2009 Audi A4 Problems
Compared with other Audi A4 years
More complaints than typical for this model
100/100 4.5× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 4.5× that of a typical Audi A4 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 21 of its 120 complaints were filed by the end of 2011.
- Most reported problem: Excessive oil consumption (needs frequent top-offs) (27 complaints, median 68,000 mi).
- 2 recall campaigns on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 120filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles, 71 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 30 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Audi A4 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2009 A4 most often report excessive engine oil consumption, frequently described as needing a quart of oil every few hundred miles, and timing chain tensioner failures that in some complaints led to valve and piston damage. Steering wheel shudder and vibration at low speed, especially while turning into or out of parking spaces, is also commonly described, and a number of complaints concern Takata airbag inflator recalls and the difficulty of getting the repair scheduled.
- Engine
Excessive oil consumption (needs frequent top-offs)
- 27 complaints (23%)
- median 68,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (22 state mileage)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $1,600 (median of 6 quotes)
- filed 2012–2019
Owners describe the low-oil warning coming on between services and adding a quart of oil every few hundred miles, with some reporting the interval growing shorter over time. Complaints say dealers often described the consumption as normal for a turbocharged engine, and that piston rings, seals or a cam seal were repaired or replaced after an oil consumption test. Several owners mention the problem persisting after the repair work. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to over 110,000 miles.
What to check: Check the oil level and look for a low-oil warning history; ask for records of any oil consumption test, piston ring or seal work, and how much oil is added between changes.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I been doing a lot of research and I seen that there are many vehicles that the add 1 quart of oil light to keep driving light comes out. Many have said is a pistons problem that need to be recalled by Audi. The light warning comes out randomly every month. There are no leaks in my vehicle. I have two buy 3 bottles in oil every month. The light comes on when I'm driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10936433, filed 2016-12, 77,800 miles“Purchased around jan 2013 with apx. 30,000 mi. Noticed right away the add oil indicator coming on. After adding a quart of oil a couple of times between oil changes and even taking into the dealership for them to add oil, I questioned the oil consumption of the car knowing that no car uses that much oil between oil changes. The dealership assured me there were no issues at first. …”
NHTSA complaint #10743630, filed 2015-07, 35,000 miles - Engine
Timing chain tensioner failure and engine damage
- 15 complaints (13%)
- median 93,710 mi at 8.8 yrs old (14 state mileage)
- owner-quoted repair $3,729 (median of 5 quotes)
- filed 2012–2020
Complaints describe the engine running rough or rattling, then failing to restart, with diagnosis pointing to a failed timing chain tensioner and a slipped chain. Owners report bent valves, damaged pistons and cylinder heads, and in several cases an engine declared unrepairable or replaced. Some note the tensioner was replaced earlier and failed again later. Typically reported between roughly 68,000 and 120,000 miles, though some earlier.
What to check: Ask whether the timing chain tensioner has been updated or replaced and when; listen for start-up rattle and check for a check-engine light or stored misfire codes before buying.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Vehicle began to run very rough / started to shake. Vehicle was then parked / turned off and couldn't restart. The vehicle was towed to the Audi dealership where they diagnosed the problem as a faulty chain tensioner. May I add here that I'm being told by the service people that updated chain tensioners are being recommended on newer vehicles. Just prior to the warranty expiration the care was serviced for the oil consumption issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10716613, filed 2015-05, 83,000 miles“Driving home from work, all of a sudden my vehicle was revving while it was idle and at low speed, making it very difficult and dangerous to steer the car and keep it under control. Upon inspection, it was found that the timing chain tensioner had failed and had caused serious engine damage, causing the pistons to fire prematurely. Previously the tensioner was replaced in 2014 by Audi when the car had ~50k miles and was reported as a weak tensioner . My car currently has 92k miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #11066633, filed 2018-02, 92,000 miles - Steering
Steering wheel shudder or vibration at low speed
- 9 complaints (8%)
- median 27,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2009–2016
Owners describe the steering wheel and column shuddering, vibrating or making a rumbling noise when turning at low speed, particularly pulling out of a parking spot or while stationary. Some complaints say the wheel was hard to turn or slow to return to center, and that dealers replaced the intermediate steering shaft or a power steering hose after repeated visits. Others report being told the vibration was normal. Mostly reported below about 50,000 miles, several within the first few thousand miles.
What to check: Turn the wheel through full lock at a standstill and at walking pace during a test drive, and ask whether the steering shaft or hose has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“2009 Audi A4 avant with 28000 miles on it when the steering became hard to steer at low speed. I drove it to the Audi dealer 315 miles from my home. Told that the steering shaft had seized and the part was on back order. Might take two weeks or more to repair. I was given a free rental and told that they would be in touch when repaired.”
NHTSA complaint #10319243, filed 2010-03, 28,000 miles“The steering wheel was difficult to rotate because of a strong resistance to rotation. This behavior was dangerous because I could not turn the wheel in normal traffic without extreme force. The Audi dealership tested the car and replaced the intermediate steering shaft but would not pay for the replacement. A cars steering should work for the life of the car. I quote the service technician's report: 'confirmed customer complaint and found the steering was jerky and would not return to center. …”
NHTSA complaint #10700681, filed 2015-03, 40,502 miles
Buying note. Have any 2009 A4 inspected for oil consumption and timing chain condition before purchase, and confirm open airbag recalls were repaired. Service records showing updated tensioner and piston ring work are worth asking for.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 120 consumer complaints for the 2009 Audi A4. 71 of the complaints include a mileage, and 38% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 65,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 775 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 6 Audi A4 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 100 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine44 37%
- Air bags33 28%
- Steering15 13%
- Fuel system8 6.7%
- Other or unknown7 5.8%
- Body and structure6 5.0%
- Engine cooling5 4.2%
- Suspension5 4.2%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Electrical system (3), Vehicle speed control (3), Seat belts (2), Forward collision avoidance (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seats (1).
Example complaints
Engine: “We bought two 2009 Audi A4's for our children. Last month one went to the the dealer because the engine failed and needed to be rebuilt because of oil consumption issue, while there the dealer informed us that the water pump was failing and needed to be replace. I questioned the dealer and called an independent Audi mechanic, both said the same thing, we were lucky it lasted this long Audi has known from the beginning that this water pump is flawed and should have been recalled. …”
NHTSA complaint #10877055, filed 2016-06, 79,000 milesAir bags: “Takata recall: I recently learned that both my driver side and passenger side takata airbags were recalled on my 2009 Audi A4. I have called and visited two dealerships in person and made over 5 phone calls to the manufacturer to try to get my vehicle's repair escalated, as my vehicle began it's life in florida, and humid regions are to be given priority, but to no avail. Audi, the manufacturer, has instructed me to talk directly to dealerships and the dealerships tell me to call Audi international. Both are pointing fingers at the other, and no one is doing anything to aid the situation. …”
NHTSA complaint #10909573, filed 2016-09, 85,000 milesSteering: “Every time I pull out of a parking spot, when I turn the steering wheel (not giving any gas), the steering wheel and the rest of the column shudder, vibrate and make a rumbling noise”
NHTSA complaint #10862198, filed 2016-04, 65,000 milesFuel system: “Two faulty mis fires caused car to misfire and run rough and jolt. Car was towed to the closest Audi dealership for repairs. Subsequently, within the next 9 months, the care again exhibited close to the same symptoms and the car was again towed to the closest Audi dealership. This time, the intake manifold was cracked and was replaced. With a service bulletin out on this vehicle on these exact issues, I was still charged a $250 deductible per incident ($500 total) on my extended warranty to replace both the injectors and the intake manifold. …”
NHTSA complaint #10748380, filed 2015-08, 39,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
38% of the 71 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 34,500 and 90,500 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Audi A4. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 · sedan FWD/AWD | not rated | 5 / 5 | — | — | 5 · 9.9% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2009 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2009 Audi A4 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A4 FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | 23 | 30 | 25 | $3,300 |
| A4 quattro 4WD/AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | 22 | 30 | 25 | $3,300 |
| A4 quattro 4WD/AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 21 | 27 | 23 | $3,550 |
| A4 quattro 4WD/AWD | 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 17 | 26 | 20 | $4,100 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 17V032000Jan 11, 2017Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator moduleCovers: Audi A4 2005–2009, A6 2005–2009, S4 2005–2009 +2 more
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois…
- 16V376000May 27, 2016Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactiveCovers: Audi A4 2008–2009, Q5 2008–2009, A5 2008–2009
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Recall details for the 2009 Audi A4 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 775 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11035797Jul 9, 2026Engine. This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
- 11032137Apr 22, 2026Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool
- 11022664Aug 19, 2025Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool
- 11021447Jul 10, 2025Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool
- 11016532Mar 12, 2025Engine. This bulletin provides informatin when the engine does not run smoothly at idling speeds.
