AUDI A4 Common Problems & Reliability

Based on 21,148 MOT tests from 1,754 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore. The figures below describe that VehicleScore sample. Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are not a claim that every AUDI A4 has the same fault.

AUDI A4's have a slightly over average reliability rating of 590/999. The score was calculated from the average of every AUDI A4 that has had a registered MOT.

We calculated all of the below figures by getting the score from each vehicle make/model/year/fuel, which are each calculated a score. We then generate the average score, taking into account factors such as mileage and emissions.

Also check BHP & performance, road tax, fuel economy, and CO2 emissions for the AUDI A4.

AUDI A4 (example)

Check an Audi A4 before you buy

Enter your registration to see available vehicle history information including service records, MOT, mileage, write-off status, outstanding finance and more.

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Outstanding finance & theft checks

Fuel Type	Year	Reliability Score	Avg Mileage	Sample Size
N/A	N/A	781/999Very good	72,209 miles	4,868 vehicles
N/A	N/A	764/999Very good	74,985 miles	6,681 vehicles
N/A	N/A	754/999Very good	78,273 miles	4,625 vehicles
N/A	N/A	742/999Very good	79,151 miles	4,873 vehicles
N/A	N/A	735/999Very good	79,478 miles	9,079 vehicles
N/A	N/A	716/999Very good	83,213 miles	3,039 vehicles
N/A	N/A	707/999Very good	79,948 miles	12,368 vehicles
N/A	N/A	690/999Good	86,538 miles	1,897 vehicles
N/A	N/A	682/999Good	81,022 miles	13,500 vehicles
N/A	N/A	664/999Good	82,770 miles	1,942 vehicles
N/A	N/A	652/999Good	81,557 miles	13,800 vehicles
N/A	N/A	609/999Good	81,994 miles	11,181 vehicles
N/A	N/A	551/999Above average	81,519 miles	1,441 vehicles
N/A	N/A	518/999Above average	83,410 miles	7,943 vehicles
N/A	N/A	517/999Above average	106,331 miles	1,605 vehicles
N/A	N/A	517/999Above average	82,090 miles	2,048 vehicles
N/A	N/A	505/999Above average	129,072 miles	956 vehicles
N/A	N/A	502/999Above average	101,611 miles	1,689 vehicles
N/A	N/A	494/999Average	87,609 miles	4,067 vehicles
N/A	N/A	492/999Average	83,820 miles	8,606 vehicles
N/A	N/A	489/999Average	85,108 miles	8,276 vehicles
N/A	N/A	483/999Average	94,127 miles	4,794 vehicles
N/A	N/A	483/999Average	86,869 miles	7,662 vehicles
N/A	N/A	480/999Average	81,722 miles	4,695 vehicles
N/A	N/A	471/999Average	83,246 miles	4,123 vehicles
N/A	N/A	470/999Average	122,286 miles	1,084 vehicles
N/A	N/A	467/999Average	82,976 miles	4,588 vehicles

How reliable is the AUDI A4?

Based on 21,148 MOT tests from 1,754 vehicles analysed by VehicleScore.

Vehicles

1,754

MOT tests

21,148

Pass rate

81.3%

Median mileage

105,968 mi

Recurring issues seen in VehicleScore MOT data are inspection findings from this sample. They are not a statement that every AUDI A4 has the same fault. The median VehicleScore in this sample is 646 out of 999.

Common AUDI A4 MOT problems

These groups combine equivalent MOT comments, such as the same tyre note on different corners. Counts are comment occurrences in the sample, not a percentage of cars.

Tyre wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 4,122 advisory comments and 519 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record tyres that were worn, damaged, or close to the legal tread depth when the car was inspected.

What to inspect

Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.

Example MOT wording: NEARSIDE FRONT TYRE WORN CLOSE TO LEGAL LIMIT/WORN ON EDGE (5.2.3 (E))

Brake pad wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 780 advisory comments and 62 failure comments in this group. Seen as both an advisory and a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake pads that were worn or below the inspection limit.

What to inspect

Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.

Example MOT wording: REAR BRAKE PAD(S) WEARING THIN (1.1.13 (A) (II))

Brake disc wear

VehicleScore MOT data includes 561 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record brake discs that were worn, scored, pitted, or corroded.

What to inspect

Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.

Example MOT wording: FRONT BRAKE DISC WORN, PITTED OR SCORED, BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (1.1.14 (A) (II))

Oil leak

VehicleScore MOT data includes 411 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an oil leak noted by the tester. Shock absorber misting is counted as a damper issue, not as an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.

