Model research hub
Audi A4
The Audi A4 is a luxury compact sedan built for five generations from 1994 to 2025, with the Audi A5 listed as its successor. Among the years on this site, 2021 has the most recalls (4), 2020 has the most complaints (127) with 3 recalls, and 2015, 2016, 2024, 2025 and 2026 show no federal recalls.
What the Audi A4 is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the A4 as a line of luxury compact executive cars produced from 1994 to 2025 by Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, built in five generations from the B5 to the B9, with the Audi A5 (B10) as successor. Latterly (opens in a new tab) says the A4 targets buyers who want luxury and sophistication in a practical package, including professionals, commuters and small families, and that used pricing can be attractive relative to German rivals.
The generations that matter for used buyers
The model years on this site sit in the B9 generation and its facelift, which Wikipedia's photo captions call the B9.5. Auto Broker Magic (opens in a new tab) says the B9 largely avoided the serious teething problems that affected some earlier Audi models, and calls it lighter, quieter, more fuel efficient, more technologically advanced and considerably more reliable than the early B8 models that preceded it. See the 2017 A4 for the first B9 model year on this site and the 2021 A4 for a facelifted car.
Best and worst A4 model years
Federal counts are low compared with mass-market models. The 2015 and 2016 have no recalls and 44 and 26 complaints. The 2017 has 1 recall for seats and 81 complaints, the 2018 has 1 and 42, and the 2019 has 1 recall and 5 complaints. The 2020 has 3 recalls covering tires, suspension and seats, and 127 complaints, the most of any year, and the 2021 has 4 recalls, the most recalls, covering seat belts, tires, suspension and the backup camera, with 11 complaints. The 2022 has 3 recalls including the backup camera and engine cooling. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 show no recalls and almost no complaints, which reflects how little time they have had on the road.
Reliability guides look further back than this generation. REREV (opens in a new tab) says certain model years have been deemed less reliable than others by drivers and publishes a best and worst list, and Car Smite (opens in a new tab) says the 2008 model year stood out for improved reliability and refinement over the earlier years of its generation.
Strengths and weaknesses
The strengths are the refinement of the B9 and the value of a used example against German rivals. The weaknesses in federal data are recurring seat and tire campaigns across 2017 to 2021 and the backup camera recalls on the 2021 and 2022. Latterly names the Acura TLX as a rival that matches the A4 on size while often undercutting rivals on price for features.
Questions buyers ask
Is the Audi A4 still made?
Wikipedia says production ran from 1994 to 2025 and lists the Audi A5 (B10) as its successor.
Which Audi A4 years have the most recalls?
In federal data the 2021 A4 has 4 recalls and the 2020 and 2022 have 3 each. The 2020 has the most complaints (127).
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Audi A4 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 261 horsepower across its compact luxury sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2025 A4 seats 5 and is a Compact luxury sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2025 A4.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Audi A4
Every A4 45 TFSI shares the same 261-horsepower turbo four and quattro AWD; the three trims separate by comfort, audio and safety equipment.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
4 indexed Audi A4 model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Audi A4 | 1 | 2025 record → |
| 2024 Audi A4 | 2024 record → | |
| 2021 Audi A4 | 2021 record → | |
| 2018 Audi A4 | 2018 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Audi A4.
The Audi A4 is a line of luxury compact executive cars produced from 1994 to 2025 by the German car manufacturer Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The A4 has been built in five generations and is based on the Volkswagen Group B platform. The first generation A4 succeeded the Audi 80.
- Safety
- In the Euro NCAP safety and crash tests, the Audi B5 A4 received 3 stars for front- and side-impact protection, but the last star is flagged to indicate that the driver may be subjected to a high risk of chest injury in the side impact. Adult occupant = Pedestrian = (pre 2002 rating)
- Performance
- MMI system (Multi Media Interface) (multi-mode interface of driver information and entertainment systems); (3rd generation MMI expected in vehicles produced from week 22 of 2009).
- Awards
- Japan Car of the Year Award (Import Category - 2016) Kelly Blue Book Best Buy Award 2017 Motor Trend Car of the Year finalist 2017 What Car Car of the Year 2016
Source: Audi A4 (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Audi A4 at a glance
- Production
- 1994–2025
- Class
- Compact executive car (D)
- Body style
- 4-door Sedan, 5-door Avant, 2-door Cabrio (2002–2009)
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive or quattro permanent four-wheel-drive
- Platform
- Volkswagen Group B platform (1994–2008), Volkswagen Group MLB platform (2007–2024)
- Predecessor
- Audi 80
- Successor
- Audi A5 (B10)
NHTSA rated the 2025 Audi A4 overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 5 of 5 stars.
Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA for the 2024 Audi A4, most often about tires (1), electrical system (1), air bags (1).
