2018 Audi A4

2018 Audi A4 recalls (1)

• SEATS

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.

2018 Audi A4 safety ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP ratings.

2018 Audi A4 owner complaints (15)

• SUSPENSION,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES

  An Audi dealer installed 245/40R18 93H tires on this 2018 Audi A4, while the vehicle placard/specification requires 245/40R18 97H. The lower load index reduces capacity from 1,609 lb per tire to 1,433 lb per tire, approximately 704 lb total across four tires. This creates a safety risk because load-rated tires affect vehicle stability, heat buildup, braking, steering/cornering, suspension loading, and tire failure/blowout risk. After discovering the mismatch, the concern was reported to the dealer and Audi, but the dealer stated the 93H tires were acceptable rather than providing a safety-based correction. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. This complaint is being submitted because the vehicle may have been operated with under-rated tires and because the issue can affect handling, braking, tire durability, suspension/wheel components, and safe vehicle control. Tire/repair-order records, door-jamb placard evidence, load-index comparison evidence, and dealer communications are available.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

  The rear-view camera intermittently fails to engage when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. When the camera does display, the image sometimes shows horizontal glitch lines/artifacts. This affects backing visibility and parking safety and creates a risk of collision with pedestrians, objects, vehicles, or property. The concern was reported to Audi service along with other electrical/driver-assistance symptoms, suggesting a possible camera, wiring, module, signal-processing, or broader electrical fault. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. This complaint is being submitted because the rear camera/reverse display is a backing-safety system and the intermittent failure is unpredictable. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photo/video evidence and service communications are available.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  The vehicle displayed a low coolant warning and the coolant reservoir was low. Audi dealer service records dated on or about 02/14/2025 document the concern as: “client states low coolant warning was on, coolant reservoir is low, diagnose and advise.” The dealer performed coolant-related work involving the thermostat gasket / coolant hoses or connections to the coolant reservoir, ran the vehicle to operating temperature, and rechecked. The concern is being reported because the coolant loss/refill issue continued or remained unresolved afterward. The exact source of coolant loss is unknown, but it may involve the water pump, thermostat, coolant reservoir, coolant hoses/pipes, pressure loss, internal coolant leak, or coolant loss that evaporates before leaving visible residue. This is a safety concern because coolant loss can lead to overheating, warning messages, limp mode, loss of propulsion, engine damage, steam/smoke, or stall risk while driving. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and Audi service records, coolant-system communications, photos, and water-pump/coolant-related documents are available.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  Visible wiring has become exposed in the windshield/A-pillar area. There is no airbag/SRS warning light at this time, and I am not able to determine from visual inspection whether the exposed wiring is related to the restraint system. However, this is a safety-sensitive area because it can contain or route electrical wiring near trim, sensors, and safety-system areas. Exposed or unsecured wiring in this area may create a risk of electrical short, damaged wiring, impaired signal integrity, loose trim, moisture intrusion, or safety-system malfunction. The concern was reported as part of broader electrical and safety-related issues. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. This complaint is being submitted because exposed wiring in the A-pillar/windshield-pillar area is not normal and should be inspected to determine whether the wiring, trim, connector routing, or related electrical/safety components are compromised. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photo evidence and service communications are available.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  The sunroof has a recurring mechanical/electrical malfunction. During operation, the sunroof binds and makes a loud popping or cracking noise, and the rubber seal became torn or damaged. This suggests a possible track, guide, cable, motor, regulator, frame, seal, or alignment failure. This is being reported as a safety concern because a binding or popping sunroof can distract the driver, allow water intrusion into electrical areas, worsen into glass/track/frame failure, or create a risk of loose roof components while the vehicle is in use. The issue was reported to Audi service and was not fully resolved or documented to my satisfaction. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photos, video stills, service communications, and repair records are available.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER

