER OF REPLACEMENTS BY AUDI SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED TO DETERMINE IF A RECALL INSPECTION IS NEEDED. I TOLD AUDI US HEADQUARTERS THAT I WOULD BE FILLING A CLAIM IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. AS A RESULT THEY OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF THE $714.70 BILL WHICH I ACCEPTED INSTEAD OF WAITING FIVE MONTHS FOR A HEARING IN MASSACHUSETTS SMALL CLAIMS COURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700681

31,800 miles · Nov 18, 2013
Steering

I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CARD AND IT HAS A WEIRD GRINDING TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR WHILE PARKED. STEERING SHAKES AND FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT BREAK OR IS LOOSE AT THE STEERING COMPONENT POSSIBLE LINKAGE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552826

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2010
Steering

I HAVE TWO 2009 A4 HAVE A SHUDDER SOUND AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING WHEEL 5 OR 10 MPH ALSO WHEN PARKING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING WHEEL. PLEASE HELP! DEALER SAID THATS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354037

3,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Steering

AT LOW SPEEDS, STEERING SHAKES AND MAKES A RUMBLING NOISE WHEN TURNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342887

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.