2014 Audi A4 Engine Problems

The timing chain and tensioner in my 2014 Audi A4 Quattro (VIN: [XXX] ) failed without warning, causing the engine to suddenly stall and become inoperable while in motion. This presented a serious safety hazard. Although my vehicle is slightly outside the settlement mileage and time limit, timing chains are considered a lifetime component and are not a maintenance item, meaning they are not expected to fail and are not listed as requiring inspection or replacement under any Audi maintenance schedule. This failure was sudden, catastrophic, and safety-related. Audi and Volkswagen have already acknowledged this timing chain defect in federal class-action litigation (Opheim et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America), and my VIN is included in the affected vehicle list. Audi’s own dealership technician confirmed that the timing chain is stretched, the tensioner is fully extended, and the intake camshaft timing is off by a tooth—clearly matching the known defect. The vehicle stalled suddenly while arriving at a repair facility, and it would not restart. Had this occurred on a highway, a collision could have easily resulted. This is a known safety defect, affecting engine timing, power loss, and stall risk. The manufacturer denies responsibility despite known defects, safety implications, and VIN eligibility. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate Audi’s refusal to address a known and documented safety-related defect involving a critical non-maintenance engine component that is expected to last the life of the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11700399

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

Hi My name is [XXX] and I have an 2014 Audi A4 that has been consuming to much oil ever since I bought it . I see the vehicles contained defective pistons that caused excessive oil consumption. Can you please help with this ? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11639781

Incident

Sep 28, 2020

The contact owns a 2014 Audi A4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, a message advising to stop the vehicle immediately was displayed. The contact pulled into a parking lot, where the contact noticed that coolant was leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the coolant pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The local dealer and another dealer, Audi North Atlanta (11505 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell, GA 30076), were then notified of the failure, but the contact was not informed that the VIN was included in a recall related to the failure. The vehicle was repaired by the independent mechanic. The contact later became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V229000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the contact had not received a recall notification in the mail. The contact submitted a claim for reimbursement to the manufacturer, but the reimbursement was denied. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11601482

Incident

Mar 1, 2023

Mileage

82,000 mi

Heating/ cooling system is not functioning correctly, continues to get warning meage from car heating/coolant warning, and engine coolant is leaking out

NHTSA ID

11575230

Incident

Feb 16, 2024

Loss of power / Turning onto oncoming traffic there was severe hesitation. Which caused the car to not move onto oncoming traffic quick enough causing both oncoming vehicles to maneuver around. Upon going to the mechanic he states I have oil in the engine from faulty piston rings which he states he has seen multiple times in these models.

NHTSA ID

11554967

Incident

Nov 10, 2023

With out warning vehicle engine shut down in the middle of the highway causing loss of power to breaks and steering. Mechanics assessment states engine is mechanically or electrically blocked. Upon investigating issue I found numerous law suits regarding engine piston failure. Please see civil action docket number L-001632-21. Found on class action .org

NHTSA ID

11511349

Incident

Jun 6, 2022

I've purchased this out of state, in 2017 December. The place was an Audi Dealers Belle Audi , in Elizabeth, New Jersey. I bought an extended on the paint and they failed to cover it when it was peeling, I since had the hood repainted, had a recall Fuel pump ( after run) , and steering column repair hbut at around 85,000 miles I saw an add oil light on my dash that indicated I needed oil, and then a service engine light- so I took it to South Burlington Audi in Vermont for a servicing and they said all was okay. Every servicing I've had done on it was at that dealership. They changed the oil/ filter etc.. but came accross as nothing was wrong when I asked and I was told - are you sure you need oil? and the girl who worked in their service department said to bring it by, and I did just 2 weeks later after the servicing that light came on again, She added a half a quart in the area I parked in. She said its fine and I left. Next thing I went buy 2 other times reporting it and their was only a sales agent and a man who worked in the Manager for servicing is english/autralian accented told me to just add oil. Then yesterday I went back after I was told on Monday evening this could be a breather valve. Well Audi has an issue with piston seals being bad- causing this and ever 150-200 miles I need to add a half a quart- and if not my engine light comes on. I've had 2 mis-fires and they told me up to 100,000 miles the class action suit covered- and they deliberately ignored this so they did not have to tear down my engine and fix the oil consumption issue. There was oil on the botton in one small area and on top, I had to fill it on the highway it blew oil over the top while filling I explained ,so they did a dye test and cleaned it and no oil leaks shown. They refused me a repair covered under the defective piston / ring/ seal class action suit 3 times. I would like to report them and file a law suit. Can you refer and assist me in this. It is an 2014 A4 2.0 Turbo.

NHTSA ID

11508479

Incident

Apr 14, 2020

This is my second time contacting you in reg. this vehicle, it was previously in the shop for the same repairs the engine was replaced and the coolant system was fixed, now it has been about two mo and again it is having issues with the coolant system and now transmission issues, I also just found out that this vehicle was in a accident in 2014, in which I was told t had not been, so I am currently reaching out to the Audi dealership trying to receive previous service history done to vehicle Oasis report. I feel this vehicle is a safety hazard, I am a single mom and grandmother and I do not feel safe in this vehicle and wish I was informed of previous accident. In the time I have had the vehicle it has spent over 30 days in the shop and now its back in there.

NHTSA ID

11456007

Incident

Mar 9, 2022

INTAKE VALVE SPRING ON CYLINDER 4 ( THE ONLY WARNING I RECEIVED WAS THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE AND THE WHOLE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE EPC LIGHT THEN CAME ON, WHEN IT STARTS IT IS HESITANT TO START) I PURCHASED CAR ON 7/24/2020 THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE WAS ON/AROUND 10/27/2020 AND THE CAR HAS NOW ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUSE ON /AROUND 10/28/202, I AM UNSURE IF THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT IN A SAFTY DUE TO THE WHOLE ENGINE GOING.

NHTSA ID

11439711

Incident

Oct 28, 2021

THIS VEHICLE IS NEEDING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 300-400 MILES. IT'S A 6 YEAR OLD CAR, THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH AUDI ENGINE DESIGN. A QUART OF OIL EVERY 300-400 MILES IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. SINCE DAY 1 THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM NOW AT 75K MILES AND THE PROBLEM JUST CONTINUES TO GET WORSE.

NHTSA ID

11376353

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE AUDI SERVICE CENTER AND THEY EXPRESSED TO ME THAT MY ENGINE COOLANT PUMP WAS NOT WORKING AND THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT TELL ME IT WAS APART OF A RECALL. HAD I KNOWN THIS, I FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED APPROXIMATELY $2,300 TO GET IT FIXED WHEN IT WAS RECALLED FROM SOMETHING OUT OF MY CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11363694

Incident

Aug 8, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY CAR STARTED BURNING OIL MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER IT HIT 120K MILES. THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON TO ADD A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1500 MILES. THE CAR NOW HAS 145K MILES ON IT AND THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AFTER 500-600 MILES, WHICH SEEMS MUCH TOO FREQUENT. THE CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND I WOULD EXPECT IT TO LAST ANOTHER 50K MILES BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE THAT'S CAUSING IT TO BURN SO MUCH OIL SO QUICKLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328678

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

144,000 mi

I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL AND NOW MY ENGINE IS BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327893

Incident

Jun 8, 2020