2011 Audi A4 Problems & Owner Complaints

Engine 17 1 fire

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TWENTY MINUTES LATER, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10565286, 2014 · fire

“IT APPEARS THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DEFECT, THE TIMING CHAIN ON CERTAIN AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN MODELS FAILS AFTER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILES. THIS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE, IN MANY CASES REQUIRING A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. REGRETTABLY, THIS IS WHAT RECENTLY HAPPENED WITH MY 2011 AUDI A4. IN FACT, THERE WAS A FAIRLY HIGH-PROFILE CLASS ACTION FILED AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN (CIVIL ACTION NO. 16-2765 (JLL)(JAD) THAT WAS RECENTLY SETTLED. (SEE HTTPS://TIMINGCHAINLITIGATION.COM/HOME/FAQ#FAQ6). UNFORTUNATELY, THE…”
NHTSA complaint #11222952, 2019

“MY VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL FASTER THAN NORMAL. I HAVE SINCE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OIL CHANGES WERE DUE TO TOP OFF OIL DO TO SEVERAL LIGHTS COMING ON: "MIN OIL", "OIL PRESSURE TOO LOW". I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS EACH YEAR AS WELL AS PARTS REPLACED: PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE, CRANKSHAFT DAMPER AND SEAL. HAD A 40 POINT INSPECTION IN 2014 AT 44K MILES AND IN 2015 REQUESTED A MULTI INSPECTION AT 55K MILES. I HAD SEVERAL OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS AROUND THESES DATES: 3/714, 5/7/15, 11/12/15. AFTER THEY CHANGED OUT PARTS I HAD TO CHANGE 4 FUEL INJECTORS IN 2016. TO F…”
NHTSA complaint #11205888, 2019

Unknown Or Other 6

“IT APPEARS THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DEFECT, THE TIMING CHAIN ON CERTAIN AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN MODELS FAILS AFTER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILES. THIS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE, IN MANY CASES REQUIRING A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. REGRETTABLY, THIS IS WHAT RECENTLY HAPPENED WITH MY 2011 AUDI A4. IN FACT, THERE WAS A FAIRLY HIGH-PROFILE CLASS ACTION FILED AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN (CIVIL ACTION NO. 16-2765 (JLL)(JAD) THAT WAS RECENTLY SETTLED. (SEE HTTPS://TIMINGCHAINLITIGATION.COM/HOME/FAQ#FAQ6). UNFORTUNATELY, THE…”
NHTSA complaint #11222952, 2019

“I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AN INDEPENDENT DEALER THREE WEEKS AGO. 200 MILES INTO DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR AN INSPECTION AND OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION, BUT THE MECHANIC NOTED VERY LITTLE OIL IN THE VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH THE NEXT OIL CHANGE WASN'T FOR 4,000 MILES. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE 600 MORE MILES, THE CAR INDICATED LOW OIL AGAIN. IN 2015, AUDI LOST A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS ISSUE. IN THE SERVICE RECORDS, THIS VEHICLE UNDERWENT THE FIRST STAGE OF REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE ISSUE IN JAN 2017, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED…”
NHTSA complaint #11141228, 2018

“VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON, HAS HAPPENED (AT LEAST 6 TIMES) AT SPEEDS OF 5MPH TO 65MPH (MOST RECENT INSTANCE, ON MAY 31, 2016). VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. RANDOM EVENT. CAR WILL RESTART AND RUN FINE FOR DAYS TO MONTHS. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT NOT THE PROBLEM. DEALER UNABLE TO DX DUE TO INTERMITTENT NATURE.”
NHTSA complaint #10871837, 2016

Fuel/Propulsion System 4

“MY VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL FASTER THAN NORMAL. I HAVE SINCE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OIL CHANGES WERE DUE TO TOP OFF OIL DO TO SEVERAL LIGHTS COMING ON: "MIN OIL", "OIL PRESSURE TOO LOW"”
NHTSA complaint #11207326, 2019

“FOLLOW UP TO COMPLAINT 10852082. ONCE AGAIN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING, THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF MULTIPLE LANES OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. AFTER THE FIRST TWO TIMES, THE DEFECT WAS NOT IDENTIFIED BY THE DEALER. THIS TIME, AS I BROUGHT THE CAR IN RIGHT AWAY, THE COMPUTER DETECTED THAT THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO FAULTY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUITS. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND HOPEFULLY MY CAR WILL NOW BE FINE. SO HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS. IS THIS REALLY WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CEASE FUNCTIONING THREE TIMES? IF SO, HOW MANY OF THESE FAULTY CPS SENSORS ARE OUT THERE? IT I…”
NHTSA complaint #10872194, 2016

