Worst 2008 Audi A4 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbags
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Audi A4.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 115 | 6 | — | 79,354 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 13 | — | — | 70,978 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 12 | — | — | 67,256 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 11 | — | — | 66,301 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 9 | 1 | — | 50,294 mi | |
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 65,755 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | — | — | 10,890 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 1 | — | 35,808 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Brakes | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Audi A4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2008 Audi A4
4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~474,202 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Audi A4 Years
2008 Audi A4 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Audi A4 reliable?
What are common problems with the 2008 Audi A4?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Audi A4?
How safe is the 2008 Audi A4?
Does the 2008 Audi A4 have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2008 Audi A4?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Audi A4 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2008 Audi A4
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99