Example MOT wording: OIL LEAK, BUT NOT EXCESSIVE (8.4.1 (A) (I))

Coil spring issues

VehicleScore MOT data includes 359 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record coil springs that were corroded, fractured, or otherwise defective. They are counted separately from shock absorbers.

What to inspect

Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE REAR COIL SPRING FRACTURED OR BROKEN (5.3.1 (B) (I))

Corrosion

VehicleScore MOT data includes 355 advisory comments in this group. Seen mainly as an advisory. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record corrosion the tester could see on the body or structure. Corrosion already named on a spring, brake, or other component is counted with that component.

What to inspect

Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.

Example MOT wording: REAR SUB-FRAME CORRODED BUT NOT SERIOUSLY WEAKENED (5.3.3 (B) (I))

Shock absorber issues

VehicleScore MOT data includes 138 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record shock absorbers or dampers that were leaking, misting, or insecure. A light misting of oil on a damper is not an engine oil leak.

What to inspect

Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.

Example MOT wording: OFFSIDE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS HAS A SERIOUS FLUID LEAK (5.3.2 (B))

Engine warning lamp

VehicleScore MOT data includes 131 failure comments in this group. Seen mainly as a failure reason. These are comment occurrences, not a share of all cars.

These MOT comments record an engine warning lamp that was on, or did not work, during the inspection.

What to inspect

Switch on the ignition and confirm the lamp comes on and then goes out. Ask what was diagnosed if it stayed on.

Example MOT wording: ENGINE MIL INOPERATIVE OR INDICATES A MALFUNCTION (8.2.2.2 (G))

AUDI A4 MOT reliability by year

A model year is only commented on when VehicleScore has at least 5 vehicles from that year.

Year	Vehicles	MOT tests	Pass rate	Recurring issues seen
2024	12	1	100%	No recurring grouped MOT issue in this year sample
2023	36	35	88.6%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2022	18	37	89.2%	Tyre wear, Shock absorber issues
2021	40	134	91%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2020	51	217	88.5%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2019	68	385	87.5%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2018	88	609	85.7%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2017	155	1206	86.7%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2016	177	1506	85.4%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2015	110	1087	82.9%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2014	122	1370	82.1%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2013	113	1353	82.5%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2012	113	1515	82.1%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2011	91	1329	82.3%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2010	87	1376	81%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2009	74	1303	79.3%	Tyre wear, Brake pad wear
2008	94	1745	78%	Tyre wear, Coil spring issues
2007	86	1689	80.2%	Tyre wear, Oil leak
2006	56	1106	80.4%	Tyre wear, Oil leak
2005	29	640	78.1%	Tyre wear, Corrosion
2004	26	621	76.5%	Tyre wear, Oil leak
2003	17	380	76.3%	Tyre wear, Brake disc wear
2002	9	231	75.8%	Tyre wear, Anti-roll bar issues
2001	5	138	71%	Brake disc wear, Corrosion
2000	8	181	74%	Oil leak, Corrosion
1999	5	120	64.2%	Emissions test issues, Registration plate condition
1998	8	167	70.7%	Shock absorber issues, Brake disc wear

What to check when buying a used AUDI A4

This is an inspection checklist based on MOT comments in the VehicleScore sample. It does not mean the car you are looking at has these defects.

Tyre wear. Check the tread depth and look for uneven wear, cracking, or damage on all four tyres.
Brake pad wear. Ask for recent pad replacement and look at the remaining pad thickness.
Brake disc wear. Look at the disc faces for deep scoring, a lip at the edge, and corrosion.
Oil leak. Look under the engine for fresh oil, and check the oil level.
Coil spring issues. Look for a broken or heavily corroded spring and compare the ride height on both sides.
Corrosion. Inspect the underside, sills, and subframe for heavy corrosion, especially where an advisory mentions it.
Shock absorber issues. Look for oil misting on the damper body and listen for knocks over bumps.
Engine warning lamp. Switch on the ignition and confirm the lamp comes on and then goes out. Ask what was diagnosed if it stayed on.

Buying a AUDI A4?

Common problems tell you what can affect AUDI A4s generally. VehicleScore can check the history of the actual car you're considering.

Where does this data come from?

VehicleScore analyses MOT histories from vehicles in its own dataset. Sample sizes vary by model, and a small sample is labelled as such. MOT data records roadworthiness and inspection defects. It does not capture every mechanical or electronic problem a car can have, and a comment on one test is not proof that the model has an inherent fault.

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