YearToAvoid

2013 Audi A4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

57/100

#7 most-complained of 15 A4 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Audi A4 has a Complaint Index of 57 and ranks 7th worst out of 15 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Steering problems dominate, making up 42% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 72,500 miles.

Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 2
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
21 city / 30.5 hwy

Top 2013 Audi A4 problems

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

  1. Steering10 (42%)
  2. Engine7 (29%)
  3. Other3 (13%)
  4. Electrical System2 (8%)
  5. Fuel System2 (8%)
  6. Airbags1 (4%)
  7. Brakes1 (4%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (4%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn or the power steering seizes intermittently, sometimes triggering a "steering wheel defective don't drive" warning.
  • Some owners had the intermediate steering shaft or the power steering module replaced after sudden loss of steering assist at low speeds.
  • Engine reportedly burns through oil at an increasing rate, requiring a quart added every several hundred miles as the issue worsens over time.
  • A gasoline odor inside the cabin was traced by some owners to a leaking fuel tank located under the rear seat.
  • One owner reported white smoke and flames from the engine compartment after hearing an unidentified sound while driving.
2013 Audi A4 complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2019Mar 2020Oct 2020Sep 2021Jul 2022Jun 2024
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2019 to Mar 2026; peak Nov 2019 (3).

2013 Audi A4 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2013 Audi A4 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
30.5 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
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.

2013 compared with other A4 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Best711025
2012Good2919025
2013Caution5724025
2014Good3632026
2015Good4319026

All Audi A4 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Audi A4 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2013 Audi A4 a Complaint Index of 57, ranking it 7th worst among 15 model years and earning a Caution verdict relative to other A4 years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Audi A4?
Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 42% of complaints, with issues like sudden loss of power steering assist reported at a median mileage of 72,500 miles.
Does the 2013 Audi A4 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2013 Audi A4.
How does the 2013 Audi A4 compare to other years?
The 2013 model's Complaint Index of 57 is worse than the 2011 (7), 2012 (29), 2016 (21), and 2022 (14) model years, but better than 2010 (93), 2017 (86), 2018 (79), and 2020 (100), which carry Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Audi A4?
The 2013 Audi A4 gets an EPA combined rating of 25 mpg (21 city / 30.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.

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.