2011 Audi A4 Avant Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Audi A4 Avant, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1845.0%
- Fuel system410.0%
- Powertrain (other)410.0%
- Steering410.0%
- Airbags25.0%
- Electrical25.0%
- Exterior lighting25.0%
- Driver assistance12.5%
- Body & structure12.5%
- Suspension12.5%
- Visibility12.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2011 Audi A4. The contact stated she needed to add 1 quart of oil frequently to the vehicle. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and had the oil consumption test completed twice but was not able to diagnose the failure. The contact stated she continued to add 1 quart of oil frequently, but the failure started to progress. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning light was illuminated and the turn-off engine warning message was displayed. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and had an unknown sensor replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact also stated that while making a left turn, the engine seized. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to her destination. The contact attempted to call the manufacturer but was unable to reach a Representative. The failure mileage was unknown.
IT APPEARS THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DEFECT, THE TIMING CHAIN ON CERTAIN AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN MODELS FAILS AFTER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILES. THIS TIMING CHAIN FAILURE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE, IN MANY CASES REQUIRING A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. REGRETTABLY, THIS IS WHAT RECENTLY HAPPENED WITH MY 2011 AUDI A4. IN FACT, THERE WAS A FAIRLY HIGH-PROFILE CLASS ACTION FILED AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN (CIVIL ACTION NO. 16-2765 (JLL)(JAD) THAT WAS RECENTLY SETTLED. (SEE HTTPS://TIMINGCHAINLITIGATION.COM/HOME/FAQ#FAQ6). UNFORTUNATELY, THE SETTLEMENT IS EXTREMELY FLAWED AND LEAVES VEHICLE OWNERS INADEQUATELY COMPENSATED IF THEIR VEHICLES ARE ABOVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILES OR IF THE OWNERS MISSED THE DEADLINE FOR FILING CLAIMS. THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE CONSTITUTES A SIGNIFICANT AND DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING FLAW THAT SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE ENGINE FAILURE THAT CAN OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE CAN EASILY LEAD TO AUTO ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE FATALITIES. I URGE THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION TO TAKE THIS MATTER VERY SERIOUSLY AND INVESTIGATE. A FULL RECALL AND COMPENSATION TO AFFECTED VEHICLE OWNERS SHOULD BE ORDERED.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL FASTER THAN NORMAL. I HAVE SINCE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OIL CHANGES WERE DUE TO TOP OFF OIL DO TO SEVERAL LIGHTS COMING ON: "MIN OIL", "OIL PRESSURE TOO LOW"
HELLO. THIS MODEL OF AUDI A4 2.0T 2011 HASE A BIG PROBLEM WITH OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH I THINK IS A THING THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK IN TO. FOR EXAMPLE : I DRIVE THE CAR 500 MILES AND THE OIL LIGHT COMES UP AND IS ASKING FOR 1QT OF OIL WHICH I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY NOT NORMAL . IVE CHANGE THE OIL IN OCTOBER AND IN 2 MONTHS DECEMBER I USE 5QT OF OIL TO REFILL OR TO ADD ON BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT WAS TURNING ON . IVE TOOK THE CAR TO AUDI AND DID A FULL INSPECTION TO SEE IF I'M LOSING ANY OIL ANYWHERE AND THE RESULT WAS NEGATIVE. I'VE HERD THAT MY MODEL AUDI A4 2.0T 2011 HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PISTONS RINGS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND BECAUSE OF THAT HE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS VERY HIGH. BUT JUST ON SOME AUDI A4 2.0T 2011 MODELS NOT ALL . I THINK AND I CAN PROVE THAT MY CARE HAS THIS ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RECCAL BECAUSE THE OIL GOES IN THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE AIR WHICH IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM FOR THE QUALITY OF THE OXYGEN . I'M NOT SAYING THAT ONLY MY CAR BUT IF YOU GOOGLE MY MODEL YOU WILL BE SHOCKED OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION ON AUDI A4 2.0T 2011
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN NH AND BOUGHT A4 USED; WITHIN 2 WEEKS NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM TAILPIPE, DEALER SAID IT WAS NOTHING; THEN STARTED BURNING QUARTS OF OIL IN WEEKS, DEALER SAID THE PISTONS WERE NOT THE RIGHT MATCH AND IT WAS A RECALL THAT HAD EXPIRED, "FIX" WAS $4000, MONTHS LATER ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR STILL BURNING OIL.
VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND STARTED SHAKING ONLY TO FIND OUT INJECTORS WENT OUT AND OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES. AUDI USA IS PROLONGING AN ISSUE THAT THEY KNOW IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE COMPLETED PHASE I OF THE TEST AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PHASE II COMPLETED HOWEVER WITHOUT MY CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE AUDI HAS THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM PHASE I OVER AGAIN. CAR IS EATING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL BUT YET AUDI USA IS PROLONGING THE SITUATION WITH NO RESOLUTION. PURCHASED THE CAR 08/24/2015 HAD TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE DONE TWO WEEKS LATER BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER BY OCTOBER 15TH I HAD TO ADD MORE OIL AS THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON COME TO FIND OUT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR CONSUMING OIL. I HAVE PHASE I COMPLETED HOWEVER I TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE PHASE II DONE ON IT ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY HAD TO DO PHASE I OVER WHICH ISN'T FAIR THE VEHICLE STILL EATS OIL AND VALUE IS DEPRECIATING DRASTICALLY BECAUSE OF AUDI AND VOLKSWAGEN EPA VIOLATIONS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS I AM MAKING A TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET IN TOWN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, WHEN I COMPLETE A TURN IT WON'T WALK IT'S WAY BACK AROUND, YOU HAVE TO FORCE IT AROUND. I HAVE NEVER FELT SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CAUSING UNSAFE INSTABILITY ON FREEWAYS. INTERMITTENTLY THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS FAILING INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BUT SOON AFTER THIS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST COMES BACK ON AND HENCE TURNING THE STEERING MORE THAN REQUIRED AND ENDING UP IN AN UNSAFE POSITION OR SWERVING ON FREEWAYS AND EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MILEAGE WITH REPORTS OUT THERE ON CARS WITH LESS THAN 5K MILES. AUDI SHOULD HAVE A TSB AND RECALL FOR THIS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V001000 (VISIBILITY, AIR BAGS ) AND 16V078000 (AIR BAGS ) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
IN NH AND BOUGHT A4 USED; WITHIN 2 WEEKS NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM TAILPIPE, DEALER SAID IT WAS NOTHING; THEN STARTED BURNING QUARTS OF OIL IN WEEKS, DEALER SAID THE PISTONS WERE NOT THE RIGHT MATCH AND IT WAS A RECALL THAT HAD EXPIRED, "FIX" WAS $4000, MONTHS LATER ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CAR STILL BURNING OIL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT BUILDING. IT WAS OFF AND HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN OVER 20HRS. AT 11AM A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED PUT OUT THE FIRE, SAID IT WAS NOT ARSON BUT RATHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE CAR FRONT DASH WAS PARTIALLY MELTED, REAR SEAT BIG CHAR BLACK SEATING MATERIAL AND SHOWED EXPOSED WIRES.
IGNITION COILS WENT OUT. CAR STOPPED ON BUSY STREET BUT WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO SIDE STREET. COME TO FIND OUT AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR THE COILS WERE RECALLED.. SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT AUDI AND THEY VERIFIED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE COILS. NO ONE NOTIFIED ME INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP GURLEY LEEP AND HE DID NOT NOTIFY ME AND I HAD TO COME OUT OF $1,000 TO HAVE THAT PROCESS FIXED THEN I HAD TO TURN AROUND LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGAIN AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING AGAIN I HAD TO COME OUT OF ANOTHER $1,000 THIS IS B******* SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN SO TO AUDI AND TO GURLEY LEEP SCREW YOU THAT WAS $2,000 I CAME OUT OF. NO HELP FROM AUDI NOR DEALERSHIP WHAT SO EVER.. AND I DO BELIEVE I STILL HAVE THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE AUDI REPRESENTATIVE THAT VERIFY THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION COILS.... NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS APRIL OF 2015.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT LOWER REARWARD CONTROL ARMS MAKE SQEAKING NOISE VERY ANNOING
"DIPPED RIGHT HEADLIGHT" WARNING POPPED UP ON MY CAR, ON AND OFF FOR MONTHS. MY RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WOULD WORK ONE DAY AND THEN "FAIL" THE NEXT. IT HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL IT FINALLY COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. MY BALLAST FAILED WHICH CAUSED HID/XENON LIGHT TO BURN OUT ON FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT. I HAVE READ THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT WITH THE HID/XENON LIGHT SYSTEMS AND THAT IT WAS PREVIOUSLY A RECALL ON EARLIER MODELS. WHEN SPEAKING TO AUDI, THEY SAID THIS HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE AND THEY WILL NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. I WOULD FEEL A FRONT HEADLIGHT IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY TOOL TO HAVE WHEN DRIVING, AND HAVING TO PAY $700+ FOR A HEADLIGHT REPAIR IS NOT NORMAL IN MY OPINION. FOR ME THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND AUDI SHOULD BE ASSISTING WITH THE REPAIR COSTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
2 INCIDENTS OF TOTAL LOSS OF POWER INCLUDING STEERING. TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR TRAVELING NORMALLY AT LOW SPEED THE CAR CEASED TO FUNCTION. TODAY I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH TAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVE WHEN THE CAR DIED. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. POWER WAS LOST AND I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY PULLING IT OFF THE ROAD. IT WOULD BARELY COAST. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE BUT NOW IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT BUILDING. IT WAS OFF AND HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN OVER 20HRS. AT 11AM A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED PUT OUT THE FIRE, SAID IT WAS NOT ARSON BUT RATHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE CAR FRONT DASH WAS PARTIALLY MELTED, REAR SEAT BIG CHAR BLACK SEATING MATERIAL AND SHOWED EXPOSED WIRES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT LOWER REARWARD CONTROL ARMS MAKE SQEAKING NOISE VERY ANNOING
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V001000 (VISIBILITY, AIR BAGS ) AND 16V078000 (AIR BAGS ) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .