2008 Audi A4: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 191 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (68% of complaints); the 2010 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2018
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 191 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“While I was driving on the highway the sunroof (just the window) flew off. I had the sliding roof door closed and only heard a gust of wind initially thinking it just became ajar somehow, but nope the entire window was gone, like the adhesive deteriorated I assume. The sunroof mechanism works perfectly fine. Fortunately if was really early in the morning and to my knowledge no one was on the road, but if they had been an injury or death could have happened!”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2025
“Overheating in traffic replaced water pump, gasket. radiator , fan control module, thermostat, and hoses. Happens every summer!!!!! No fluid leakage. Could this be the same problem as the 2013 model recall”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2023
“i was in a pretty bad car accident, the car was totaled but the air bags didn't deploy and i slammed my head on my steering wheel, i got side swiped and the driver door wasn't able to be opened i had to kick it open and the front of the car hit a concrete pole going roughly 35 mph or more.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“Takata recall- my audi is at the dealership and they have not fixed the airbags that are defective and will kill.takata recall dealer failed to do the recall. It's been a months now. So it's dangerous driving the car without fixing the airbag problem, in case of a crash. Dealer is audi of peabody ma”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2019
“Takata recall dealer failed to do the recall they said they're waiting for audi to send the part to them. It's been a months now. They also said the don't now when they will receive it. So it's dangerous driving the car without fixing the airbag problem, in case of a crash. Dealer is audi fort washington, pa”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2019
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 audi a4. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags). Bakersfield audi (6000 wible rd, bakersfield, ca 93313, 888-352-4099) was contacted and confirmed that parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2019
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 audi a4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v427000 (air bags); however, the parts were not available. Audi north atlanta (11505 alpharetta highway, roswell, ga 30076, 888-726-2520) was contacted and confirmed that parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2019
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 audi a4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v082000 (air bags); however, the parts were not available. The dealer (audi north orlando, 139 n oregon st, sanford, fl 32771, 888-685-1813) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2018
“2008 audi a4. Consumer writes in regards to takata frontal airbag safety recall. Consumer would like to know when parts will be available for repair. *ld *js”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2018
“The dealership is so horrible. I have been working on getting this taken care since march and they still just have me on a waiting list. Plus they don't even have the parts for the driver side recall”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 8 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
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.
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2008 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact A4 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Audi A4 reliable?
NHTSA has 191 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Audi A4. The most complained-about area is air bags (68% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2008 Audi A4 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 62,500 miles or less.
Does the 2008 Audi A4 have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.