2009 Audi A4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
150 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Audi A4, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 48/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 79,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2009 sits among all A4 years
What owners report
“Timing chain failed on engine while driving causing a complete loss of power. Towed to audi dealer who quoted a repair > $ value of the car. Car is a total loss.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 A4
“Takata recall - i bought my car in february 2016, and i still have not been able to get my deadly airbag replaced. Each time i check on the recall, i get the following disappointing message: "driver frontal airbag takata psdi-5 inflators repair not yet available" after a 20 month wait, a repair…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 A4
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 84 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 66,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 35,000 and 92,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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,…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
775 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2009 Audi A4. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Audi A4 reliable?
The 2009 Audi A4 drew 150 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 48/100, scored against the model's worst year (1998).
What are the most common 2009 Audi A4 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Audi A4 are engine (49 complaints), airbags (33), and steering (15).
At what mileage do 2009 Audi A4 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Audi A4 problems around 66,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 35,000 and 92,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Audi A4 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Audi A4. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.