2016 Audi A4Recalls, problems, MPG & safety
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 26 owner complaints for the 2016 Audi A4. Most complaints involve engine (8) and electrical system (5). The EPA rates it 24–27 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Safety recalls
Owner complaints by component
- Engine8
- Electrical system5
- Steering4
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Structure2
- Suspension2
- Exterior lighting2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Vehicle speed control1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each A4 model year we’ve synced.
View as table
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 92 |
| 1997 | 99 |
| 1998 | 258 |
| 1999 | 190 |
| 2000 | 96 |
| 2001 | 130 |
| 2002 | 189 |
| 2003 | 215 |
| 2004 | 189 |
| 2005 | 219 |
| 2006 | 298 |
| 2008 | 191 |
| 2009 | 144 |
| 2010 | 64 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 45 |
| 2013 | 111 |
| 2014 | 76 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 26 |
| 2017 | 83 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 158 |
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Deaths reported
- 0
What owners report most
Engine
“Car has 69,700 miles. All Audi suggested maintenance has been done. Synthetic oil changed every 5,000 miles (more frequently than Audi 10,000 mile recommendation). At 60,000 mile oil change, engine used 1 qt of oil. At 65,000 miles engine used 2 qts oil. At 69,500 mile oil change engine used 3.5 qts of oil. Audi is not sure this is excessive oil use. Must perform oil consumption test at our expense. Really?!?! Audi solution is for us to pay $8,500 for new pistons and rings. From what I see online, this is a common problem, a manufacturer defect that Audi is unwilling to stand behind. Please share my complaint with Audi USA. Registered a complaint with them also.”
Electrical system
“Ok before my previous incident it must’ve been 2 weeks ago that my car just sped up and broke on it’s on on a 65 mile road it’s to the point that I’m very hesitant to drive the car but it’s my only means of commute it’s just a total safety problem and I don’t feel safe one bit”
Steering
“We live in Montana where it gets very cold on a regular basis while driving our Audi the steering wheel ceased to function and would not allow us to control the vehicle this occurred three times. A warning on the dash came up that said steering malfunction stopped vehicle but it was very scary and intimidating to know that your steering wheel could quit at any time we got stranded and took it to a dealer and they said that the steering rack computer had failed and could not get the part for at least a month since they had so many of these vehicles having the exact same issue in the United States the dealership stated that the other three dealers locally to them all were waiting on the same exact part for the same problem they charge us $6,000 to repair it I would think that if so many of the same vehicles are having the same problems that there's no parts available in the country that it should be a recall and the manufacturer should be responsible for the issue what can we do?”
Engines, transmissions & drive
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Transmissions
- Automatic (AV-S8) · Manual 6-spd · Automatic (S8)
- Drive
- Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
EPA fuel economy by version
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 Auto (AV-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 31 | 27 | $2,950 | 341 |
| A4 quattro Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | $3,050 | 343 |
| A4 quattro Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 24 | $3,300 | 364 |
- 27mpg comb.
- 26mpg comb.
- 24mpg comb.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
- Frontal crash
- 5 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 5 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 9.9%
- Frontal crash
- 5 of 5
- Side crash
- 5 of 5
- Side pole
- 5 of 5
- Rollover
- 5 of 5
- Rollover risk
- 9.9%
Maintenance basics
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
- Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
6–12 months - Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
Every oil change - Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
1–2 years - Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
1–2 years - Brake fluid—
2–3 years - Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
5–10 years - Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
— - 12V battery—
3–5 years
2016 A4 questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Audi A4 have?
0 recalls found in NHTSA data as of Oct 27, 2026.
What are the most common 2016 Audi A4 problems?
Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (8), electrical system (5), steering (4). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
What MPG does the 2016 Audi A4 get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Audi A4 at 24–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).
How safe is the 2016 Audi A4?
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Audi A4 5 out of 5 stars overall.