The Audi A4 has been a faithful and practical compact luxury sedan since 1994 and it still ranks among the most preferable offerings in its class. The 2014 Audi A4 is quite the reliable one, having only 65 official complaints when compared to the 33,993 units sold. There have been four recalls for the sedan that covers coolant pump issues, auxiliary heater issue, and airbag failure issues. Among all the complaints faced by the current model, the powertrain problems and the steering rack problems are the highest in numbers. It is surprising to see that the brand has not issued any recalls to fix the power steering issues reported by a lot of owners. In the segment, the Audi A4 competes with the BMW 3 Series, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and the Volvo S60.
2014 Audi A4 Sedan Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and Which Year to Avoid
Audi A4 user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Loss of compression: One owner has faced this issue with his 2014 Audi A4 sedan. The report state that while driving, the vehicle started to shake excessively and needed to be towed to the dealership. The dealership ascertained the reason to be loss of compression in the engine cylinders and an engine replacement was required.
- Electric coolant pump failure: Several models of the 2014 Audi A4 sedans are hit by this problem. One owner has faced a fire due to the electric coolant pump failure while the other owners complain about the engine and coolant pump overheating. They had to stop for some time to cool the engine and then drive again to avoid any damage. In a few cases, the engines became disabled due to overheating.
- Engine oil burning: A single case of engine oil burning has been reported against the 2014 A4. The owner mentions that the engine would burn excessive engine oil and repeated top-ups are required.
Electrical problems
- Electric power steering failure: Plenty of owners have reported an electric power steering failure. The owners complain that while driving, the electric power steering system failed and the issue occurred multiple times in some cases.
Safety problems
- Airbag failure: In one case, the airbags of the affected vehicle failed to deploy. The contact states that despite being involved in a front-end collision, both the driver and front co-passenger airbags failed to deploy.
Miscellaneous problems
- Sunroof explosion: One complaint mentions this problem. The owner states in the report that the sunroof in his vehicle exploded without any external impact.
2014 Audi A4 recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
October 24, 2014 |
14V667000 |
Front Airbags may not Deploy on Secondary Impact |
If the front airbags do not deploy in the event of a secondary impact to the front of the vehicle, there is an increased risk of occupant injury. |
Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will update the airbag control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on November 14, 2014. |
|
2 |
January 3, 2017 |
17V002000 |
Coolant Pump May Overheat and cause Fire |
If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire. |
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on February 20, 2017. |
|
3 |
October 5, 2017 |
17V622000 |
Auxiliary Heater Electrical Connector may Melt |
The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire. |
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The recall began on November 27, 2017. |
|
4 |
April 11, 2018 |
18V229000 |
Coolant Pump may Overheat or Short-Circuit |
A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire. |
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began on September 14, 2018. |
Should you buy a used Audi A4?
The Audi A4 is a popular choice in the segment and appeals to the buyers with its lower-than-average base price. The sedan also offers a comfortable and practical cabin, a sorted ride quality, and an aggressive styling. The sedan, along with a few other vehicles from Audi, has suffered from the coolant pump failure issue which is a manufacturing defect since the rest of the areas in the vehicle are mostly free from complaints other than the steering issue as well. Going forward with a used example would be hassle-free if you manage to find one A4 without the coolant pump issue and the steering rack issue.
