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2008 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Audi A4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

72 reports with mileage · 103 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 116 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Structure complaints

3 reports
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25,000 miles · Dec 3, 2014
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

I ACCIDENTALLY DROVE OVER THE RUMBLE STRIP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW AND THE CAR FLIPPED OVER SIX TIMES AND CHANGED DIRECTION. EVERY SIDE AIR BAG INFLATED EXCEPTED FOR MY SIDE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. MY A4 WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED EXCEPT FOR WHERE I WAS …

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I ACCIDENTALLY DROVE OVER THE RUMBLE STRIP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW AND THE CAR FLIPPED OVER SIX TIMES AND CHANGED DIRECTION. EVERY SIDE AIR BAG INFLATED EXCEPTED FOR MY SIDE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. MY A4 WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED EXCEPT FOR WHERE I WAS SITTING. WHEN THE FIRST RESPONDERS CAME THEY DID NOT EXPECT FOR ME TO BE ALIVE AND THE ACCIDENT WAS CLASSIFIED AS A LEVEL 2 TRAUMA. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND SUFFERED A MAJOR CONCUSSION WITH A HEMATOMA. I ALSO HAD MAJOR FACIAL LACERATIONS, A BROKEN NOSE, BROKEN RIBS, AND A SEVERE BONE BRUISE ON MY KNEE. AUDI SENT AN INSPECTOR TO THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND HIS CONCLUSION WAS THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH IMPACT ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THE CAR FLIPPED SIX TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TO DEPLOY MY SIDE AIR BAG. EVERY OTHER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE ONLY OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR WERE MY TWO LABRADORS. NO OTHER ADULTS WERE IN THE CAR. THE TWO LABRADORS EACH WEIGHED LESS THAN 65 POUNDS AND I WEIGH 135 POUNDS. AUDI HAS GIVEN ME A FREE MAINTENANCE PACKAGE FOR MY NEXT AUDI. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. A DVD OF PICTURES WAS MADE OF THE CAR ALONG WITH A REPORT OF THE CONDITION OF THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10662094

17,000 miles · Aug 20, 2010
Structure

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 AUDI A4 3.2L CABRIOLET. ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED IT SOUNDED LIKE ONE OF MY WINDOWS WAS OPEN, AS I COULD HEAR OTHER VEHICLES DRIVING BY LOUDER THAN NORMAL. I TRIED ROLLING UP THE WINDOWS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN SOUND. ALL WINDOWS WERE UP. ONCE I ARRIVED AT HOME, I DID A WALK …

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 AUDI A4 3.2L CABRIOLET. ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING, I NOTICED IT SOUNDED LIKE ONE OF MY WINDOWS WAS OPEN, AS I COULD HEAR OTHER VEHICLES DRIVING BY LOUDER THAN NORMAL. I TRIED ROLLING UP THE WINDOWS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN SOUND. ALL WINDOWS WERE UP. ONCE I ARRIVED AT HOME, I DID A WALK AROUND INSPECTION OF MY CAR, AND SAW THAT MY REAR WINDOW WAS DETACHED FROM THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW OR CONVERTIBLE TOP, JUST THE GLUE/SEALANT HAD WORN OFF (AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS!). THERE WAS VERY LITTLE ADHESIVE LEFT ON THE TOP-CENTER OF THE WINDOW. IT WAS HANGING ON BY ABOUT A 2" STRIP OF ADHESIVE. THIS TRIP HOME WAS 26 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF >55MPH. HAD THERE BEEN A LITTLE MORE WIND OR THE NEED FOR EVASIVE MANEUVERS, THIS WINDOW COULD HAVE EASILY DETACHED FULLY, AND HIT OTHER VEHICLES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE ONLY AUDI DEALERSHIP ON ISLAND COULDN'T GET ME IN FOR >2 WEEKS. DUE TO NOT WANTING RAIN DAMAGE, OR THE WINDOW TO CAUSE A MVC, I PURCHASED SOME SILICONE ADHESIVE/SEALANT AND PUT IT BACK ON MYSELF. I CAN NO LONGER PUT MY TOP DOWN WITHOUT THE WINDOW SEPARATING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350846

6,700 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Structure

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, LIGHT TRAFFIC, 65MPH, 5PM, GOOD BUT WET CONDITIONS. SUN ROOF EXPLODED! VERY VERY LOUD. BASEBALL SIZED HOLE IN EXACT MIDDLE OF SUN ROOF WITH GLASS PUSHED OUTWARD (BOWL SHAPED). NO IMPACT WITH ROCKS OR ANYTHING ELSE NEAR BY. NO CAR IN FRONT BUT A CAR IN NEXT LANE. DEALER HAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM.…

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DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, LIGHT TRAFFIC, 65MPH, 5PM, GOOD BUT WET CONDITIONS. SUN ROOF EXPLODED! VERY VERY LOUD. BASEBALL SIZED HOLE IN EXACT MIDDLE OF SUN ROOF WITH GLASS PUSHED OUTWARD (BOWL SHAPED). NO IMPACT WITH ROCKS OR ANYTHING ELSE NEAR BY. NO CAR IN FRONT BUT A CAR IN NEXT LANE. DEALER HAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. COST WAS ABOUT $800 FOR REPLACEMENT WHICH WARRANTY APPARENTLY DID NOT COVER ACCORDING TO DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263913

Official recalls

4

18V427000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 22, 2018

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 & remedy

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.

17V032000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 11, 2017

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 & remedy

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.

16V382000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 1, 2016

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 & remedy

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.

16V376000 · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

May 27, 2016

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 & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

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.

Air Bags

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.