2009 Audi A4 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2009 Audi A4 has a complaint index of 89, ranking 3rd-worst among 20 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Engine problems (43% of complaints) and airbag issues (28%) are the top concerns, backed by 2 recalls for faulty airbag components.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 89/100
- #3 of 20 A4 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 120
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 6
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21.5 city / 28.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2009 Audi A4 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine51 (43%)
- Airbags33 (28%)
- Steering15 (13%)
- Fuel System8 (7%)
- Other7 (6%)
- Structure & Body7 (6%)
- Electrical System6 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine oil consumption and burning oil odor, sometimes with an illuminated warning light and visible oil spills under the vehicle.
- Rear main seal leaks that let oil escape, discovered when owners noticed puddles under the parked car.
- Unintended high-RPM surges while parking at low speed, with braking failing to stop the vehicle before it hit a curb or wall.
- High-pressure fuel line leaks near the top of the engine block, sometimes leaking from the steel line connecting to the filter.
- Frontal airbags failing to deploy in a crash, or deploying with excessive force and damaging the windshield and occupants.
- Steering wheel shaking or shimmy during turns and even while stopped, sometimes traced to faulty control arms.
2009 Audi A4 recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 17V032000Jan 11, 2017Airbags33,421 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
- NHTSA 16V376000May 27, 2016Airbags8,381 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Audi A4, A5, and Q5 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
Risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69O1.
2009 Audi A4 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21.5 MPG
- Highway
- 28.5 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,325
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other A4 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Audi A4 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 A4 ranks 3rd-worst out of 20 model years with a complaint index of 89, and it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other A4 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Audi A4?
- Engine issues make up 43% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles, followed by airbag problems at 28% of complaints.
- Does the 2009 Audi A4 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2009 A4, both involving airbags: one for a corroding airbag control unit and one for a faulty passenger frontal airbag inflator.
- Which Audi A4 years are better than 2009?
- Years like 2011, 2016, and 2022 earn a Best verdict with much lower complaint indexes (5, 16, and 11 respectively), and 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2023 earn Good verdicts.
- How does the 2009 Audi A4 compare on fuel economy?
- The 2009 A4 gets 24 mpg combined (21.5 city / 28.5 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,325.