VehicleVerdict

2008 Audi A4 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 204 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.1 times the median A4 year — the 2008 model ranks #10 of 30 A4 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

The trouble concentrates in one system: airbags issues account for 57% of all reports (116 of 204), far ahead of engine at 17.

204

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

11

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2008 compare to other A4 years?

See all A4 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2008 Audi A4 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags11657%
Engine178%
Transmission126%
Fuel System115%
Lighting115%
Electrical System105%
Tires & Wheels94%
Speed Control63%
Visibility & Wipers31%
Other31%
Body & Structure31%
Brakes21%
Seats10%

Does the 2008 Audi A4 have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

18V427000AirbagsJune 22, 2018 · 237,947 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.

17V032000AirbagsJanuary 11, 2017 · 33,421 units

Defect

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, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.

16V382000AirbagsJune 1, 2016 · 194,453 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2011 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Audi A4, and 2005-2008 Audi A6 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling model year 2004 Audi A4 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834.

16V376000AirbagsMay 27, 2016 · 8,381 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy

Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TAKATA RECALL- MY AUDI IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE AIRBAGS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND WILL KILL.TAKATA RECALL DEALER FAILED TO DO THE RECALL. IT'S BEEN A MONTHS NOW. SO IT'S DANGEROUS DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT FIXING THE AIRBAG PROBLEM, IN CASE OF A CRASH. DEALER IS AUDI OF PEABODY MA

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · April 22, 2019 · crash

SENSORS (1) THE SENSOR FOR REAR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF (2) STABILITY SENSOR IS ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON (3) OIL LIGHT IS ON DESPITE HAVING OIL IN THE CAR (4) CAR EATS OIL (5) IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE DRIVER SIDE RIGHT HEADLIGHT BULB (6) MECHANICS AND DEALERS OVERCHARGE FOR PARTS AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · December 22, 2015

WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR SHUDDERS WHILE GOING INTO 2ND AND 1ST GEAR AS IF SOMEONE HAS JUST REAR ENDED THE CAR. TOOK THE AUDI TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN MY AREA AND FINDINGS ARE THAT IT IS THE MECHATRONIC THAT IS DEFECTIVE. FINDING IS THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND AUDI IS NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 1, 2014

WAS CHANGING LANES AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE THEN IN AN INSTANT WENT EXTREMELY FAST. I HIT THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR WAS REVVED SO HIGH AND GOING SO FAST THAT I JUST SKIDDED INTO TRAFFIC. BEFORE THE INCIDENT WE NOTICED IT WOULD DO IT BUT THE LAG WASN'T SO BAD... WASN'T…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · July 20, 2013 · crash

GOT A LEFT DIPPED HEADLIGHT ERROR ON DASHBOARD AND TRIED HAVING IT FIXED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. LOOKING AT THREADS ONLINE, MANY OTHER AUDI OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH IS VERY SERIOUS. WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS. I HAVE TO BORROW ANOTHER CAR TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. STILL TRYING TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · August 10, 2015

2008 Audi A4 — common questions

Is the 2008 Audi A4 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 204 complaints put the 2008 model at #10 of 30 A4 years. It is one of the A4 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2008 A4 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (116 complaints), engine (17 complaints), transmission (12 complaints).

Does the 2008 Audi A4 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2008 Audi A4. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Audi A4 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the A4 years to avoid are 2006, 1998, 2003, 2005, 1999, 2020, 2007, 2004, 2002, 2008, 2001, 2009. The cleanest record among A4 years belongs to 1995.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.