Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, airbags, and transmission. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2018 Audi A4: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/5
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2018's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2018 checks
Worth adding to your 2018 checks
Worth adding to your 2018 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Audi A4. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | AWD, FWD | 27–31 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Audi A4, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The backup camera fails to come on in reverse, scrolls, or shuts off mid-maneuver while the parking sensors keep working. One dealer traced it to camera wiring pinched by the trunk mechanism. Several reports describe safety systems acting on their own: hard automatic stops while reversing, Pre Sense tightening the seatbelts at a light, and interior electronics shutting down on the highway. There are two crash reports. In one, automatic braking did not engage before a front collision. In the other, a minor rear impact left the car disabled in traffic.
Most complaints are about waiting for airbag recall repairs. Dealers say parts or kits are not available and give no date for when they will be. Other owners report an airbag warning light that stays on, including after a recall repair, and dealers charging for diagnosis or saying the problem is not covered. One crash report says no airbags deployed in a severe front-end impact at 21,000 miles, and the driver was injured. A separate electrical-system crash report also says no airbag deployed.
All-wheel-drive problems lead this category. A failing AWD clutch causes heavy vibration or thumping when pulling away from a stop with the wheels turned. One owner paid $4,308.85 for the repair after the warranty ran out, at under 48,000 miles, and the dealer said it matched a service bulletin. Another report describes the front differential failing inside, throwing debris into the transmission and jerking the car to a halt with no warning. A third describes the engine lagging or not engaging, still unfixed after repeated repair attempts.
The electronic parking brake engages by itself while the car is moving and brings it to an abrupt stop with no warning, while the screen shows a message to shift into park. This is a collision risk in traffic. A separate complaint describes loud screeching just before the car stops and sometimes when braking starts. The noise continued after replacement brakes from the dealer, and the dealer blamed the brake coating.
Excerpts from complaints A4 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The rear view camera does not activate when using the parking assist or when reversing. The sensors are still functioning as intended. This can cause unintentional accidents or injuries to pedestrians. This issue was brought up with the dealer back in January of 2023. They mentioned the wiring for the rear camera was pinched by the trunk mechanism and because loose. There are no warning lamps displayed on the dash.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2023
My screen turns on and off consistently not allowing me to use my backup camera. Causing a small collision while backing up when the camera turned off unexpectedly. Additionally when it’s off it will auto break when I’m not close enough to hitting and it’s loud and yanked me. This has been an issue for some time and I’m seeing a significant amount of my models have this issue and it’s not safe.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
I first received notice of this recall in 1/22. My Audi dealer has continuously stated that Audi does not send them enough kits to remedy this recall
Filed with NHTSA, June 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 ranks second for owner complaints among 5 A4 years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the third model year of the A4's fifth generation (2016–2023).
Audi updated the A4 for 2020, so a 2018 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2020 (not on a 2018)
Recall repairs are free at any Audi dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: If the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y4.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.
Risk: The sharp edges of the speaker trim increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70G6.
Cars shoppers compare with the Audi A4, with their own 2018 checklists.
2018 owner complaints, side by side
