2018 Audi A4 Electrical Problems

A vehicle diagnostic scan dated 04/15/2026 showed electrical communication faults involving vehicle control modules. The scan showed U014100, described as “Lost Communication With Body Control Module ‘A’,” with status listed as passive/sporadic. The scan also showed U112100, described as “Data bus message missing,” with status listed as active/static. This is being reported as a safety concern because body-control module, gateway, and data-bus communication faults can affect vehicle electrical functions, warning systems, access/locking systems, lighting or body-control functions, driver information, and other vehicle systems that rely on module communication. The concern is especially important because the vehicle has had multiple intermittent electrical/body-control symptoms, including fuel-door/tank-flap electrical faults and other reported intermittent vehicle electrical concerns. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and the diagnostic scan report, electrical-system records, service communications, and related repair records are available if requested.

NHTSA ID

11747863

Incident

Apr 15, 2026

A vehicle diagnostic scan dated 04/15/2026 at approximately 88,502 miles showed a stored transmission electronics fault: P084100, described as “Transmission fluid pressure sensor/switch A range/performance,” with status listed as passive/sporadic. This indicates a transmission / powertrain control concern involving the transmission fluid pressure sensor, transmission electronics, wiring, control logic, pressure monitoring, or related powertrain components. The vehicle also has prior transmission/powertrain history, including a March 2023 transmission-pan-gasket concern documented in service records, so this later transmission electronics fault is being reported in that broader powertrain context. This is being reported as a safety concern because a transmission fluid pressure sensor or transmission-control fault can affect shifting, drivability, delayed engagement, slipping, harsh shifting, limp mode, reduced power, drivetrain damage, or loss of propulsion while driving. Even if the fault is intermittent, a transmission-control issue may create an unsafe condition if it occurs in traffic or during acceleration, merging, turning, or normal driving. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and the diagnostic scan report, transmission-related records, service records, manufacturer communications, and related communications are available if requested.

NHTSA ID

11747862

Incident

Apr 15, 2026

The vehicle has a recurring interior rattle / loose-trim concern involving interior panels, trim, speaker/subwoofer area, rear shelf, dashboard area, or related mounting components. The noise is not merely a comfort concern if it is caused by a loose component, fastener, grille, panel, or speaker housing that may move, worsen, detach, or distract the driver. This is being reported as a safety concern because loose interior trim or components can distract the driver, interfere with normal vehicle use, create uncertainty about whether a component is secured, and may indicate improper fastening, panel fitment, speaker/subwoofer mounting, or body/electrical component installation issues. If the affected trim is near safety-system areas, it should be inspected to confirm it does not affect wiring, restraint-system areas, visibility, or safe vehicle operation. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and service records, TSB-related records, photos/video/audio, issue lists, and repair communications are available if requested.

NHTSA ID

11747854

Incident

Mar 23, 2023

The vehicle is subject to a Passenger Occupant Detection System / PODS safety recall involving the front passenger seat occupant-detection system and passenger airbag status. The concern is that the system may incorrectly detect whether a passenger is seated and may switch off or affect the front passenger airbag when the seat is occupied. This is being reported because the recall remedy was not completed, was delayed, was not properly resolved, or the concern remains unresolved. A malfunctioning passenger occupant detection system can affect whether the passenger airbag deploys as intended in a crash. The issue involves the airbag system, front passenger seat occupant detection, related sensors/modules, and related electrical components. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and Audi recall documents, service records, communications, and any warning-light or passenger-airbag-status evidence are available if requested.

NHTSA ID

11747852

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

The short-term MPG / fuel-consumption display gives illogical and inconsistent readings. The display can show a significant drop in short-term fuel economy after the vehicle has been parked, locked, and not running, as if the system is incorrectly factoring parked/off time into the MPG calculation. This suggests a possible fault in the onboard computer, instrument cluster, fuel-consumption calculation, sensor input, software, ECU/module logic, or related electrical system. This is being reported as a safety concern because inaccurate fuel-consumption or range-related information can mislead the driver about fuel usage and remaining range, and it may indicate a broader vehicle electrical/computer/sensor malfunction. The concern is also part of a broader pattern of electrical or driver-information issues, including other intermittent warnings and display-related concerns. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photos/video of the display, service communications, issue lists, and related electrical-system records are available if requested.