“2 INCIDENTS OF TOTAL LOSS OF POWER INCLUDING STEERING. TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR TRAVELING NORMALLY AT LOW SPEED THE CAR CEASED TO FUNCTION. TODAY I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH TAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVE WHEN THE CAR DIED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. POWER WAS LOST AND I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY PULLING IT OFF THE ROAD. IT WOULD BARELY COAST. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE BUT NOW IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE.”
NHTSA complaint #10852082, 2016

Power Train 4

“IN NH AND BOUGHT A4 USED; WITHIN 2 WEEKS NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM TAILPIPE, DEALER SAID IT WAS NOTHING; THEN STARTED BURNING QUARTS OF OIL IN WEEKS, DEALER SAID THE PISTONS WERE NOT THE RIGHT MATCH AND IT WAS A RECALL THAT HAD EXPIRED, "FIX" WAS $4000, MONTHS LATER ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR STILL BURNING OIL.”
NHTSA complaint #10948065, 2016

“VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND STARTED SHAKING ONLY TO FIND OUT INJECTORS WENT OUT AND OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. AUDI USA IS PROLONGING AN ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE COMPLETED PHASE I OF THE TEST AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PHASE II COMPLETED HOWEVER WITHOUT MY CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE AUDI HAS THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM PHASE I OVER AGAIN. CAR IS EATING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL BUT YET AUDI USA IS PROLONGING THE SITUATION WITH NO RESOLUTION. PURCHASED THE CAR 08/24/2015 HAD TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE DONE TWO WEEKS LATER BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER BY OC…”
NHTSA complaint #10821037, 2015

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON AN INCLINE THE CLUTCH FAILED IN SIXTH GEAR. THE CONTACT DOWN SHIFT THE CLUTCH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WERE WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10557149, 2013

Steering 4

“AS I AM MAKING A TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET IN TOWN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, WHEN I COMPLETE A TURN IT WON'T WALK IT'S WAY BACK AROUND, YOU HAVE TO FORCE IT AROUND. I HAVE NEVER FELT SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.”
NHTSA complaint #11205890, 2019

“ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CAUSING UNSAFE INSTABILITY ON FREEWAYS. INTERMITTENTLY THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BUT SOON AFTER THIS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST COMES BACK ON AND HENCE TURNING THE STEERING MORE THAN REQUIRED AND ENDING UP IN AN UNSAFE POSITION OR SWERVING ON FREEWAYS AND EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MILEAGE WITH REPORTS OUT THERE ON CARS WITH LESS THAN 5K MILES. AUDI SHOULD HAVE A TSB AND RECALL FOR THIS.”
NHTSA complaint #11183697, 2019

“WHILE DRIVING ON I75 IN FLORIDA AT 70 MPH ON JUNE 18, 2017, THE STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. I MANAGED TO KEEP CONTROL AND GET THE CAR HOME WITH STRONG PHYSICAL EFFORT IN KEEPING THE STEERING STRAIGHT. I TOOK CAR TO AUDI NAPLES ON MONDAY JUNE 19, 2017. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SHAFT FAILED AND NEEDED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. AUDI REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION SHAFT AND U CONNECTOR. THE CAR ONLY HAD 42, 800 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY AUDI BY THE BOOK SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW FROM AUDI.”
NHTSA complaint #11001488, 2017

Air Bags 2

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V001000 (VISIBILITY, AIR BAGS ) AND 16V078000 (AIR BAGS ) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
NHTSA complaint #10979782, 2016

“IN NH AND BOUGHT A4 USED; WITHIN 2 WEEKS NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM TAILPIPE, DEALER SAID IT WAS NOTHING; THEN STARTED BURNING QUARTS OF OIL IN WEEKS, DEALER SAID THE PISTONS WERE NOT THE RIGHT MATCH AND IT WAS A RECALL THAT HAD EXPIRED, "FIX" WAS $4000, MONTHS LATER ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR STILL BURNING OIL.”
NHTSA complaint #10948065, 2016