- 11012483Dec 6, 2024Electrical system. This bulletin provides information in circumstances where there are noises/vibration from front of vehicle in dynamic mode.
- 11012476Dec 5, 2024Engine. This bulletin provides information when the MIL is on; DTCs for misfire, air/fuel ratio imbalance, or lean fuel system stored in the ECM P030000.
- 11011285Nov 26, 2024Electrical system. This TSB Provides information when parking assistance provides false warnings.
- 11011282Nov 22, 2024Body and structure. This bulletin provides information when speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference is noted.
- 11011240Nov 20, 2024Other or unknown. This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool
Other model years of the Audi A4
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 | 30,000 | 0 | — | 28 | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 6 | 32,400 | 3 | — | 29 | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 11 | 2,674 | 4 | 5 | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 128 | 26,000 | 3 | 5 | 30 | 84 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 10 | 50,000 | 1 | 5 | 30 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 45 | 12,000 | 1 | 5 | 31 | 44 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 56 | 28,000 | 1 | 5 | 31 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2016 | 11 | 45,000 | 0 | 5 | 27 | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 19 | 44,000 | 0 | 5 | 26 | — | Falling |
| 2014 | 32 | 80,000 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 24 | 101,000 | 0 | 5 | 26 | — | Falling |
| 2012 | 19 | 109,000 | 0 | 4 | 25 | — | Falling |
| 2011 | 11 | 105,500 | 0 | 4 | 25 | — | Not enough data |
| 2010 | 64 | 83,750 | 0 | — | 26 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 120 | 65,000 | 2 | — | 25 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2008 | 175 | 62,000 | 4 | — | 24 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 196 | 74,000 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 295 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 219 | 58,400 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 189 | 59,560 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 210 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 181 | 30,000 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 131 | 61,028 | 1 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 96 | 62,900 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 190 | 75,000 | 4 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 258 | 80,650 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 98 | 92,457 | 6 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 89 | 66,821 | 4 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Audi A4 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Audi A4?
Owners of the 2009 A4 most often report excessive engine oil consumption, frequently described as needing a quart of oil every few hundred miles, and timing chain tensioner failures that in some complaints led to valve and piston damage. The issues reported most often: Excessive oil consumption (needs frequent top-offs); Timing chain tensioner failure and engine damage; Steering wheel shudder or vibration at low speed.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA recorded 120 consumer complaints for the 2009 Audi A4 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2009 Audi A4 is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 44 complaints (37% of the total), followed by air bags with 33.
Has the 2009 Audi A4 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Audi A4 get?
The EPA rates the 2009 Audi A4 (A4, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 23 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Audi A4 reported?
Among the 71 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 65,000 miles and the middle half falls between 34,500 and 90,500 miles; 38% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.