YearToAvoid

Audi A4 allroad Best and Worst Years (2013–2024)

Audi A4 allroad model years 2013, 2014, and 2015 are rated Avoid, with complaint indexes of 100, 91, and 82 driven by steering, engine, and electrical problems. 2016 is the only Good year (index 45); no year earns a Best rating.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2013Avoid 2014Avoid 2015

Model years
12
2013–2024
NHTSA complaints
251
Recall campaigns
12
Crashes reported
13
Fires reported
5
Top problem area
Steering

A4 allroad Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Audi A4 allroad problems and recalls by year

YearVerdictIndexComplaintsCrashesFiresRecallsTop issueMPGNCAP
2013Avoid10086414Steering——
2014Avoid9146134Engine——
2015Avoid8225304Engine——
2016Good4515013Engine——
2017Caution6431205Airbags25—
2018Caution559303Airbags——
2019No verdict273000Airbags25—
2020Caution7330001Electrical System26—
2021No verdict91001Collision Avoidance & Cameras26—
2022No verdict00001—26—
2023No verdict181001—26—
2024No verdict364000Engine26—

A4 allroad years to avoid: what went wrong

2013 Audi A4 allroad Index 100 · 86 complaints · 4 recalls

The 2013 A4 allroad has the highest complaint index (100) of any model year, with steering listed as the top problem area at 27 complaints and a 55% share of that year's total. Owners report the steering wheel failing to center, drifting, and clicking noises, sometimes leading to loss of control at highway speed; median mileage at failure across all issues was 47,750. Engine complaints followed, with owners describing smoke and under-hood incidents. NHTSA lists four recall campaigns for this year covering engine coolant pump software and an auxiliary heater electrical connector.},

2013 steering problems →2013 engine problems →

2014 Audi A4 allroad Index 91 · 46 complaints · 4 recalls

The 2014 A4 allroad carries a complaint index of 91. Engine and steering issues each account for 33% of that year's complaints. Owners describe vehicles smoking or catching fire while driving or parked, and cars that drift left or right at freeway speed instead of tracking straight. Median mileage at failure for engine complaints was 52,000 and for steering was 22,500. Four recall campaigns apply to this year, including the engine coolant pump software fix and the auxiliary heater electrical connector corrosion recall shared with the 2013 model.

2014 engine problems →2014 steering problems →

2015 Audi A4 allroad Index 82 · 25 complaints · 4 recalls

The 2015 A4 allroad has a complaint index of 82. Engine problems make up 36% of complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 33,686. Transmission and powertrain issues follow at 20%, with owners reporting the vehicle rolling backward at a stop or failing to move when shifted into gear, plus rough 'bucking' while underway; median mileage for these was 13,500. Four recall campaigns apply, the same engine coolant pump and electrical connector campaigns that cover the 2013 and 2014 model years.

Most common Audi A4 allroad problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

  1. Steering68 (27%)
  2. Engine51 (20%)
  3. Electrical System48 (19%)
  4. Other34 (14%)
  5. Airbags30 (12%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain17 (7%)
  7. Structure & Body16 (6%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras15 (6%)
  9. Brakes14 (6%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Audi A4 allroad should I avoid?
NHTSA complaint and recall data rate 2013, 2014, and 2015 as Avoid, with complaint indexes of 100, 91, and 82. Steering and engine problems drive the 2013 and 2014 ratings, while engine and transmission issues drive the 2015 rating.
Which Audi A4 allroad year is the best?
No A4 allroad model year earns a Best rating. 2016 is the only year rated Good, with a complaint index of 45 and 15 total complaints.
Is the 2013 Audi A4 allroad reliable?
The 2013 A4 allroad has the highest complaint index (100) among all model years, led by steering complaints (27, 55% of that year's total) and four recall campaigns. Based on NHTSA data it ranks worst of the 12 model years covered.
Does the Audi A4 allroad have steering problems?
Steering is the top problem area across all A4 allroad model years combined, with 68 complaints (27% share), concentrated most heavily in the 2013 and 2014 model years.
Are later Audi A4 allroad years safer?
2017, 2018, and 2020 are rated Caution, and 2020 shows a complaint index of 73 tied to electrical system complaints, while 2017 and 2018 lean toward airbag complaints with lower median mileage at failure of 12,250 and 9,645.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.