Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
525–50K
650–75K
875–100K
18100–150K
2150K+
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.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
64 reports
113,766 miles · Sep 16, 2018
Engine
FULLY STOCK ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN CAR EXPERIENCED A TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE. BEING AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE, THIS CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE AND THE CAR REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. I WAS FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY AT A GAS STATION. I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 100 MILES AND STOPPED FOR GAS. ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR YIELDE…
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FULLY STOCK ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN CAR EXPERIENCED A TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE. BEING AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE, THIS CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE AND THE CAR REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE. I WAS FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY AT A GAS STATION. I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 100 MILES AND STOPPED FOR GAS. ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR YIELDED CRANKING BUT NO TURNING OVER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE VIA ENGINE COMPRESSION. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE ON MY HIGHWAY DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS PUTTING MYSELF AND THE DRIVERS AROUND ME IN DANGER. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IS TAKING PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR TENSIONER REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA ODI #11129758
54,000 miles · Aug 21, 2018
Power Train
DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND CAR LOST POWER. TRIED TO RESTART BUT NOT SUCCESSFUL. DASHBOARD FLASHED MESSAGE "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION: YOU MAY CONTINUE TO DRIVE". THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER SITTING FOR TWO HOURS, THE CAR STARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME.
NHTSA ODI #11121333
130,000 miles · Feb 27, 2018
Engine
HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION FOR YEARS, FROM FAULTY PISTONS AND PISTON RINGS LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. REPEATED CONVERSATIONS WITH MY MECHANIC AND REVIEW OF AUDI BLOGS SHOWS THAT AUDI USA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR IT. WE WERE TOLD THE HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION WAS WITHIN PARAMETERS, BUT NOW THE CA…
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HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION FOR YEARS, FROM FAULTY PISTONS AND PISTON RINGS LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. REPEATED CONVERSATIONS WITH MY MECHANIC AND REVIEW OF AUDI BLOGS SHOWS THAT AUDI USA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR IT. WE WERE TOLD THE HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION WAS WITHIN PARAMETERS, BUT NOW THE CAR IS NO FIXABLE FOR A REASONABLE RATE.
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND STALL ON CITY ROAD INTERSECTION FULL OF TRAFFIC.
NHTSA ODI #11074036
90,000 miles · Jan 26, 2018
Engine
'TAKATA RECALL' MONDAY MORNING I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR TO BRING MY SON TO SCHOOL AND IT WOULD NOT START. WE DROVE IT THE DAY BEFORE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. WE HAD IT TAKEN BY FLAT BED TO AN AUTO SHOP. THEY SAID THE VALVES ARE BENT ON ONE SIDE OF THE BANKS. THEY SUGGESTED WE REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE IF THEY PULL OFF T…
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'TAKATA RECALL' MONDAY MORNING I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR TO BRING MY SON TO SCHOOL AND IT WOULD NOT START. WE DROVE IT THE DAY BEFORE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. WE HAD IT TAKEN BY FLAT BED TO AN AUTO SHOP. THEY SAID THE VALVES ARE BENT ON ONE SIDE OF THE BANKS. THEY SUGGESTED WE REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE IF THEY PULL OFF THE HEAD AND THERE IS PISTON DAMAGE THEN WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ANYWAYS AND GET CHARGED FOR THE DISASSEMBLY WHICH WOULD BE AN EXTRA $1200 ON TOP OF THE CHARGE FOR THE NEW ENGINE. WE BOUGHT THE CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO AND NEED TO PUT IN ALMOST $10,000 TO FIX IT.
NHTSA ODI #11065331
40,000 miles · Dec 3, 2017
Engine
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. CAR WAS PURCHASED AT TEXAS DIRECT IN STAFFORD, TEXAS. CAR CONSUMES APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 600-800 MILES. AT THIS RATE I AM CONSUMING 15-20 QUARTS BETWEEN REGULAR MANUFACTURERS OIL CHANGE RECOMMENDATIONS. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
NHTSA ODI #11052078
146,820 miles · Oct 31, 2017
Engine
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.
NHTSA ODI #11041750
95,000 miles · Oct 31, 2017
Engine
TIMING 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.
NHTSA ODI #11041670
100,000 miles · Jul 10, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion System
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ENGINE PROBLEM
NHTSA ODI #11003991
Official recalls
0
No 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2010 Audi A4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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