YearToAvoid

2019 Audi A4 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2019 Audi A4 has a complaint index of 42, ranking 12th out of 20 model years, with a Good verdict. It logged 10 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, and 1 recall involving airbags.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
42/100
#12 of 20 A4 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
10
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2022
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28.5
25 city / 34 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2019 Audi A4 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System3 (30%)
  2. Engine3 (30%)
  3. Other3 (30%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (20%)
  5. Fuel System2 (20%)
  6. Airbags1 (10%)
  7. Brakes1 (10%)

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

What owners report

  • Fuel tank and line damage after a crash led to a gasoline smell in the cabin during a later trip.
  • One owner reported sudden unintended acceleration combined with a loss of braking while parking at low speed.
  • The front passenger airbag light cycled on and off, matching symptoms described in recall 21V874000 even though the vehicle had not been recalled.
  • Audi Presense automatic braking activated abruptly on the highway, causing a collision-like jolt with no actual impact.
  • A dealer inspection at 50,000 miles found the passenger-side motor mount leaking and expected to deteriorate further.
  • The turbocharger wastegate actuator seized at highway speed, cutting engine power and disabling cruise control.
2019 Audi A4 complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2021May 2022Nov 2022Dec 2023Aug 2024Jun 2025Aug 2025Dec 2025
10 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2021 to Dec 2025; peak Dec 2023 (2).

2019 Audi A4 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V874000Nov 10, 2021Airbags208,332 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2019 Audi A4 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
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.

2019 compared with other A4 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Caution6355127.5
2018Caution5844127
2019Good4210128.5
2020Avoid95127328.5
2021Caution5311427.5

All Audi A4 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Audi A4 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 A4 has a complaint index of 42 and a Good verdict, ranking 12th out of 20 model years for this model.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Audi A4?
NHTSA complaints for this year are led by the Electrical System and Engine, each making up 30% of complaints, followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras and Fuel System at 20% each.
Does the 2019 Audi A4 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (21V874000) covering airbags, related to a seat heating mat or cover issue; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2019 Audi A4 compare to other A4 years?
With a complaint index of 42, the 2019 A4 sits in the middle of the pack; years like 2011, 2016, and 2022 rank better with Best verdicts, while 2006 and 2020 rank worse with Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Audi A4?
EPA rates the 2019 A4 at 28.5 mpg combined (25 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800.

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.