Research · complaint index
Audi A4 years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 23 model years of the Audi A4 by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2020, 2006 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
1.0 = typical year for this model
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 158 | 23 | 3.3 | 3 | 1 | Most complaints |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2017 | 83 | 8 | 1.2 | 1 | 4 | Typical |
| 2016 | 26 | 2 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2015 | 44 | 4 | 0.5 | 0 | 4 | Typical |
| 2014 | 76 | 6 | 0.9 | 0 | 1 | Typical |
| 2013 | 111 | 8 | 1.2 | 0 | 5 | Typical |
| 2012 | 45 | 3 | 0.4 | 0 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2011 | 42 | 3 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2010 | 64 | 4 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | Typical |
| 2009 | 144 | 8 | 1.2 | 2 | 6 | Typical |
| 2008 | 191 | 10 | 1.5 | 4 | 8 | Typical |
| 2006 | 298 | 14 | 2.1 | 3 | 9 | Most complaints |
| 2005 | 219 | 10 | 1.5 | 4 | 7 | Typical |
| 2004 | 189 | 8 | 1.2 | 3 | 8 | Typical |
| 2003 | 215 | 9 | 1.3 | 4 | 10 | Typical |
| 2002 | 189 | 8 | 1.1 | 2 | 13 | Typical |
| 2001 | 130 | 5 | 0.7 | 3 | 5 | Typical |
| 2000 | 96 | 4 | 0.5 | 5 | 5 | Typical |
| 1999 | 190 | 7 | 1.0 | 7 | 9 | Typical |
| 1998 | 258 | 9 | 1.3 | 6 | 6 | Typical |
| 1997 | 99 | 3 | 0.5 | 8 | 7 | Fewest complaints |
| 1996 | 92 | 3 | 0.4 | 6 | 4 | Fewest complaints |
- 2020158 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 20198 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 201783 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 201626 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 201544 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 201476 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 2013111 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 201245 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 201142 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 201064 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 2009144 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2008191 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2006298 complaints · 3 recallsMost complaints
- 2005219 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2004189 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2003215 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2002189 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2001130 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 200096 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 1999190 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 1998258 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 199799 complaints · 8 recallsFewest complaints
- 199692 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
Data from NHTSA Complaints & Recalls APIs · synced Oct 29, 2026
Fewest complaints for their age: 2019, 2016, 2011, 1996, 2012, 1997.
About this comparison
What Audi A4 years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2020, 2006 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 23 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.