Electrical System 2 1 fire

“CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT BUILDING. IT WAS OFF AND HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN OVER 20HRS. AT 11AM A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED PUT OUT THE FIRE, SAID IT WAS NOT ARSON BUT RATHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE CAR FRONT DASH WAS PARTIALLY MELTED, REAR SEAT BIG CHAR BLACK SEATING MATERIAL AND SHOWED EXPOSED WIRES.”
NHTSA complaint #11241009, 2019 · fire

“IGNITION COILS WENT OUT. CAR STOPPED ON BUSY STREET BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO SIDE STREET. COME TO FIND OUT AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR THE COILS WERE RECALLED.. SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT AUDI AND THEY VERIFIED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COILS. NO ONE NOTIFIED ME INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP GURLEY LEEP AND HE DID NOT NOTIFY ME AND I HAD TO COME OUT OF $1,000 TO HAVE THAT PROCESS FIXED THEN I HAD TO TURN AROUND LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGAIN AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING AGAIN I HAD TO COME OUT OF ANOTHER $1,000 THIS IS B******* SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BU…”
NHTSA complaint #10854151, 2015

Exterior Lighting 2

“FRONT LOWER REARWARD CONTROL ARMS MAKE SQEAKING NOISE VERY ANNOING”
NHTSA complaint #11010375, 2017

“"DIPPED RIGHT HEADLIGHT" WARNING POPPED UP ON MY CAR, ON AND OFF FOR MONTHS. MY RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WOULD WORK ONE DAY AND THEN "FAIL" THE NEXT. IT HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL IT FINALLY COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. MY BALLAST FAILED WHICH CAUSED HID/XENON LIGHT TO BURN OUT ON FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT. I HAVE READ THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT WITH THE HID/XENON LIGHT SYSTEMS AND THAT IT WAS PREVIOUSLY A RECALL ON EARLIER MODELS. WHEN SPEAKING TO AUDI, THEY SAID THIS HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE AND THEY WILL NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. I WOULD FEEL A FRONT HEADLIGHT IS AN IMPO…”
NHTSA complaint #10891531, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 1

“2 INCIDENTS OF TOTAL LOSS OF POWER INCLUDING STEERING. TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR TRAVELING NORMALLY AT LOW SPEED THE CAR CEASED TO FUNCTION. TODAY I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH TAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVE WHEN THE CAR DIED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. POWER WAS LOST AND I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY PULLING IT OFF THE ROAD. IT WOULD BARELY COAST. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE BUT NOW IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE.”
NHTSA complaint #10852082, 2016

Engine And Engine Cooling 1

“I HAVE A 2011 AUDI A4 2.0T THAT CONTINUES TO CONSUME OIL WHICH LEAD TO A MAJOR ENGINE MALFUNCTION @ 25K; 26K & NOW @36K THE ENGINE SEIZED ON THE HIGHWAY NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AS OF 10/31/13 I HAVE OVER A YEARS WORTH OF INVESTIGATION NOTES ABOUT AUDI'S PROCEDURES TO DEALING WITH CUSTOMERS. USING MYSELF AS TEST SUBJECT TO ENDURE THE MISDIRECTION AND LIES TO PERPETUATE THIS COVER-UP THERE ARE OVER 1000 COMPLAINTS DOCUMENTED FOR THIS OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE WHICH CAN LEAD TO YOUR ENGINE SEIZING UP AT HIGH SPEEDS. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/AUDI-A4/T532RVB94D9DR4EI0/P7 AUDI…”
NHTSA complaint #10567368, 2012

Structure 1 1 fire

“CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT BUILDING. IT WAS OFF AND HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN OVER 20HRS. AT 11AM A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED PUT OUT THE FIRE, SAID IT WAS NOT ARSON BUT RATHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE CAR FRONT DASH WAS PARTIALLY MELTED, REAR SEAT BIG CHAR BLACK SEATING MATERIAL AND SHOWED EXPOSED WIRES.”
NHTSA complaint #11241009, 2019 · fire

Suspension 1

“FRONT LOWER REARWARD CONTROL ARMS MAKE SQEAKING NOISE VERY ANNOING”
NHTSA complaint #11010375, 2017

Visibility/Wiper 1

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V001000 (VISIBILITY, AIR BAGS ) AND 16V078000 (AIR BAGS ) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
NHTSA complaint #10979782, 2016