Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2008 Audi A4
NHTSA data on file today
The 2008 Audi A4 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 175 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #18V427000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V032000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V382000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V376000 Air Bag Control Unit Power Supply Corrosion NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 116 complaints
- Engine 13 complaints
- Power Train 12 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 11 complaints
- Electrical System 9 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 8 complaints
Of the 175 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 175 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $9,000–$16,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2008 Audi A4 faces significant concerns, especially with airbag recalls and numerous complaints regarding engine and powertrain issues. This year/model is less reliable than many of its peers and requires careful maintenance to avoid costly repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | very common |
| engine | 80,000–110,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
| powertrain | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | common |
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $300–$1,500 | occasional |
| exterior lighting | 75,000–105,000 miles | $100–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Coolant system service every 60,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 40,000 miles
- Transmission service every 60,000 miles
- Spark plugs change every 55,000 miles
- Timing belt replacement around 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unresponsive or triggering airbag light
- Engine misfiring or stalling
- Transmission slipping or rough shifting
- Dashboard electrical issues
- Flickering or dim exterior lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2008 Audi A4 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.