2008 Audi A4 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2008 Audi A4 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 204
- 12 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 116 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 11 reported crashes · 5 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,519
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Audi median
+53
median 152 across 46 Audi records
Vs 2006-2010
-68
median 272 complaints in 785 records
Top component share
57%
Air Bags: 116 complaints
What owners report fails — 2008 Audi A4
- AIR BAGS 116
- ENGINE 13
- POWER TRAIN 12
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9
4 recalls on record for the 2008 Audi A4
- NHTSA 17V032000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- NHTSA 18V427000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 16V382000 · 2017 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- NHTSA 16V376000 · 2016 · AIR BAGS If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2008 Audi A4
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2008 Audi A4 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Audi A4 reliable?
NHTSA has 204 consumer complaints on record for the 2008 Audi A4 and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (116 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2008 Audi A4 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Audi A4?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (116), engine (13), power train (12), exterior lighting (11). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2008 Audi A4?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.