Selling a dead or junk Audi A4

Check the A4's VIN for open recalls before it leaves. The A4 has 44 recall campaigns, and several cover the exact parts owners complain about most.

What each A4 generation is known for

Generation codes, build years and engines come from Wikipedia's A4 article. NHTSA files complaints by model year, so the year bands below line up with the generations only roughly.

B5, built 1994 to 2001: brakes in the cold

The first A4 came with a 1.6, a 1.8 20-valve or a 1.8 turbo four, and a 5- or 6-speed manual or an automatic. Its complaints center on the brakes. The 1998 has 258 complaints, and 103 name the hydraulic service brakes. The 1999 has 76 brake complaints out of 190, the 2000 has 71 out of 239.

Recall 99V131001 lists 1997-1999 A4s with automatic transmissions. On these A4s, a control valve in the vacuum hose linking the brake booster and intake manifold can stick partly open or shut below -4 F. The dealer fix adds a vacuum by-pass system. The campaign counts 88,121 vehicles. Other recalls on these years: tie rods on the 1999 (00V414) and replacement driver air bag inflators for 1999-2000 (20V056) and 2000-2002 cars (21V470).

B6: fuel pumps and wiring

The second generation used a 1.6, a 1.8 turbo or a 2.0 four. Electrical complaints lead on the 2001 (81 of 218) and 2002 (82 of 203). On the 2003, fuel system and power train tie at 34 each. Recall 06V017 covers cars built September 2002 to March 2003 with the 1.8 turbo, 2.8 V6 or 3.0: a change in the fuel pump motor parts can leave the pump dead. The 74,000 vehicles in that campaign include other VW Group models. The 2004's top complaint is the fuel system again, at 46.

B7, built 2004 to 2009: lights and air bags

This is the peak. The 2006 has 328 complaints, 168 of them about the exterior lights and 81 about the air bags. The 2005 shows the same pattern: 120 lighting complaints out of 262. Then air bags take over. They make up 150 of the 2007's 236 complaints and 134 of the 2008's 198.

Two passenger air bag inflator recalls reach these cars. 16V382 covers 2004-2008 A4s that were originally sold, or ever registered, in certain states, Alabama, California, Florida and Georgia among them. 18V427 replaced the passenger air bag with an alternate part on 2005-2008 sedans and Avants and on cabriolets. Those campaigns count 194,453 and 237,947 vehicles and include the A6. The 2-door Cabrio, built 2002 to 2009, also has driver inflator recalls 16V079 and 18V082.

B8, built 2008 to 2016: engines, then steering

Engines in the B8 A4 were a 1.8 or 2.0 TFSI four or a V6, with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed Tiptronic. Engine and power train complaints lead from 2010 to 2012: 44 power train and 40 engine complaints on the 2010, for example. The facelift came in 2012 for the 2013 model year, with new LED headlamps. After it, steering leads: 71 of the 2013's 144 complaints, and 29 of the 2014's 95.

The recalls on these cars are about the engine bay and the air bags. 14V667 updated air bag control software on 2013-2015 A4s and S4s. 17V002 and 18V229 dealt with the coolant pump on 2.0-liter cars: first software that cuts power to a blocked pump, then new pumps. Each lists 342,867 vehicles across the A4, A5, Q5, A6 and allroad. 17V622 replaced the auxiliary heater after its connector corroded.

B9: electrical complaints

On the fifth generation the electrical system leads. The 2020 has 174 complaints, and 114 of them name it. The 2017's top component is the air bags, at 21. Recalls 19V547 (cable ties on the passenger air bag harness) and 21V874 (front passenger occupant sensing) cover parts of 2017-2020. These newest A4s have had less time to collect complaints than the older ones.

Complaints and recalls by model year

Tallied from the NHTSA complaint file on October 10, 2026. One campaign can reach several A4 model years, so this column adds up past 44.

NHTSA's file lists 143 crashes, 60 fires, 102 injuries and no deaths across all A4 complaints.

Fix the A4 or sell it as it sits?

Compare the repair quote with what the A4 would bring once running. If an A4 repair quote nears that figure or goes over it, selling the A4 as it is usually makes more sense.

1. Check recalls first. Run the A4's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Coolant pumps, fuel pumps and air bag parts have all been recall work on A4s. Our open recall guide explains what to ask the dealer.
2. Electrical gremlins on a 2020? That year's complaints are mostly electrical. See electrical problems before you spend on guesswork.
3. Did the air bags already deploy? On an older A4, a fired bag often settles the repair question. Air bags deployed walks through it.
4. Engine gone on a B8? Read blown engine, then weigh it with repairs that cost more than the car.

How to sell your A4 whole

1. Note the A4's VIN, mileage and problem. Say if it rolls and steers.
2. Ask for an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Say where it sits. A driveway, a side street, a garage or a dealer's back lot all work. The truck comes to the car, and pickup is free anywhere in the US.
4. Leave the parts on. Don't pull the wheels, the converter or the battery. Tell us about any A4 parts already gone, because missing parts change the offer.
5. At pickup, have the A4's title and your ID. Missing the title? Begin with selling with no title. Plates and insurance afterward are covered in after you sell.

Looking at another Audi? See the A5, A6, A3, or every Audi we cover.