2016 Audi A4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (4) · Steering (3) · Suspension (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi A4 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (465)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2083409_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin states that technicians are required to report to the manufacturer when a vehicle has flooded, and specify the height to which the vehicle has been flooded.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-25 · TSB_2052680_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information for reporting safety related information to the manufacturer.
Steering 2026-09-22 · TSB_2074846_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-09-22 · TSB_2020552_15 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides service information regarding exterior glass cleaning.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-15 · TSB_2030471_9 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when the license plate mounting bracket threded inserts are stripped.
Structure:body 2026-09-08 · TSB_2068999_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this tsb describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
Showing the 6 most recent of 465 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-10-19 · 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 excessiv…”
2023-02-12 · 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…”
2022-03-20 · Service Brakes“the car is completely not safe it seems to have a mind of its own and that’s saying that i’ve maintained everything up to par and it’s still a safety hazard …”
2022-03-20 · Steering“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…”
2022-03-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System“brucken motors, i purchased an audi a4 that was advertised on your facebook as safe, reliable, and dependent. i came to you with a down payment in hand, stating that i needed a car that drove without issues. i can afford minor repairs, but i wanted something with a clean history and service record. zachary laney, the salesman, claimed that there …”
2022-01-25 · Suspension“according to tsb 401548, car dealership/manufacture will not provide extended warranty to repair premature wheel bearing due to vehicle vin not in their system as an affected vehicle. the 2016 a4 has premature wheel bearing as described in the tsb 401548. covered vehicles are 2016 audi a4. faulty wheel bearing may result in loss of control of ve…”
2021-06-30 · Steering“rubber boot around the electronic steering rack wore out after only 30k miles. this has caused no warning lights, and very dangerous behaviour from the steering mechanisms. to include the steering wheel locking up mid turn, and the steering wheel "stuttering" due to the electronic motor failing. …”
2021-04-01 · Engine · 98,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2016 audi a4. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he detected a burning odor. the dashboard gauges and epc warning lights illuminated. the contact drove the vehicle to a gas station to refuel then back to his commercial property when he noticed there was fire coming from underneath the hood. the contact exited…”
2020-10-08 · Unknown Or Other · 43,000 mi“gear shifter pin broke vin # doesn't match my name nor dmv…”
2020-07-06 · Engine · 42,000 mi“only 500 miles following an audi oil change, the oil sensor light went off notifying us to add one quart of oil. we added one quart of oil and continued driving and then the light went off again. we called audi service and they told us to follow the instructions and add another quart of oil. we did and repeated one more time after another hour (…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.