Short answer
Among Audi A4 model years through 2024, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2024 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2008, 2009 and 2017 have the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Audi A4: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 26 (2000–2025)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 30
- Fewest recalls
- 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2024 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2008, 2009 and 2017 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (41)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 8 more years
Audi A4 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2024 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2023 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2022 | 3 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
| 2021 | 4 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts, Suspension |
| 2020 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Suspension, Tires |
| 2019 | 1 | 5 stars | Air bags |
| 2018 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Structure |
| 2017 | 6 | 5 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Seat belts |
| 2016 | 3 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system |
| 2015 | 4 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2014 | 4 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 4 | 5 stars | Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2012 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2011 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2010 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2009 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2008 | 6 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2007 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2006 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2005 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Exterior lighting |
| 2002 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2001 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2000 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20250 recalls
- 20240 recalls
- 20231 recall
- 20223 recalls
- 20214 recalls
- 20203 recalls
- 20191 recall
- 20184 recalls
- 20176 recalls
- 20163 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20134 recalls
- 20120 recalls
- 20110 recalls
- 20100 recalls
- 20096 recalls
- 20086 recalls
- 20075 recalls
- 20064 recalls
- 20053 recalls
- 20042 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20021 recall
- 20011 recall
- 20002 recalls
Audi A4: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Audi A4 recalls are air bags (41), engine and engine cooling (9), electrical system (4), exterior lighting (3) and back over prevention (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 13 of these 26 model years, and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 8 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Audi A4 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Audi A4?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Audi A4 model years have the most recalls?
2008, 2009 and 2017 have the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "A4", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy