YearToAvoid

2018 Audi A4 allroad Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

55/100

#6 most-complained of 12 A4 allroad years

The 2018 Audi A4 allroad has a Complaint Index of 55, ranking 6th worst among 12 model years and earning a Caution verdict. It has 9 NHTSA complaints, 3 recalls, and airbags as the top problem area.

Complaints
9
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2018 Audi A4 allroad problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags3 (33%)
  2. Brakes3 (33%)
  3. Electrical System3 (33%)
  4. Engine2 (22%)
  5. Other2 (22%)
  6. Structure & Body2 (22%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers1 (11%)

What owners report

  • Front airbags failed to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including one at 21,000 miles that resulted in driver injuries.
  • An automatic emergency braking system reportedly did not activate before a frontal collision in heavy traffic.
  • A windshield developed a long crack spontaneously without any impact while the car was parked.
  • Owners reported an electrical shutdown of interior systems while driving on the highway, along with unexpected engagement of pre-sense safety features like seatbelt tightening and parking sensors.
  • Some owners said recall parts for airbag repairs were unavailable for extended periods after notification.
2018 Audi A4 allroad complaints: complaints filed per month4Jul 2018Mar 2019Apr 2019Jul 2019Aug 2019Oct 2019Jan 2022May 2022
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2018 to May 2022; peak Aug 2019 (4).

2018 Audi A4 allroad recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V547000Jul 24, 2019Airbags145,337 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

    Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.

  2. NHTSA 18V836000Nov 27, 2018Airbags12 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Audi A5 Sportback and 2017-2018 Audi A4 Allroad vehicles. A passenger air bag module mounting screw may not have been sufficiently tightened, possibly affecting the deployment of the air bag in the event of a crash.

    Risk: If the air bag does not deploy correctly in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of an injury.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag mounting screw, tightening or replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 19, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y4.

  3. NHTSA 17V675000Oct 25, 2017Structure & Body31,323 vehicles

    Structure:body:door:hinge and attachments

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad, and 2018 A5 Sportback vehicles. The aluminum trim on the front and rear doors can come loose from around the door speakers, leaving sharp edges exposed.

    Risk: The sharp edges of the speaker trim increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

    Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the speaker cover aluminum trim, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 70G6.

2018 compared with other A4 allroad years

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
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Good45153—
2017Caution7331525
2018Caution5593—
2019No verdict273025
2020Caution6430126

All Audi A4 allroad years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Audi A4 allroad reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2018 model a Complaint Index of 55 with a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst out of 12 model years for the A4 allroad. It has 9 complaints and 3 recalls on file.
What are the main problems with the 2018 Audi A4 allroad?
The top problem area is airbags, tied with brakes and the electrical system at 3 complaints each (33% share). Airbags were involved in one crash and brakes/electrical issues in two crashes each.
Does the 2018 Audi A4 allroad have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 A4 allroad: two involving airbags (harness cable ties and a passenger airbag mounting screw) and one for loose aluminum door trim.
Should I avoid the 2018 Audi A4 allroad?
The 2018 model carries a Caution verdict, meaning it is not the worst A4 allroad year but is riskier than years like 2016 (Complaint Index 45, Good) or 2019 (Complaint Index 27).
What mileage do problems occur at in the 2018 Audi A4 allroad?
The median mileage at failure across complaints is 9,645 miles, with brake and electrical issues reported at a median of 7,000 miles.

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.