NHTSA ID

11747851

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

The vehicle intermittently gives a false proximity/collision warning while stationary or while maneuvering at low speed. The sensors beep and display a warning on the screen as if an object is about to hit the vehicle, even when nothing around the vehicle has changed and no object is present. This appears to involve the parking/proximity warning system, sensor system, control module, wiring, calibration, or broader electrical/driver-assistance system. This is being reported as a safety concern because false collision/proximity warnings can distract the driver, reduce trust in the vehicle’s warning systems, cause unnecessary braking or hesitation, and may indicate a malfunction in the systems used for parking, low-speed maneuvering, and obstacle detection. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and service communications, issue lists, photos/video if available, and related electrical/driver-assistance records are available if requested.

NHTSA ID

11747850

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

The fuel filler door/gas door intermittently fails to open, preventing normal access to the fuel filler area. This appears to involve the fuel door latch, release mechanism, lock actuator, body component, electrical control, or related wiring/module issue. This is being reported as a safety concern because inability to open the fuel door can prevent refueling when fuel is low. If the vehicle cannot be refueled, it can create a stranding risk or loss-of-propulsion risk, including in traffic, at night, on a highway, or in an unsafe location. The issue also creates driver distraction and uncertainty because refueling access is not reliable. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photos/video, service communications, and repair records are available if requested.

NHTSA ID

11747847

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

The exterior side mirrors have intermittent electrical/memory malfunctions. When locking the vehicle, the side mirrors begin to fold, pause or glitch briefly, and then continue folding. Separately, when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the right-side mirror tilts downward to assist with backing/parking, but when shifted back to drive or park, the mirror does not reliably return to its original saved position and requires manual readjustment. This is being reported as a safety concern because exterior mirror position affects rearward and side visibility, backing visibility, lane-change awareness, and the driver’s ability to maintain proper mirror alignment. An intermittent mirror control, folding, memory, or tilt malfunction may indicate an electrical, motor, control-module, wiring, switch, or mirror-memory issue. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and service communications, issue lists, photos/video if available, and related electrical-system records are available.

NHTSA ID

11747845

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

The sunroof has a recurring mechanical/electrical malfunction. During operation, the sunroof binds and makes a loud popping or cracking noise, and the rubber seal became torn or damaged. This suggests a possible track, guide, cable, motor, regulator, frame, seal, or alignment failure. This is being reported as a safety concern because a binding or popping sunroof can distract the driver, allow water intrusion into electrical areas, worsen into glass/track/frame failure, or create a risk of loose roof components while the vehicle is in use. The issue was reported to Audi service and was not fully resolved or documented to my satisfaction. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photos, video stills, service communications, and repair records are available.

NHTSA ID

11747811

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

Visible wiring has become exposed in the windshield/A-pillar area. There is no airbag/SRS warning light at this time, and I am not able to determine from visual inspection whether the exposed wiring is related to the restraint system. However, this is a safety-sensitive area because it can contain or route electrical wiring near trim, sensors, and safety-system areas. Exposed or unsecured wiring in this area may create a risk of electrical short, damaged wiring, impaired signal integrity, loose trim, moisture intrusion, or safety-system malfunction. The concern was reported as part of broader electrical and safety-related issues. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. This complaint is being submitted because exposed wiring in the A-pillar/windshield-pillar area is not normal and should be inspected to determine whether the wiring, trim, connector routing, or related electrical/safety components are compromised. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photo evidence and service communications are available.

NHTSA ID

11747810

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

The rear-view camera intermittently fails to engage when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. When the camera does display, the image sometimes shows horizontal glitch lines/artifacts. This affects backing visibility and parking safety and creates a risk of collision with pedestrians, objects, vehicles, or property. The concern was reported to Audi service along with other electrical/driver-assistance symptoms, suggesting a possible camera, wiring, module, signal-processing, or broader electrical fault. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. This complaint is being submitted because the rear camera/reverse display is a backing-safety system and the intermittent failure is unpredictable. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photo/video evidence and service communications are available.

