Problems with Audi A4

The Audi A4 is arguably the car that turned around the fortunes of the company. That being said, problems with Audi A4 do exist as we discuss below.

Audi has come a very long way over the years. The seventies and eighties were a bad time for the company. The quality of Audis was very questionable and unfavorable news reports regarding unintended accelerations causing accidents put a serious damper on the company. The brand was improved dramatically with the Quattro models and the Audi A4 really represented the evolutionary return of the company when it came to producing beautiful, quality cars. Still, there are well known problems with the A4. Let’s take a closer look.

The Audi A4 has been with us for over 10 years now. At one point in time or another, it has come in many different models. The good news from a problem stand point is the last five years of models have not had any major problems. There hasn’t been a recall since 2003 as of the writing of this article. All and all, the car is very reliable, particularly if you buy a model from 2005 forward. That being said, there are some quirks that could be considered problems with the A4.

The first thing you will notice is the A4 burns a lot of oil. It is not uncommon to need to add a new quart every 2,000 miles. There have been many raised eyebrows about this oil usage, but it is apparently within the accepted design parameters of the engine. Still, you need to be aware of the usage so you don’t panic when the oil light comes on.

The second problem with the Audi A4 is a sludge issue. Sludge is a natural result with so much oil burning. Sludge removal often looks like one of those scam services you probably don’t think you need, but it is one that should definitely be undertaken with the Audi A4 as recommended by Audi. It will decrease the stress on the engine, which will make for a longer life.

There are other problems with the A4 that are not so much mechanical as simply practical. Personally, I think the car is very stylish and a great drive. That being said, it gets less then optimal gas mileage and carries an inordinately high price at the dealer compared to many of its competitors. If you are considering buying one, you would be wise to look around and see what else you can get for the money. I would buy an A4 regardless of the price, but you don’t want to have buyer’s remorse down the road when you realize you could have picked up another car for much less.

The problems with the Audi A4 are almost non-existent these days. The days of Audi cars being unreliable are long past. Keep an eye on engine oil and you’ll find the Audi A4 to be a great car.

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