Audi A4 VIN Check — Free Recall & Complaint Lookup

Quick answer

The most-reported A4 run is WAUDF78E36A (2006 builds) with 17 complaints, 7.7× the typical run. Electrical system problems make up 19% of reports; 1999 is the worst model year at 3.1 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 30 recall campaigns for A4 model years 1996–2022.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Audi A4 has 998 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 3% of every A4 complaint on file.

FIG.01·Audi A4 — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)	Year	Complaints	Involved a crash	Fire
WAUDF78E36A••••••	2006	17	1	—
WAULMAF49JA••••••	2018	15	—	—
WAUDF78E16A••••••	2006	14	—	—
WAUED28D9XA••••••	1999	13	—	—
WAUED28D3WA••••••	1998	13	—	—
WAUDF78E96A••••••	2006	12	—	—
WAUDF78E06A••••••	2006	11	—	—
WAUDF78EX6A••••••	2006	11	—	—
WAUDF78E88A••••••	2008	10	1	—
WAUDF78E48A••••••	2008	10	—	—
WAUDF78E26A••••••	2006	10	—	—
WAUDF78E66A••••••	2006	10	—	—

ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 986 A4 runs has 10 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 191 A4 VINs so far, most often 2017, 2018, 2023 builds.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Audi A4 the gap between build years is 3.1×: a 1999 car draws 3.1 complaints per run, a 2019 one 1.

FIG.02·Audi A4 — complaint rate by model year
Year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Crashes
2021	1.3	10	8	2
2020	1.9	124	66	1
2019	1	5	5	—
2018	1.9	42	22	1
2017	1.5	51	33	2
2016	1.1	12	11	—
2015	1.1	19	17	1
2014	1.3	30	24	—
2013	1.6	25	16	—
2010	1.3	57	43	—
2009	1.4	100	69	6
2008	2.8	163	59	7
2006	2.4	241	100	8
2005	2.1	181	88	7
2004	2.1	148	70	6
2003	2.4	164	69	6
2002	2.6	139	53	8
2001	2.6	94	36	3
2000	1.6	69	43	4
1999	3.1	160	52	7

ROWS 20·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1999 at 3.1 complaints per run; lightest is 2019 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 19% of everything Audi A4 owners report: Electrical System, 388 of 2,199 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Audi A4 — most-reported systems
System	Complaints	Involved a crash	Fire
Electrical System	388	—	21
Air Bags	357	43	1
Service Brakes	294	14	1
Exterior Lighting	269	1	3
Hydraulic	258	13	1
Engine	186	2	7
Engine And Engine Cooling	163	2	7
Power Train	152	5	1

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 30 recall campaigns on the Audi A4; the 6 below cover build years 1996 to 2020. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Audi A4 — recall campaigns
Campaign	Component	Model years
14E007000	Engine And Engine Cooling:engine	1999–2005
06E049000	Exterior Lighting	1996–2001
17V032000	Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module	2005–2009
16V382000	Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module	2004–2008
06E060000	Exterior Lighting	1996–2000
21V874000	Seats	2017–2020

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The A4 against its rivals

The A4 draws 2.2 complaints per production run; the Acura ILX 1.6. That is the highest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·Audi A4 VIN check vs rivals
Model	Complaints	Runs	Per run	Involved a crash
Audi A4	2,199	998	2.2	3.6%
Acura ILX	256	160	1.6	8.6%

ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 2,199 reports on the Audi A4, 3.6% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Audi A4 — complaint severity
Outcome	Audi A4	All vehicles
Complaints filed	2,199	1,115,966
Involved a crash	80 (3.6%)	64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire	36 (1.6%)	26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported	58	58,013
Deaths reported	0	2,728

ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 38% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Audi A4 share of that is 2,199 complaints over 998 runs, 0.2% of everything on record.

Everything on the Audi A4

Recalls99 campaigns Fuel economy31 mpg best Reliability4.5/5 Common problems2,987 complaints Cargo space31 cu ft Used prices2,325 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1996–2026

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Audi A4 VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 2,199 NHTSA complaints from 998 A4 runs and 30 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which A4 production run has the most complaints?

WAUDF78E36A, a 2006 build, with 17 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical A4 run has 2.2.

Which A4 years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1999 is heaviest at 3.1 complaints per run and 2019 lightest at 1.

Does the A4 get more complaints than the Acura ILX?

Yes: 2.2 complaints per production run for the A4 against 1.6 for the Acura ILX.

How many A4 complaints involve a crash?

3.6% of 2,199 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 36 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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