What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi A4?

The engine group is named most often, with 10 complaints. Electrical and steering complaints follow. See the problems section for what owners describe.

Does the 2016 Audi A4 have recalls?

Yes. The by-year data shows 3 recalls for this model year. The full list is in the recalls section of this page.

How many complaints are there for the 2016 Audi A4?

NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on file. They are unverified reports from owners.

What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Audi A4?

The fuel economy section on this page shows the EPA figures and the yearly fuel cost.

Is the 2016 Audi A4 reliable?

The complaint record is mixed. Engine problems lead with 10 complaints, while no other group has more than 5. Read the problems and verdict sections to weigh them.

2016 Audi A4 Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Audi A4^[1]. The engine group is named most often, so that is where this page starts^[2].

26owner complaints^[1]

3recalls^[3]

24–27MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here is what owners reported to NHTSA, starting with the biggest group.

Engine. 10 complaints^[2]. Owners describe a delay in response when they press the pedal hard from a stop, a coolant leak, an oil warning light that keeps coming back after topping up, and a burning smell followed by flames under the hood. Some also describe waiting for parts to finish a recall repair.
Unknown or other. 5 complaints^[6]. These do not point to one clear part, so there is little to retell here.
Electrical system. 5 complaints^[7]. Owners describe a burning smell from the air vents, dust blowing from the air system, an infotainment screen that does not work, and a feeling that the car acts on its own.
Steering. 4 complaints^[8]. In the stories we read, the wheel locks up or stops responding while driving, and a warning message tells the driver to stop. One owner points to a worn rubber boot on the steering rack.
Fuel and propulsion. 3 complaints^[9]. Owners describe a fuel pump that leaked, was replaced, and then leaked again, with fuel also seeping near the injectors.
Exterior lighting. 2 complaints^[10].
Suspension. 2 complaints^[11].
Structure. 2 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2016 A4 is necessarily included.

Engine And Engine Cooling › Cooling System (18V229), April 2018. About 342,867 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Electrical System › Wiring (17V622), October 2017. About 216,913 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Engine And Engine Cooling › Cooling System (17V002), January 2017. About 342,867 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
A4 quattro, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium or E85, All-Wheel Drive^[16]	21 / 30 / 24	$3,400
A4 quattro, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Premium, All-Wheel Drive^[17]	22 / 32 / 26	$3,150
A4, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AV-S8), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive^[4]	24 / 31 / 27	$3,050

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD^[5]	5	5	5	5	9.9%
4 DR FWD^[18]	5	5	5	5	9.9%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2016 Audi A4 with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[19]	211 to 220 hp

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
A4 4DR SEDAN 2.0 TFSI FWD^[20]	185 in	72 in	56 in	111 in	3,505 lb
A4 4DR SEDAN 2.0 TFSI QUATTRO^[21]	185 in	72 in	56 in	111 in	3,616 lb
A4 ALLROAD 2.0 TFSI QUATTRO^[22]	186 in	72 in	58 in	111 in	3,891 lb

How 2016 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each A4 model year. The 2016 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1996	89	4
1997	98	6
1998	258	4
1999	190	4
2000	96	2
2001	131	1
2002	181	1
2003	210	3
2004	189	2
2005	219	3
2006	298	4
2007	219	5
2008	191	6
2009	144	6
2010	64	0
2011	43	0
2012	45	0
2013	111	4
2014	78	4
2015	44	4
2016	26	3
2017	87	6
2018	54	4
2019	13	1
2020	158	3
2021	13	4
2022	7	3
2023	11	1
2024	6	0
2025	1	0

NHTSA's counts for the A4 show 26 complaints and 3 recalls for 2016^[3]. Among the 30 model years listed, 6 have fewer complaints than 2016 and 23 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2025 (1) and the most are for 2006 (298)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2016 A4?

The 2016 Audi A4 has 26 complaints on file with NHTSA^[1]. The engine group leads with 10 of them^[2]. Fire is mentioned in 2 of the complaints^[1], so owners should take burning smells seriously. Steering complaints number 4^[8], and in the stories we read the wheel locks up or stops responding while driving. These are unverified owner reports, so use them as a guide to what to check, and ask a dealer whether any recall repairs are still open.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Audi A4?: The engine group is named most often, with 10 complaints^[2]. Electrical^[7] and steering^[8] complaints follow. See the problems section for what owners describe.
Does the 2016 Audi A4 have recalls?: Yes. The by-year data shows 3 recalls for this model year^[3]. The full list is in the recalls section of this page.
How many complaints are there for the 2016 Audi A4?: NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on file^[1]. They are unverified reports from owners.
What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Audi A4?: The fuel economy section on this page shows the EPA figures and the yearly fuel cost.
Is the 2016 Audi A4 reliable?: The complaint record is mixed. Engine problems lead with 10 complaints^[2], while no other group has more than 5^[6]. Read the problems and verdict sections to weigh them.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Audi A4

2012 45 complaints, 0 recalls
2013 111 complaints, 4 recalls
2014 78 complaints, 4 recalls
2015 44 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 this page
2017 87 complaints, 6 recalls
2018 54 complaints, 4 recalls

Compare all model years of the Audi A4

Other Audi models from 2016

2016 Audi A3 121 complaints, 6 recalls
2016 Audi A6 51 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 Audi Q5 78 complaints, 5 recalls

All Audi models

Similar cars from 2016: compact cars

2016 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 237 complaints, 14 recalls
2016 Volkswagen Jetta 164 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 Chevrolet Cruze 250 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 Ford Fiesta 178 complaints, 0 recalls
2016 Ford Focus 1,194 complaints, 11 recalls
2016 Honda Civic 1,083 complaints, 5 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Audi A4 (0 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Audi A4 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for A4, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AV-S8), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 31 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
5 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
5 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
3 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
2 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 18V229, filed April 11, 2018: Engine And Engine Cooling › Cooling System. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V622, filed October 5, 2017: Electrical System › Wiring. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V002, filed January 3, 2017: Engine And Engine Cooling › Cooling System. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for A4 quattro, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S8), Premium or E85, All-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for A4 quattro, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Premium, All-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 5 stars; rollover risk 9.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Audi A4 with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 211 to 220 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, A4 4DR SEDAN 2.0 TFSI FWD: length 185 in, width 72 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,505 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, A4 4DR SEDAN 2.0 TFSI QUATTRO: length 185 in, width 72 in, height 56 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,616 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, A4 ALLROAD 2.0 TFSI QUATTRO: length 186 in, width 72 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,891 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2016 Audi A4: problems, recalls and fuel economy