SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2018 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Audi A4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 76.5.

About this comparison →
44Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
19
201511
201655
201744
201810
2019127
202011
2021
Compare all A4 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Unknown Or Other
18Electrical System
17Fuel/propulsion System
6Structure
6Engine
5
All reported categories
Power Train
5Air Bags
4Forward Collision Avoidance
4Service Brakes
4Back Over Prevention
2Suspension
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Seats
1Steering
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 44 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2026
Service BrakesSuspensionWheels

An Audi dealer installed 245/40R18 93H tires on this 2018 Audi A4, while the vehicle placard/specification requires 245/40R18 97H. The lower load index reduces capacity from 1,609 lb per tire to 1,433 lb per tire, approximately 704 lb total across four tires. This creates a safety risk because load-rated tires affect vehicle sta…

Read full complaint

An Audi dealer installed 245/40R18 93H tires on this 2018 Audi A4, while the vehicle placard/specification requires 245/40R18 97H. The lower load index reduces capacity from 1,609 lb per tire to 1,433 lb per tire, approximately 704 lb total across four tires. This creates a safety risk because load-rated tires affect vehicle stability, heat buildup, braking, steering/cornering, suspension loading, and tire failure/blowout risk. After discovering the mismatch, the concern was reported to the dealer and Audi, but the dealer stated the 93H tires were acceptable rather than providing a safety-based correction. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. This complaint is being submitted because the vehicle may have been operated with under-rated tires and because the issue can affect handling, braking, tire durability, suspension/wheel components, and safe vehicle control. Tire/repair-order records, door-jamb placard evidence, load-index comparison evidence, and dealer communications are available.

NHTSA ODI #11747798

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2024
Service Brakes

Left front brake hose failed. Replaced both front hoses, bled and flushed the brake hoses as needed

NHTSA ODI #11604848

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2021
Service Brakes

While driving the emergency parking brake engaged itself without warning or cause. This caused the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. Luckily I was in a parking lot but if I had been in a high traffic area or intersection, it could’ve caused a collision. I had 2 passengers who witnessed this sudden bizarre event. There was nothi…

Read full complaint

While driving the emergency parking brake engaged itself without warning or cause. This caused the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. Luckily I was in a parking lot but if I had been in a high traffic area or intersection, it could’ve caused a collision. I had 2 passengers who witnessed this sudden bizarre event. There was nothing that could’ve caused this to happen. It scares me & now I’m worried this could happen again without warning. The sensor screen was beeping with a message to put my car in park before setting the brake. Made no sense why this happened.

NHTSA ODI #11441169

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2019
Service Brakes

NEW FACTORY BRAKES MAKE VERY LOUD AUDIBLE SCREECHING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP.THIS HAPPENS JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SOMETIMES IN THE BEGINNING OF BREAKING. MECHANIC HAS WORKED ON THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES AND REORDERED BRAKES FROM LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP AND IT IS STILL MAKING THE SOUND. DEALERSHIP SAID ITS 4TH …

Read full complaint

NEW FACTORY BRAKES MAKE VERY LOUD AUDIBLE SCREECHING SOUND WHEN COMING TO A STOP.THIS HAPPENS JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SOMETIMES IN THE BEGINNING OF BREAKING. MECHANIC HAS WORKED ON THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES AND REORDERED BRAKES FROM LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP AND IT IS STILL MAKING THE SOUND. DEALERSHIP SAID ITS 4TH GENERATION BRAKES AND ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE COATING.

NHTSA ODI #11279066

Official recalls

1

21V874000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger; Seats

Nov 10, 2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.

Seats

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.

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.