2009 Audi A4 Problems and Recalls (120 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2009 Audi A4 is Engine (31% of 120 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 120 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2009 Audi A4?

37 of 120 filings named Engine (31% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Airbags (32 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2008 has 171 reports on file; this year has 120. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2009 Audi A4

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  3. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  4. Steering. Check for play in the wheel, noises on lock and whether it tracks straight.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Engine. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Engine 37 complaints · 30.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 6
  • Fires 3
  • Injuries 3
  • Deaths 0
All Audi A4 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Engine (ENGINE) appears in 37 of 120 owner complaints (30.8%) in this vehicle snapshot. Engine (ENGINE): 37 complaints, 30.8% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 37 · 30.8% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 32 complaints, 26.7% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 crash reports 32 · 26.7% Steering (STEERING): 14 complaints, 11.7% of reports Steering (STEERING) 14 · 11.7% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 6 complaints, 5.0% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 6 · 5.0% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 5 complaints, 4.2% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 fire reports 5 · 4.2% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 5 complaints, 4.2% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 5 · 4.2% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 4 complaints, 3.3% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 fire reports 4 · 3.3% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 3 complaints, 2.5% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 3 · 2.5% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 3 complaints, 2.5% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 3 · 2.5% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 14 complaints, 11.7% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 3 crash reports 14 · 11.7% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Engine (ENGINE) 37 30.8% 1 crashes · 1 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 32 26.7% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 14 11.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 6 5.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 4.2% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 5 4.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 4 3.3% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 3 2.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 3 2.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 14 11.7% 3 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2009; the first recall shown was reported in May 2016. 2009-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2010-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2012-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2016-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 2009 Oct 2024 Recall campaign 16V376000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V376000 Recall campaign 17V032000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V032000
  • Campaign 17V032000 was reported 2,785 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2009-Q2 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 5
2010-Q2 Owner reports 3
2010-Q3 Owner reports 5
2010-Q4 Owner reports 2
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2011-Q3 Owner reports 2
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 5
2012-Q3 Owner reports 2
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 2
2014-Q1 Owner reports 3
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 3
2014-Q4 Owner reports 2
2015-Q1 Owner reports 3
2015-Q2 Owner reports 2
2015-Q3 Owner reports 8
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 5
2016-Q3 Owner reports 7
2016-Q4 Owner reports 5
2017-Q1 Owner reports 4
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 4
2017-Q4 Owner reports 5
2018-Q1 Owner reports 4
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q3 Owner reports 6
2018-Q4 Owner reports 2
2019-Q1 Owner reports 7
2019-Q2 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 1
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 16V376000
Recall campaign 1 17V032000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 16V376000

    Safety recall 16V376000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 17V032000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 7 of 120 complaints · page 1 of 5
2024-12-23Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 11632061
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I own a 2009 audi a4. On the Month of october 2024 my transmission failed. I towed my car to a mechanic who then replaced my transmission i picked up my car on December 11 2024 at 7 am from audi of fresno. I have had no prior issues and like always i expect a dealership to inspect a new vehicle that comes in ,as i have never been able to get work done with out them always doing their own diagnostic. Any ways . On the morning of [XXX] at [XXX] i went to pic up breakfast from carls jr with my boyfriend . As i placed my order and drove up to the window without a single warning my car engulfed in flames from the front driver side . I turned my car off jumped out called. The fire department and watched as my car continued to build flames until the fire department finally showed up. Had i taken the freeway that day instead of the streets i wouldnt have noticed the fire until it was to late. . Im in shock and also just [XXX] that something like thus happened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2024-08-05Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11606543
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The negligent driver yielded to the flow of traffic without stopping. When he collided with us, the airbags (exploded) deployed so strongly that they damaged the windshield and our bodies: face, neck, etc. Our beloved Audi A4 2009 was totaled and after that we had several operations: 2 eye operations (need 2 more), dental surgeries, 3 neck surgeries ... multiple unpaid medical expenses.
2024-03-24Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11579192
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
2021-12-28ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NHTSA ODI 11445328
CrashFireInjuryDeath
On Sunday December 19, 2021, while driving home the warning light for the battery/alternator flashed on with an associated beep warning. An estimated 30 miles later all electrical and motor functions died while I was in heavy traffic. I was able to pull off onto a narrow shoulder up a steep hill and park. All functions quit, I could not come out of "Park", the emergency brake switch would not release, the emergency flashers did not function. Nothing responded. I called AAA Towing service to be taken to an Audi service repair shop. The towing service had to use a jumper to provide electrical power to release the emergency brake and take the transmission out of "park." The repair service was the "Sport Hous Reno" where the alternator and the battery were replaced. Invoice # 4791, 12-21-2021, total $1,709.12. I do not expect the battery to be covered since it is expendable. However, the alternator malfunction and this model of Audi completely dying placed me in a dangerous situation where I or my family could have been seriously injured. This is not my first Audi, I did have a similar occurrence with another model and when the battery caused a malfunction the Audi computer went in "Limp Mode" and I was able to drive slowly to the dealership. This was not the case, when the electrical system failed it did not go into "Limp Mode," it completely "Died" placing me and my car in a dangerous position.
2021-07-23Steering (STEERING)
NHTSA ODI 11426196
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2020-01-07Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11297581
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.
2019-09-03Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11253045
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2009 Audi A4?

Owners named Engine most often — 37 of 120 reports (31%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2009 Audi A4?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2009 Audi A4?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources