Owners have filed 24 complaints
about the 2015 Audi A4 with NHTSA between 2019 and 2026.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 21 of 28 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 9
Against the median year of the Audi A4. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 65
12.5% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 49
29% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
114.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
457.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
114.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
114.3%
NHTSA crash tests
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own
photographs and star ratings.
Frontal crash test
Side barrier crash test
Side pole crash test
Photographs taken by NHTSA during its own New Car Assessment Program crash
tests of this model year. Public domain.
Configuration
Overall
Front
Side
Rollover
2015 Audi A4 4 DR FWD
9.9% risk
2015 Audi A4 4 DR AWD
9.9% risk
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 2019peak 3Jul 2026
Recalls on the 2015 Audi A4
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 201817447,704 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0L TFSI engine, the electric coolant pump could experience a short circuit and/or overheat. A short circuit or overheating of the pump could increase the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will unplug the electric coolant pump and update the coolant pump software to mitigate the risk of fire as an interim measure. When parts become available, dealers will replace the electric coolant pump, and install an updated coolant pump software.
Recall 201748337,066 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain vehicles, the contacts within the electrical connector of the auxiliary heater could corrode. This could cause the auxiliary heater to fail and/or cause the wires to overheat and melt. If the wires were to melt, it could lead to an open circuit and/or overheating, which could increase the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and update vehicle software as necessary.
Recall 201700247,704 units in Canada
Engine
On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0L TFSI engine, the coolant pump could become blocked by debris from the cooling system. This could lead to the pump overheating and could increase the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will update vehicle software which deactivates the power supply to the coolant pump if the pump becomes blocked with debris. The driver will be notified of the blocked coolant pump through the illumination of the Electronic Power Control (EPC) lamp.
Recall 201447715,116 units in Canada
Airbag
On certain vehicles, it is possible that the front airbags may not deploy in a crash as designed, due to an improper algorithm/coding within the airbag control module. Front seat occupants may not have the intended protection from the frontal airbag system in crash events where second stage deployment is warranted. This could increase the risk of injury to the front seat occupants. Correction: Dealers will adjust the airbag control unit deployment parameter.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Headland, AL1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The battery failed/malfunctioned and was leaking hydrogen sulfide gas into my car slowly for a long period of time. A month or two after I initially financed this used Audi A4 at Volkswagon in Dothan, AL, I started experiencing the side effects of low dose exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas. From that point until today my symptoms have been getting worse and worse. My asthma symptoms progressed. I caught walking pneumonia several times. My hair has been falling out in clumps and my kindneys are having serious issues. My pee started smelling very strange. Consistently, over the past year and a half, I have nearly passed out at the wheel of my car over and over. For a very long time, the gas was odorless and really couldn't be detected by smell. Five days ago I went to start my car and it wouldn't crank. I jumped it off and for the next five days following that the smell of rotten eggs got worse and worse....I'm lying in the bed right now bc my lungs feel like they're going to explode. I've felt this, along with my heart feeling like it was going to explode put of my chest, as well as my entire stomach/intestines feeling as if someone were stabbing me with knives. My doctors could not figure out why all of my hair was falling out or why I started to develop peripheral neuropathy. They even ran tests on me for Multiple Schlerosis. Found nothing. They did electrical pulse tests and cat scans and my dermatologist had no explanation for my hair just falling off my head in handfuls. I have a third of the hair on my head that I used to have. My skin and eyes consistently kept getting irritated by the gas as well....splotchy red exema like patches appeared all over me. I had a miscarriage because of this as well. I couldn't afford to get the car looked at, so it hasn't been taken anywhere. I received no warning of the problem until two days ago when my lights in my car and the air conditioner stopped working. The year of my life had been a living hell.
NHTSA complaint #11424153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesELK Grove, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD DARTED IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. DESPITE HER BEST EFFORTS, THE CONTACT CLIPPED THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HIT HEAD ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT AND JAMMED HER THUMB; NO OTHER INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD AND HAD YET TO BE INSPECTED BY INSURANCE. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
NHTSA complaint #11374934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Mcdonough, GA
ENGINE
Oil consumption is extremely high this vehicle burns way to much oil in short amount of time. Oil has to be added every 300 to 400 miles and there are no leaks present
NHTSA complaint #11750557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 141,177 milesDenver, CO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2015 Audi A4. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the coolant warning light illuminated. The vehicle was turned off and restarted after 20 minutes, and the coolant warning light was no longer illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 141,177.
NHTSA complaint #11703017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
ENGINE
The vehicle has an oil consumption issue whereby I top off the oil in about every 400 miles. The dealership indicated that this is a known problem with Audi. The issue first started with warnings that engine is overheating and with further warnings that oil level is low
NHTSA complaint #11643289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
ENGINE
Spark plug for damaged due to oil seeping into it. This could lead to overheating of engine or cylinders getting damaged potentially leading to vehicle malfunction when I drive. Audi inspected the part and recommended to reseal the top of the engine. There was a warning for check engine which led to identifying the problem
NHTSA complaint #11643290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Spark plug for damaged due to oil seeping into it. This could lead to overheating of engine or cylinders getting damaged potentially leading to vehicle malfunction when I drive. Audi inspected the part and recommended to reseal the top of the engine. There was a warning for check engine which led to identifying the problem
NHTSA complaint #11643290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sebastian, FL
ENGINE
No 3 cylinder piston ring failure .Loss of compression.
NHTSA complaint #11629116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bushkill, PA
ENGINE
Piston ring defect and blew from over oil consumption. All years from Audi A4 2012-2019 recall law suit but they did not include 2015 which all years and models have same piston ring manufacturer defect it blew on me while I was driving home . Lucky I was in neighborhood and not on highway very unsafe.
NHTSA complaint #11579965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fredericksburg, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MMI system worked during test drive and then NOT worked after final sale: Safety systems included: The Multi Media Interface (MMI) system is an in-car user interface media system developed by Audi, and was launched at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show. MMI operates a large number of in car entertainment components, car electronics, and other functions. The list below indicates systems controllable by MMI. However, depending on the car model, along with version specified, only some functions will be available. Satellite navigation Radio tuner Media sources Telephone HVAC, climate control Car setup (e.g. central locking), global audio settings, suspension settings Rear view camera and parking sensors Driver information (e.g. fuel economy…) User manual Apple CarPlay 2014 and later model.
NHTSA complaint #11511420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fredericksburg, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MMI system worked during test drive and then NOT worked after final sale: Safety systems included: The Multi Media Interface (MMI) system is an in-car user interface media system developed by Audi, and was launched at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show. MMI operates a large number of in car entertainment components, car electronics, and other functions. The list below indicates systems controllable by MMI. However, depending on the car model, along with version specified, only some functions will be available. Satellite navigation Radio tuner Media sources Telephone HVAC, climate control Car setup (e.g. central locking), global audio settings, suspension settings Rear view camera and parking sensors Driver information (e.g. fuel economy…) User manual Apple CarPlay 2014 and later model.
NHTSA complaint #11511420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MMI system worked during test drive and then NOT worked after final sale: Safety systems included: The Multi Media Interface (MMI) system is an in-car user interface media system developed by Audi, and was launched at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show. MMI operates a large number of in car entertainment components, car electronics, and other functions. The list below indicates systems controllable by MMI. However, depending on the car model, along with version specified, only some functions will be available. Satellite navigation Radio tuner Media sources Telephone HVAC, climate control Car setup (e.g. central locking), global audio settings, suspension settings Rear view camera and parking sensors Driver information (e.g. fuel economy…) User manual Apple CarPlay 2014 and later model.
NHTSA complaint #11511420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Turn signal switch malfunction. When turning right turn direction on, the left turn goes on instead of the right turn. After researching the issue, it looks like it’s a common issue with Audi. This is a safety issue and need to be recalled asap.
NHTSA complaint #11508170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hollywood, MD
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The second (not movable) glass pane of the "panoramic sunroof" spontaneously shattered. That happened three days ago, because of the potential for water damage I need to have this repaired as soon as possible. However, until I get it repaired it is available for inspection. Apparently many Audi owners have experienced a similar phenomenon, commonly called "exploding sunroof", and other people have had the glass completely explode out. I did not have that happen but the glass did shatter entirely and completely. There was no rock or anything else that hit the sunroof as far as we know. It did leave significant cracks in the glass and I have photos of it. If the glass had completely blown out, it would have showered glass pieces into the passenger compartment. I did not involve the police or ask for a report. I will be taking the car to the Audi dealer and probably making an insurance claim because the repair will be fairly expensive. My car has always been dealer serviced on schedule. It is in excellent condition (outside of the shattered sunroof glass anyway). There were and are no warning lights or indicators related to the damaged glass.
NHTSA complaint #11486356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rutherford, NJ
ENGINE
The engine had catastrophic damage. I was driving, full oil, and the engine just died. The mechanic said the engine was destroyed and believes it was a manufacturing mistake.
NHTSA complaint #11467486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rutherford, NJ
POWER TRAIN
The engine failed while I was driving. The car did not show any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms, it just jumped and died. I had the car towed to my mechanic. The mechanic thought it was the starter, but then realized the chain had broken and it hit other parts of the engine, including the pistons catastrophically. The engine is not reparable. My safety was a risk as the car died on a busy road. Audi has asked that I bring the car, at my expense for them to inspect, without offering anything. I have a letter from them indicating that they will not help. ABS SYSTEM and Brake Actuator that is failing or defective. Vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired.
NHTSA complaint #11447143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rutherford, NJ
ENGINE
The engine failed while I was driving. The car did not show any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms, it just jumped and died. I had the car towed to my mechanic. The mechanic thought it was the starter, but then realized the chain had broken and it hit other parts of the engine, including the pistons catastrophically. The engine is not reparable. My safety was a risk as the car died on a busy road. Audi has asked that I bring the car, at my expense for them to inspect, without offering anything. I have a letter from them indicating that they will not help. ABS SYSTEM and Brake Actuator that is failing or defective. Vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired.
NHTSA complaint #11447143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rahway, NJ
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Sunroof just exploded
NHTSA complaint #11446554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
ENGINE
Excessive oil consumption
NHTSA complaint #11440802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Headland, AL1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The battery failed/malfunctioned and was leaking hydrogen sulfide gas into my car slowly for a long period of time. A month or two after I initially financed this used Audi A4 at Volkswagon in Dothan, AL, I started experiencing the side effects of low dose exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas. From that point until today my symptoms have been getting worse and worse. My asthma symptoms progressed. I caught walking pneumonia several times. My hair has been falling out in clumps and my kindneys are having serious issues. My pee started smelling very strange. Consistently, over the past year and a half, I have nearly passed out at the wheel of my car over and over. For a very long time, the gas was odorless and really couldn't be detected by smell. Five days ago I went to start my car and it wouldn't crank. I jumped it off and for the next five days following that the smell of rotten eggs got worse and worse....I'm lying in the bed right now bc my lungs feel like they're going to explode. I've felt this, along with my heart feeling like it was going to explode put of my chest, as well as my entire stomach/intestines feeling as if someone were stabbing me with knives. My doctors could not figure out why all of my hair was falling out or why I started to develop peripheral neuropathy. They even ran tests on me for Multiple Schlerosis. Found nothing. They did electrical pulse tests and cat scans and my dermatologist had no explanation for my hair just falling off my head in handfuls. I have a third of the hair on my head that I used to have. My skin and eyes consistently kept getting irritated by the gas as well....splotchy red exema like patches appeared all over me. I had a miscarriage because of this as well. I couldn't afford to get the car looked at, so it hasn't been taken anywhere. I received no warning of the problem until two days ago when my lights in my car and the air conditioner stopped working. The year of my life had been a living hell.
NHTSA complaint #11424153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,000 milesYork, ME
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT GRILL OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, AND THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THE ISSUE TO A WIRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEY FORD OF YORK (422 US-1, YORK, ME 03909) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE OIL NEEDED TO BE TOPPED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #11405766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,000 milesYork, ME
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT GRILL OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, AND THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THE ISSUE TO A WIRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEY FORD OF YORK (422 US-1, YORK, ME 03909) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ENGINE OIL NEEDED TO BE TOPPED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #11405766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12 milesBirmingham, AL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER'S SIDE LIGHT KEEPS BLOWING WHILE DRIVING CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES AND IT KEEPS HAPPENING.
NHTSA complaint #11403401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 milesELK Grove, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD DARTED IN FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. DESPITE HER BEST EFFORTS, THE CONTACT CLIPPED THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HIT HEAD ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT AND JAMMED HER THUMB; NO OTHER INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD AND HAD YET TO BE INSPECTED BY INSURANCE. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
NHTSA complaint #11374934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesSAN Diego, CA
ENGINE
ISSUE WITH POORLY ENGINEERED WATER PUMP. MY WATER PUMP WENT OUT DUE TO A SMALL PLASTIC SEAL MALFUNCTIONING AND ALLOWING COOLANT TO EXPEL FROM SYSTEM. I AM FORTUNATE I LEARNED OF THE ISSUE UPON STARTING MY CAR AND COULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE CARE OF IT, ALTHOUGH LEAVING WORK AT 9PM, LONG AFTER EVERYONE HAS LEFT AND WITH NO AUTOMOTIVE SHOPS OPEN MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TAKE CARE OF. UPON TALKING WITH AN INDEPENDENT AUDI/VW SPECIALIST AND DOING MY OWN RESEARCH I CAME TO FIND THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLY COMMON PROBLEM. MY CAR HAD ONLY 35K MILES ON IT AND WAS 1 MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE AUDI/VW SHOP SAYS THEY REPLACE 4-5 OF THESE PUMPS PER WEEK! IT CLEARLY IS A MAJOR ISSUE, ESPECIALLY SINCE A CAR CANNOT FUNCTION AND IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE COOLING SYSTEM. I WAS VERY UPSET THAT THE AUDI BRAND WOULD ALLOW A KNOWN PROBLEM TO CONTINUE, AS IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A 'LUCK OF THE DRAW' PART MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #11300976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesSEA Cliff, NY
ENGINE
THE CAR BURNS TOO MUCH OIL, NEED TO ADD 1 QUART EVERY 700-1000 MILES. THERE IS NO LEAK BUT THE OIL BURNS AND YOU CAN SEE THE EXHAUST PIPES ARE BLACK. IT SEEMS THIS WAS A PROBLEM IN 2011 4 CYLINDER AUDIS AND IT WAS ADDRESSED BY AUDI.
NHTSA complaint #11289275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
