2008 Audi A4: common problems and reliability

The 2008 Audi A4 has 386 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and engine. Owners most often flag excessive oil consumption (2.0t engine): frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 2008 model year

386
Owner complaints
6
Recalls
17
Crash reports
2
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2008 Audi A4 vehicles (US, public record).

Is 2008 a good year for the A4?

Across the 23 A4 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 8 (2019) to 673 (2007). With 386 complaints, the 2008 A4 sits abovethe model's median of 109.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

air bags
264
engine
27
power train
26
exterior lighting
22
electrical system
19

Recalls affecting the 2008 A4

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 18V427000

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

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 17V032000

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

air bags

Campaign 16V376000

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.

air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Campaign 16V382000

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, Loui

What owners report on the 2009-2016 A4

Owners are sharply divided on this generation. Many praise the driving experience, Quattro all-wheel-drive capability in winter, and the 3.2 V6 engine's durability. However, a very strong contingent describes the 2009-2016 A4 as a money pit plagued by oil cons

  • Excessive oil consumption (2.0T engine): Frequency: very frequent
  • Timing chain failure risk: Frequency: recurrent
  • Turbo failure (2.0T): Frequency: recurrent
  • Electrical connector issues: Frequency: recurrent
  • Parasitic battery drain (stereo/K-box circuit): Frequency: isolated

Owner insights for the 2009-2016 A4. Read the full 2009-2016 owner report.

Typical used price

Used A4 listings typically run $10,061–$18,889 across 2006 to 2024 model years.

Other A4 model years

Compare every A4 year side by side to see how 2008 ranks against the rest.

Compare the A4 against its rivals