Is the Audi A4 B8 reliable?

Our reliability score for the Audi A4 B8 is 5.5/10 (55/100), which puts it as unreliable by our scoring. Major issues are common before 150,000 miles. RepairPal rates it 3/5.

How much does it cost to own a Audi A4 B8 per year?

Total estimated annual ownership cost for a Audi A4 B8 is approximately $3,195 for a 25-year-old male driver. This includes fuel at current US average prices, insurance, scheduled maintenance, tires, and oil changes. The 40-year-old female estimate is $2,945.

What is the Audi A4 B8 gas mileage?

EPA combined fuel economy for the Audi A4 B8 is 25 MPG, with 22 MPG city and 31 MPG highway.

What years does the Audi A4 B8 cover?

This generation of the Audi A4 was sold from 2009 to 2016.

Is the Audi A4 B8 safe?

Our safety score for the Audi A4 B8 is 9.5/10 (95/100), which means it is genuinely safe by current data. IIHS rates the crash protection good. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Is the Audi A4 B8 a good first car?

Not according to our criteria. Good first cars need a safety score 7.5+, insurance under $2,200/yr for a 25-year-old male, repairability score 7.0+, low rollover risk, and compact dimensions. The Audi A4 B8 misses on at least one of these.

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Audi A4 B8

09-16 · Audi A4

76out of 100

The Audi A4 B8 is a well-depreciated compact luxury sedan with quattro AWD, clean interior design, and available manual transmission.

Scores last updated: January 1, 2025

Score breakdown

55/ 100Reliability×2.5 69/ 100True Annual Cost×1.5 95/ 100Safety×2.5 65/ 100Practicality×2.0 100/ 100Repairability×1.5

73/ 100Long-Distance Comfort

66/ 100Enthusiast Appeal

Timing belt (not chain) is a reliability note. Annual cost relatively manageable for the segment. Quattro AWD adds value.

Our take

What it really is

A compact luxury sedan with quattro AWD, a well-finished interior, and sharper dynamics than the price suggests.

Why it's on this list

B8 A4s are deeply depreciated, under $12,000 for clean examples with 70-90k Miles. Quattro AWD adds real-world value in winter climates.

The honest trade-offs

TIMING BELT (not chain). This is not optional. Replace it by 40,000 Miles or it will destroy the engine. The S tronic DSG has mechatronic unit failures on early cars. Oil consumption on high-mileage EA888 engines.

What to buy and what to avoid

2013-2016 A4 2.0T quattro with manual or 8-speed (not S tronic DCT). Verify timing belt service in the records. Check for oil consumption with a cold start test.

Annual cost of ownership

Premium fuel. Timing belt service every 40k is a major interval cost.

Fuel (12k mi)

$2,690 (USD)^[5]

Maintenance

$1,100 (USD)^[1]

Tires (prorated)

$700 (USD)

Insurance (25yr male)

$1,450 (USD)^[8]

Insurance (40yr female)

$1,200 (USD)^[8]

Total (25yr male)

$3,195 (USD)

Total (40yr female)

$2,945 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined

25^[5]

MPG city / hwy

22 / 31^[5]

Tank

15.9 gal^[5]

Engine

2.0L TFSI Turbo I4

Horsepower

211 hp

Torque

258 lb-ft

Seats

Cargo (behind 2nd row)

12.4 cu ft

Cargo max

12.4 cu ft

Tow capacity

2,000 lbs

Ground clearance

5.3"

Stock tires

225/50R17

Body

Sedan (trunk)

Rear seats

40/20/40 split

Also available in wagon. The score reflects the primary body style listed above.

Safety

NHTSA overall

5/5 ★^[2]

Rollover risk

17.4%^[2]

IIHS rating

Good^[4]

ESC standard

Yes

Driver assists

Optional parking sensors; MMI nav on premium plus

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity

Low

Frame rust risk

Minimal

Salt belt impact

Moderate

Aluminum-intensive body resists rust well. Subframe and suspension components worth inspecting in salt belt.

Known issues by mileage

30,000-60,000 Miles (48,000-97,000 KM)

Timing belt (NOT chain) — must replace by 40k milesSafety-critical$700 (USD)

This is not a chain. Belt failure = engine destruction.

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

S tronic DSG mechatronic unit failureMajor$1,500 (USD)

Early cars (2009-2012) more affected. Tiptronic safer.

60,000-100,000 Miles (97,000-161,000 KM)

PCV valve and breather hose failure (oil consumption)Moderate$300 (USD)

Common on EA888 gen 1 engines

Best and worst years

Best years

2014Post-refresh (B8.5); revised suspension and interior
2015EA888 gen 3 more reliable; MMI updated

Years to avoid

2009First year; early S tronic mechatronic failures; DSG shudder
2010S tronic mechatronic continued; EA888 oil consumption

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost

$925 (USD)^[1]

Industry avg annual cost

$652 (USD)^[1]

RepairPal rating

3/5^[1]

Unscheduled visits/yr

0.8^[1]

Severe issue probability

12%^[1]

250k-mile survival

25%^[7]

Repairability

Headlight type

Halogen

DIY replacement cost

$45 (USD)

At major retailer

Yes

Headlight benchmark

10/10

Good aftermarket availability. Timing belt (not chain) at 40k interval is a must. PCV valve and pcv hoses common failure items.

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

[1]dataset
RepairPal
Annual maintenance cost, reliability rating, unscheduled visit frequency, severe issue probability
[2]government
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
Overall crash test stars, rollover risk %, rollover stars, frontal and side ratings
[3]government
NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins
Manufacturer-acknowledged technical issues and dealer fixes
[4]dataset
IIHS Safety Ratings
Small overlap, side impact, overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick status
[5]government
EPA Fuel Economy Guide
MPG city/highway/combined, fuel grade required, tank size
[6]forum thread
CarComplaints
Most complained-about model years, common failure patterns by year and mileage band
[7]dataset
iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability
250k-mile survival rate, depreciation curve, best age to buy used
[8]publication
Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates
Insurance cost estimates by vehicle class and driver profile

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Audi A4?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

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