NHTSA ID

11747799

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

I am reporting recurring safety-related defects on my 2018 Audi A4 involving Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Audi pre sense/front-collision functionality, and related electrical/driver-assistance reliability. The AEB/forward-collision system has shown two unsafe intermittent behaviors. At times it has failed to activate as expected when crash-mitigation assistance appeared reasonably available. At other times it has unexpectedly warned, jolted, or applied braking when there was no apparent vehicle, object, pedestrian, or hazard close to the car. Unexpected braking or false intervention can startle the driver, create rear-end collision risk, and reduce confidence in the system. Failure to activate can also increase forward-collision risk. The system was not intentionally disabled by me, and I am not aware of any driver-caused obstruction, modification, or normal explanation. The condition is intermittent and may not appear during a brief service visit or basic fault-code scan. This concern was reported through Audi/dealer service channels, including a documented repair request identifying the AEB system as malfunctioning and failing to activate as designed. A later dealer communication stated that there were no stored AEB faults and later clarified that no work was done on the AEB system, no inspection or verification of AEB operation was performed, and confirmation of operation would require an additional estimate. I am reporting unresolved safety status because intermittent active-safety failures or false interventions may not store permanent DTCs, and lack of stored faults is not complete safety verification. I have not received final written safety closure confirming inspection, calibration review, road-test verification, factory scan/freeze-frame review, module communication review, and technical verification. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality is being reported. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested.

NHTSA ID

11741957

Incident

Aug 27, 2024

This problem is extremely sporadic, and often remedies itself after car shut down, and sometimes require that the car sit for a period of time. I estimate the following issue happens ~1 time a month, or estimated 5% of the time. Weather (temperature specifically) does not appear to impact occurance. When reversing, at times the back up camera does not function properly. During these times, the parking sensors appear to work, but it's unclear if the emergency reverse automatic braking system is working. The backup camera issues present themselves in several different ways and are described below. 1) Scrolling view (think of an old time movie, where the image "scrolling" through the screen 2) Black, but not completely black, includes what appears to be interference (sometimes white pixels flash randomly throughout the screen) 3) Off color (almost like a color inversion), darks appear light, light colors appear dark, similar to how things when developing film in a dark room 4) Similar to #1 but instead it freezes, halfway through a scroll. Often times the picture is split, with the bottom on the top, and the top on the bottom, and a clear black line in the middle Opening and closing the trunk, tapping the camera, turning the parking sensor (and camera) off and on do not solve the issue when it happens. Neither does changing from R to P on the transmission lever. Issue always requires a restart, rarely does an immediate restart fix the issue. The tracking lines are also distorted when this happens. When not malfunctioning, camera system works perfectly. Recently, I came across NHTSA ID: 25V900000 which almost exactly describes my issues but my car is not included. I did recently ask the Dealer to look into it during my 40,000 mile service. They stated that no codes were in the system and they could further troubleshoot but the intermittent nature would likely result in no findings unless the issue is present on site.

NHTSA ID

11709539

Incident

Nov 20, 2025

My screen turns on and off consistently not allowing me to use my backup camera. Causing a small collision while backing up when the camera turned off unexpectedly. Additionally when it’s off it will auto break when I’m not close enough to hitting and it’s loud and yanked me. This has been an issue for some time and I’m seeing a significant amount of my models have this issue and it’s not safe.

NHTSA ID

11702346

Incident

Sep 23, 2025

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID

11607215

Incident

Apr 8, 2024

SAFETY AND THEFT ISSUE!! The door lock actuators on two doors of vehicle. Front and back seat where children ride. The actuators failed to engage leaving it easy for anyone to open the door from the outside even when presumed locked. Actuators do not engage which leaves vehicles prone to theft and allows anyone to open the door included a child from the inside of the vehicle at any time.

NHTSA ID

11589519

Incident

May 1, 2024

The rear view camera does not activate when using the parking assist or when reversing. The sensors are still functioning as intended. This can cause unintentional accidents or injuries to pedestrians. This issue was brought up with the dealer back in January of 2023. They mentioned the wiring for the rear camera was pinched by the trunk mechanism and because loose. There are no warning lamps displayed on the dash.

NHTSA ID

11515996

Incident

Apr 7, 2023