  The exterior side mirrors have intermittent electrical/memory malfunctions. When locking the vehicle, the side mirrors begin to fold, pause or glitch briefly, and then continue folding. Separately, when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the right-side mirror tilts downward to assist with backing/parking, but when shifted back to drive or park, the mirror does not reliably return to its original saved position and requires manual readjustment. This is being reported as a safety concern because exterior mirror position affects rearward and side visibility, backing visibility, lane-change awareness, and the driver’s ability to maintain proper mirror alignment. An intermittent mirror control, folding, memory, or tilt malfunction may indicate an electrical, motor, control-module, wiring, switch, or mirror-memory issue. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and service communications, issue lists, photos/video if available, and related electrical-system records are available.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  The fuel filler door/gas door intermittently fails to open, preventing normal access to the fuel filler area. This appears to involve the fuel door latch, release mechanism, lock actuator, body component, electrical control, or related wiring/module issue. This is being reported as a safety concern because inability to open the fuel door can prevent refueling when fuel is low. If the vehicle cannot be refueled, it can create a stranding risk or loss-of-propulsion risk, including in traffic, at night, on a highway, or in an unsafe location. The issue also creates driver distraction and uncertainty because refueling access is not reliable. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photos/video, service communications, and repair records are available if requested.

• UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  The engine oil level has been gradually dropping and has required monitoring and/or adding oil between normal service intervals. The exact source is unknown. It may involve abnormal oil consumption, an external oil leak, internal engine oil consumption, PCV/oil separator issue, turbo-related oil consumption, gasket/seal issue, or oil loss that is not leaving an obvious visible puddle. This is being reported as a safety concern because low engine oil or abnormal oil loss can lead to low oil pressure, warning messages, engine overheating or damage, smoke, oil contacting hot engine/exhaust components, limp mode, stalling, or loss of propulsion while driving. The issue should be inspected rather than treated as normal maintenance unless a proper diagnosis confirms normal operation. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and oil-level/refill records, repair records, photos, receipts, and service communications are available if requested.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  The vehicle intermittently gives a false proximity/collision warning while stationary or while maneuvering at low speed. The sensors beep and display a warning on the screen as if an object is about to hit the vehicle, even when nothing around the vehicle has changed and no object is present. This appears to involve the parking/proximity warning system, sensor system, control module, wiring, calibration, or broader electrical/driver-assistance system. This is being reported as a safety concern because false collision/proximity warnings can distract the driver, reduce trust in the vehicle’s warning systems, cause unnecessary braking or hesitation, and may indicate a malfunction in the systems used for parking, low-speed maneuvering, and obstacle detection. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and service communications, issue lists, photos/video if available, and related electrical/driver-assistance records are available if requested.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  The short-term MPG / fuel-consumption display gives illogical and inconsistent readings. The display can show a significant drop in short-term fuel economy after the vehicle has been parked, locked, and not running, as if the system is incorrectly factoring parked/off time into the MPG calculation. This suggests a possible fault in the onboard computer, instrument cluster, fuel-consumption calculation, sensor input, software, ECU/module logic, or related electrical system. This is being reported as a safety concern because inaccurate fuel-consumption or range-related information can mislead the driver about fuel usage and remaining range, and it may indicate a broader vehicle electrical/computer/sensor malfunction. The concern is also part of a broader pattern of electrical or driver-information issues, including other intermittent warnings and display-related concerns. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and photos/video of the display, service communications, issue lists, and related electrical-system records are available if requested.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS

  The vehicle is subject to a Passenger Occupant Detection System / PODS safety recall involving the front passenger seat occupant-detection system and passenger airbag status. The concern is that the system may incorrectly detect whether a passenger is seated and may switch off or affect the front passenger airbag when the seat is occupied. This is being reported because the recall remedy was not completed, was delayed, was not properly resolved, or the concern remains unresolved. A malfunctioning passenger occupant detection system can affect whether the passenger airbag deploys as intended in a crash. The issue involves the airbag system, front passenger seat occupant detection, related sensors/modules, and related electrical components. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and Audi recall documents, service records, communications, and any warning-light or passenger-airbag-status evidence are available if requested.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  The vehicle has a recurring interior rattle / loose-trim concern involving interior panels, trim, speaker/subwoofer area, rear shelf, dashboard area, or related mounting components. The noise is not merely a comfort concern if it is caused by a loose component, fastener, grille, panel, or speaker housing that may move, worsen, detach, or distract the driver. This is being reported as a safety concern because loose interior trim or components can distract the driver, interfere with normal vehicle use, create uncertainty about whether a component is secured, and may indicate improper fastening, panel fitment, speaker/subwoofer mounting, or body/electrical component installation issues. If the affected trim is near safety-system areas, it should be inspected to confirm it does not affect wiring, restraint-system areas, visibility, or safe vehicle operation. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle/component is available for inspection, and service records, TSB-related records, photos/video/audio, issue lists, and repair communications are available if requested.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

  I am reporting recurring safety-related defects on my 2018 Audi A4 involving Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Audi pre sense/front-collision functionality, and related electrical/driver-assistance reliability. The AEB/forward-collision system has shown two unsafe intermittent behaviors. At times it has failed to activate as expected when crash-mitigation assistance appeared reasonably available. At other times it has unexpectedly warned, jolted, or applied braking when there was no apparent vehicle, object, pedestrian, or hazard close to the car. Unexpected braking or false intervention can startle the driver, create rear-end collision risk, and reduce confidence in the system. Failure to activate can also increase forward-collision risk. The system was not intentionally disabled by me, and I am not aware of any driver-caused obstruction, modification, or normal explanation. The condition is intermittent and may not appear during a brief service visit or basic fault-code scan. This concern was reported through Audi/dealer service channels, including a documented repair request identifying the AEB system as malfunctioning and failing to activate as designed. A later dealer communication stated that there were no stored AEB faults and later clarified that no work was done on the AEB system, no inspection or verification of AEB operation was performed, and confirmation of operation would require an additional estimate. I am reporting unresolved safety status because intermittent active-safety failures or false interventions may not store permanent DTCs, and lack of stored faults is not complete safety verification. I have not received final written safety closure confirming inspection, calibration review, road-test verification, factory scan/freeze-frame review, module communication review, and technical verification. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality is being reported. The vehicle is available for inspection if requested.

• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  The contact owned a 2018 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was fluid leaking from the front of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact also stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was a puddle of fluid leaking from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the water pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION

  This problem is extremely sporadic, and often remedies itself after car shut down, and sometimes require that the car sit for a period of time. I estimate the following issue happens ~1 time a month, or estimated 5% of the time. Weather (temperature specifically) does not appear to impact occurance. When reversing, at times the back up camera does not function properly. During these times, the parking sensors appear to work, but it's unclear if the emergency reverse automatic braking system is working. The backup camera issues present themselves in several different ways and are described below. 1) Scrolling view (think of an old time movie, where the image "scrolling" through the screen 2) Black, but not completely black, includes what appears to be interference (sometimes white pixels flash randomly throughout the screen) 3) Off color (almost like a color inversion), darks appear light, light colors appear dark, similar to how things when developing film in a dark room 4) Similar to #1 but instead it freezes, halfway through a scroll. Often times the picture is split, with the bottom on the top, and the top on the bottom, and a clear black line in the middle Opening and closing the trunk, tapping the camera, turning the parking sensor (and camera) off and on do not solve the issue when it happens. Neither does changing from R to P on the transmission lever. Issue always requires a restart, rarely does an immediate restart fix the issue. The tracking lines are also distorted when this happens. When not malfunctioning, camera system works perfectly. Recently, I came across NHTSA ID: 25V900000 which almost exactly describes my issues but my car is not included. I did recently ask the Dealer to look into it during my 40,000 mile service. They stated that no codes were in the system and they could further troubleshoot but the intermittent nature would likely result in no findings unless the issue is present on site.