2018 Audi A4
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical is the largest identified problem area: 17 of 44 complaints (39%) mention it. 18 complaints mention a component NHTSA leaves uncategorised. Complaints mentioning Steering include more crash reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 54 in 2017 to 44 in 2018.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2018 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–3,250 | 2,500–3,100 | 2,500–2,850 | 2,600–3,100 | 2,600–3,000 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–27 | 25–31 | 27–31 | 25–30 | 26–30 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–24 / 30–32 | 23–27 / 28–37 | 24–27 / 33–37 | 22–27 / 29–34 | 23–27 / 31–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 341–364 | 284–349 | 284–327 | 292–356 | 295–337 | |
| Complaints filed | 11 | 54 | 44 | 10 | 127 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Audi A4 have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Audi A4 get?
EPA rates it 27–31 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Audi A4?
EPA estimates $2,500–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 24 mpg (low) | 34 mpg | 27 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 327 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 24 mpg (low) | 33 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | $2,850 (high) | 327 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Compact Cars | 27 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | $2,500 (low) | 284 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
SEATS; AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · Campaign 21V874000 · Nov 12, 2021
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
Consequence: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.