CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED BY FAILURE OF TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. NO EARLY WARNING AS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE DAY BEFORE BY AUDI DEALERSHIP AND OIL CAPACITY AND PRESSURE WERE WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S TOLERANCE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT SLOW SPEED WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.
2010 Audi A4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2010 Audi A4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 76.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
51 reports with mileage · 13 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.
- Engine. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
37 reportsTIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP, THROWING THE PISTONS OUT OF SYNC, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VALVES. THIS OCCURRED WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ENGINE PROBLEM
ENGINE MISFIRE LIKELY DUE TO TIMING CHAIN JUMP. EXTENSIVE REPAIR TO ENGINE INCLUDING INTAKE VALVES, TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND SEVERAL RELATED PARTS. AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN ALBANY, NY, DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS IN THIS …
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ENGINE MISFIRE LIKELY DUE TO TIMING CHAIN JUMP. EXTENSIVE REPAIR TO ENGINE INCLUDING INTAKE VALVES, TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND SEVERAL RELATED PARTS. AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN ALBANY, NY, DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS IN THIS VEHICLE AS WELL AS TO OTHER VEHICLES. COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $3,194.46, AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF THE VEHICLE FOR 9 DAYS.
HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION FROM FAULTY PISTONS AND PISTON RINGS LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. BROKE EXHAUST VALVE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHILE ON INTERSTATE. AUDI AWARE OF DEFECTS BUT DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. THEY REFUSED MULTIPLE REASONABLE REQUESTS FOR HELP IN REPAIRS.
I WAS LUCKY THAT MY CAR DID NOT FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVE. THE TIMING TENSIONER AND CHAIN FAILED, CAUSING A COSTLY REPAIR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THREE CLASS-ACTION SUITS AGAINST AUDI-VW REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, YET NO RECALL. WHY? I WANT AUDI TO PAY FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR A…
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I WAS LUCKY THAT MY CAR DID NOT FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVE. THE TIMING TENSIONER AND CHAIN FAILED, CAUSING A COSTLY REPAIR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THREE CLASS-ACTION SUITS AGAINST AUDI-VW REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, YET NO RECALL. WHY? I WANT AUDI TO PAY FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR AND HAVE A RECALL. I CAN SEND PHOTOS IF NECESSARY. *TR
OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE RESULTING IN CONSTANTLY TOPPING-OFF OIL, PURCHASING OIL BY THE CASES. AUDI OF AMERICA CLEARLY STATES THAT THE AUDI DEALERSHIP IS REQUIRED TO FULFILL THE REPAIR OBLIGATION, SINCE MY VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE 80K MILEAGE/8 YEAR TIME FRAME, AUDI IS LIABLE TO MAKE THE RELATIVE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE AUDI OF TYSONS D…
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OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE RESULTING IN CONSTANTLY TOPPING-OFF OIL, PURCHASING OIL BY THE CASES. AUDI OF AMERICA CLEARLY STATES THAT THE AUDI DEALERSHIP IS REQUIRED TO FULFILL THE REPAIR OBLIGATION, SINCE MY VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE 80K MILEAGE/8 YEAR TIME FRAME, AUDI IS LIABLE TO MAKE THE RELATIVE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE AUDI OF TYSONS DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE AND REFUSES TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP COMPLETED PART ONE OF THE TESTING AND REQUESTED THAT I RETURN ONCE THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER RETURNING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE RESISTANCE BEGAN. AFTER PROVIDING CONSISTENT SERVICE RECORDS OF OIL CHANGES THAT EXCLUDE THE "ODOMETER READINGS", THE AUDI DEALERSHIP DID NOT GO TO THE NEXT PHASE OF TESTING/REPAIR. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON THE BELTWAY(RISKY). ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY OF A REPAIR NOW WOULD DEFINITELY ALLEVIATE A COSTLY PRICE TO PAY SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE RECALL ACTION NOW OR PAY A MAJOR PRICE LATER! NOT THE WAY TO VALUE A CONSUMER AND A POOR WAY OF HANDLING THE MATTER!!!
THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER BROKE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY STOP WHICH MADE THE CAR UNABLE TO MOVE OR RESPOND IN ANY WAY. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BUT COMPLETELY DISABLED.
PURCHASED A USED LEASE VEHICLE IN 2014, 63,000 MILES ON IT. LOOKED LIKE A CREAMPUFF. CARFAX WAS CLEAN. USED OIL EXCESSIVELY. WAS TOLD BY LOCAL DEALER I COULD NOT GET CAR FIXED PER CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT BECAUSE I WAS NOT ORIGINAL OWNER OR DID NOT HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS. CAR HAS NOW HAD AN INTAKE VALVE FAILURE IN CYLINDER 3 WH…
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PURCHASED A USED LEASE VEHICLE IN 2014, 63,000 MILES ON IT. LOOKED LIKE A CREAMPUFF. CARFAX WAS CLEAN. USED OIL EXCESSIVELY. WAS TOLD BY LOCAL DEALER I COULD NOT GET CAR FIXED PER CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT BECAUSE I WAS NOT ORIGINAL OWNER OR DID NOT HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS. CAR HAS NOW HAD AN INTAKE VALVE FAILURE IN CYLINDER 3 WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED. POSSIBLY CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS BREAKING. 101,000 MILES AND JUST OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED FOR $2500 EXTRA. CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND STUCK 3 HOURS FROM MY HOME. AUDI OF AMERICA SAYS CAR WAS "FIXED" IN 2012 AND WILL NOT RELEASE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, CITING PRIVACY OF PREVIOUS OWNER, A CORPORATE LEASE. AUDI DEALER IN MELBOURNE FL WHO DID THE REPAIR IN 2012 WILL NOT RELEASE RECORDS SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAS FIXED AND WHAT PARTS WERE USED. TOTAL RUNAROUND BY AUDI OF AMERICA AND AUDI OF MELBOURNE. I DON'T HAVE $7000 FOR REPAIR, AND, STILL MAKE PAYMENTS ON CAR FOR 2 MORE YEARS . A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE, FOR WORK. ALL 5 MILLION VEHICLES FROM 2009, 2010 AND 2011 WITH DEFECTIVE PISTONS AND RINGS NEED TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED. EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ALSO COMPROMISES CATALYTIC CONVERTER PERFORMANCE, AND LIFE. THAT'S ANOTHER $1200-$1700 TO GET REPLACED. AUDI CARE IS A JOKE. THEIR ARROGANCE IS ASTOUNDING.
ADD OIL WARNING LIGHT ON. THE CAR TELLS ME TO ADD 1 QUARTS OIL EVERY 200-300 MILES. CAR HAS A KNOWN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE BECAUSE AUDI MADE BAD BATCH OF PISTON RINGS ON ENGINE CODE CAE AND THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT IT. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST THEM AND WAS SETTLED IN SEPT 2014 AND NOW ITS TIME FOR A RECALL ON …
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ADD OIL WARNING LIGHT ON. THE CAR TELLS ME TO ADD 1 QUARTS OIL EVERY 200-300 MILES. CAR HAS A KNOWN EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE BECAUSE AUDI MADE BAD BATCH OF PISTON RINGS ON ENGINE CODE CAE AND THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT IT. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED AGAINST THEM AND WAS SETTLED IN SEPT 2014 AND NOW ITS TIME FOR A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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