2013 AUDI A4 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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5/5

★★★★★

Safety Rating

27

Owner Complaints

1 Crash 1 Fire

0

Recalls

NO ACTIVE RECALLS

23

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2013 AUDI A4

The 2013 AUDI A4 has received a total of 27 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. 23 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (10 complaints), Engine (6 complaints), and Unknown Or Other (3 complaints).

Recalls for the 2013 AUDI A4

There are no recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2013 AUDI A4. No Active Recalls

Owner Complaints for the 2013 AUDI A4

27 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 AUDI A4. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11617050 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
Component that failed is a/an electric coolant pump for turbo. Yes, it is available for inspection. Safety was compromised due to increased risk of fire. Yes, the issue has been confirmed by Audi Service Department. Yes the vehicle has been inspected by Manufacturers local service department. Yes, the check engine light and ECU light were illuminated on the dash of vehicle 3 weeks before car was taken in for service.
#11596572 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | | 127,000 miles Fire
The contact owned a 2013 Audi A4. The contact stated that his grandson was driving at an undisclosed speed when he heard a loud unidentified sound coming from the engine compartment. Suddenly, white smoke and flames were emerging from the engine compartment. The vehicle was successfully pulled to the side of the road by the contact's grandson. After the grandson managed to exit the vehicle, a short while later the vehicle caught fire. A bystander came over and assisted in extinguishing the fire. No one was injured during the incident. The fire department arrived and extinguished the remaining flames. There was no police or fire department report filed. The vehicle was towed and the insurance company determined the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
#11506710 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | | N/A miles
My Audi A4 failed to start on the coldest day of the year when my daughter was out doing errands and left it for an extended time parked outside. When she returned and tried to start the car, she got an error message: "Steering defective! Do not drive vehicle!" She re-tried over a dozen times, leaving the vehicle and returning to try again....to no avail. It was extremely cold so she retreated into the building and searched the internet and found others who had had this same problem. She finally called a friend who came to pick her up and take her home. I called Audi, and they confirmed that it's a know problem that occurs in extreme cold and there's no way to get it started until things warm up. We waited until later in the day before my son and I drove over and successfully got the car started. Luckily my daughter could get warm refuge in a nearby building. But it is easy to imagine other circumstances, say, someone who lives in the country who stops at the side of the road for whatever reason and might freeze because the car won't start. Although Audi has known about the problem, they have chosen not to issue a recall but instead an extended warranty that had expired a month or so before this incident. Surprisingly, they refuse to fix the problem because it is beyond that extension date even though we brought the car to the dealer and they confirmed the error was recorded 18 times which might match my daughter's desperate but failed attempts to start the car. This is not an optional fix. It is a danger that should be addressed by recall. This is the first time we had this problem or even knew to be concerned. Furthermore, the notice for extended warranty (see attached) was not even addressed to me but, instead, to my teenage son who clearly didn't understand how important it was to get it fixed.
#11497096 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
I purchased this vehicle on 10/16/2022 and the very next day took it back and informed them that it was leaking oil. It was repaired and from that point on it was telling me to add a quart of oil once every week. Was diagnosed by the Audi dealership of the pistons needing to be replaced and that my car fell under the lawsuit that has yet to be settled. Was told I could spend the 9k to fix the car and be reimbursed. Audi really needs to be fixing all vehicles with these issues. That is just insane to pay 9k to fix a vehicle when I just got it and have barely been able to drive it.
#11476041 | ENGINE | | N/A miles
I have a 2013 Audi A4 2.0. I was driving home at night close to my home and the car started puttering and wouldn’t go and I found out that the timing chain had “jumped” and caused sudden engine failure. I later found out that same issue is the subject of class action lawsuits for the second time around because Audi didn’t properly take action after the first suit and repair the issue, which is apparently a major problem with my model and other class vehicles and instead continue to let people unknowingly buy and drive these cars.

View all Steering complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2013 AUDI A4

The 2013 AUDI A4 received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Test Category Rating
Overall Rating ★★★★★ (5/5)
Frontal Crash ★★★★★ (5/5)
Side Crash ★★★★★ (5/5)
Rollover ★★★★★ (5/5)

Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2013 AUDI A4

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 23 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2013 AUDI A4. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

A1920102061604_1 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This bulletin contains instructions for resolving a coolant leak.

26 14 23 2037812 — STRUCTURE

Rattling noises are heard coming from underneath the vehicle. These noises may be a result of contact between an exhaust heat shield and the body of the vehicle.

26 14 23 2037812 — EQUIPMENT

These noises may be a result of contact between an exhaust heat shield and the body of the vehicle. Rattling noises are heard coming from underneath the vehicle.

37 14 33 2029305 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Further transmission control module (TCM), J217 (address word 02), software calibration to improve shift concerns.

37 14 33 2029305 — ENGINE

Further transmission control module (TCM), J217 (address word 02), software calibration to improve shift concerns.

46147220344043 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

Vehicle does not start, battery flat DTC stored (DTC U101100)

96137920350473 — LANE DEPARTURE

Lane Change Assistant "Sensors Blocked" warning in DIS (DTC C1114F3 and C1115F5)

37 13 18 2034863 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

There is a reaction between the TCM and the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) in vehicles within a specific VIN range.

37131820348632 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Gearbox malfunction message in cluster (DTC P0706 )

48K8UPDATE — STEERING

Power Steering Control Unit Software (NVLW)

Showing 10 of 23 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2013 AUDI A4

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the AUDI A4

View all AUDI A4 model years →

Other AUDI Models

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