Year by year
The Audi A4 across 11 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Audi A4 | 26–29 | $2,750–$3,050 | 3 | 0 | 5 stars | |
| 2024 Audi A4 | 26–30 | $2,600–$3,000 | 3 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2023 Audi A4 | 26–28 | $2,750–$3,000 | 3 | 5 stars | ||
| 2022 Audi A4 | 26–29 | $2,650–$3,000 | 3 | 3 | 5 stars | |
| 2021 Audi A4 | 26–28 | $2,750–$3,000 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Audi A4 | 26–30 | $2,600–$3,000 | 3 | 3 | 127 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Audi A4 | 25–30 | $2,600–$3,100 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2018 Audi A4 | 27–31 | $2,500–$2,850 | 3 | 1 | 42 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Audi A4 | 25–31 | $2,500–$3,100 | 5 | 1 | 81 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Audi A4 | 24–27 | $2,850–$3,250 | 3 | 26 | 5 stars | |
| 2015 Audi A4 | 24–26 | $3,000–$3,250 | 3 | 44 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Audi A4, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 28.0 to 27.5 | |||
| 2023 to 2024 | 27.0 to 28.0 | Labels: A4 S line quattro | Labels: A4 S-Line quattro | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 27.5 to 27.0 | Labels: A4 S-Line quattro | Labels: A4 S line quattro | |
| 2021 to 2022 | 27.0 to 27.5 | |||
| 2020 to 2021 | 28.0 to 27.0 | Labels: A4 S line quattro; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid | Labels: A4; Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Drives: Front-Wheel Drive | |
| 2019 to 2020 | 27.5 to 28.0 | |||
| 2018 to 2019 | 29.0 to 27.5 | Labels: A4, A4 allroad quattro; Size classes: Small Station Wagons | Labels: A4 Ultra; Transmissions: Manual 6-spd | |
| 2017 to 2018 | 5 to 3 | 28.0 to 29.0 | Labels: A4, A4 allroad quattro; Size classes: Small Station Wagons | |
| 2016 to 2017 | 3 to 5 | 25.5 to 28.0 | Labels: A4 allroad quattro, A4 Ultra; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S7); Size classes: Small Station Wagons | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; FFV; Transmissions: Automatic (AV-S8), Automatic (S8); Fuels: Premium or E85 |
| 2015 to 2016 | 25.0 to 25.5 |
Buying used
What the Audi A4 recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | back over prevention (sensing system); engine and engine cooling; equipment (electrical) | None |
| 2021 | 4 | suspension (rear); seat belts (rear/other); tires; 1 more | None |
| 2020 | 3 | suspension (rear); seats; tires | None |
| 2019 | 1 | seats | None |
| 2018 | 1 | seats | None |
| 2017 | 1 | seats | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 135 | 40% | 2020 (91) |
| unknown or other | 104 | 31% | 2020 (58) |
| engine | 52 | 15% | 2017 (21) |
| back over prevention | 44 | 13% | 2020 (43) |
| air bags | 36 | 11% | 2017 (26) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 18 | 5% | 2018 (6) |
Trim by trim
Every 2025 Audi A4 trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 TFSI Premium | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | – | – | – | 29 | $43,295 |
| S line 45 TFSI Premium | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 261 | 273 | – | – | 26 | $45,395 |
| 40 TFSI Premium Plus | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | – | – | – | 29 | $48,395 |
| S line 45 TFSI Premium Plus | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 261 | 273 | – | – | 26 | $49,895 |
| 40 TFSI Prestige | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201 | – | – | – | 29 | $51,995 |
| S line 45 TFSI Prestige | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 261 | 273 | – | – | 26 | $52,595 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2025 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Audi A4 model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201–261 | – | – | 15.3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201–261 | 3,638–3,704 | – | 15.3 |
| 2023 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201–261 | 3,417–3,627 | – | 15.3 |
| 2022 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 201–261 | 3,417–3,627 | – | 15.3 |
| 2021 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (MHEV, Turbo) | 201–261 | 3,682–3,726 | – | 15.3 |
| 2020 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 188–248 | 3,417–3,627 | – | 15.3 |
| 2019 | 4 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 188–248 | 3,450–3,627 | – | 15.3 |
| 2018 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190–252 | 3,483–3,626 | – | 15.3 |
| 2017 | 5 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 190–252 | 3,450–3,626 | – | 15.3 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 220 | 3,693 | – | 16.1 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 220 | 3,693 | – | 16.1 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Audi A4: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | 2 | ||
| 2023 | not available | ||
| 2022 | 3 | not available | backup camera, engine cooling, equipment |
| 2021 | 4 | 11 | seat belts, tires, suspension, backup camera |
| 2020 | 3 | 127 | tires, suspension, seats |
| 2019 | 1 | 5 | seats |
| 2018 | 1 | 42 | seats |
| 2017 | 1 | 81 | seats |
| 2016 | 26 | ||
| 2015 | 44 |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Audi A4 model year 2022 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Audi A4?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Audi A4 model year: recall counts across the 6 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 2.2 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Audi A4 by model year?
2022: backup camera, engine cooling, equipment. 2021: seat belts, tires, suspension, backup camera. 2020: tires, suspension, seats. 2019: seats. 2018: seats. 2017: seats.
Q03Why do some Audi A4 model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Audi A4 model year 2022 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Brakes, tires and steering, Climate and electrical, Engine and cooling.
Trim ladder
1 Audi A4 trim, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Audi A4 is most often compared with.
Nearest Audi models
Other Audi models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 A4 come in?
The 2025 Audi A4 (compact luxury sedan) comes in 3 trims: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige.
Q02What are the 2025 A4 trims?
The 2025 Audi A4 trims are Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige, listed from the entry Premium up to the top Prestige.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 A4 use?
The 2025 Audi A4 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 261 horsepower across its compact luxury sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 A4 have?
The 2025 Audi A4 is rated at 261 horsepower (2.0L turbo four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 A4?
The 2025 Audi A4 is offered with Standard AWD.