2016 Audi A4 Safety Report
2016 Audi A4 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Audi A4
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Audi A4. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (24) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 2 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2019 | Compare against the 2019 Audi A4 with 5 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2020 | Check the 2020 Audi A4 before buying across this generation. |
Audi A4 Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Audi A4 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Audi A4 | 81 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Audi A4 | 43 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Audi A4 | 26 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Audi A4 | 5 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Audi A4 | 122 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Audi A4 | 11 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Audi A4 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Audi A4, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Audi onlyUnknown Or Other
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Audi onlySteering
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Audi onlyFuel/Propulsion System
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Audi onlyEngine And Engine Cooling
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine And Engine Cooling issues Audi onlyVehicle Speed Control
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Vehicle Speed Control issues Audi onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Audi A4
Reliability Score
The 2016 Audi A4 receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Audi A4
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Audi A4
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Audi A4:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling Engine and engine cooling issues have been reported, with some vehicles experiencing shaking and warning lights at around 65 mph. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel/Propulsion System Fuel/propulsion system issues include fuel pump leaks and water pump failures, leading to coolant and fuel leaks. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Steering problems, particularly in cold weather, have been noted, with one instance of the steering wheel ceasing to function. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Electrical system issues have been reported, including problems with the gear shifter and the MMI computer. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Audi A4:
Engine and engine cooling issues have been reported, with some vehicles experiencing shaking and warning lights at around 65 mph.
Fuel/propulsion system issues include fuel pump leaks and water pump failures, leading to coolant and fuel leaks.
Steering problems, particularly in cold weather, have been noted, with one instance of the steering wheel ceasing to function.
Electrical system issues have been reported, including problems with the gear shifter and the MMI computer.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Audi A4
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Audi A4 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2 involved fires.
Car has 69,700 miles. All Audi suggested maintenance has been done. Synthetic oil changed every 5,000 miles (more frequently than Audi 10,000 mile recommendation). At 60,000 mile oil change, engine used 1 qt of oil. At 65,000 miles engine used 2 qts oil. At 69,500 mile oil change engine used 3.5 qts of oil. Audi is not sure this is excessive oil use. Must perform oil consumption test at ou...
We live in Montana where it gets very cold on a regular basis while driving our Audi the steering wheel ceased to function and would not allow us to control the vehicle this occurred three times. A warning on the dash came up that said steering malfunction stopped vehicle but it was very scary and intimidating to know that your steering wheel could quit at any time we got stranded and took it to a...
The contact owns a 2016 Audi A4. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started shaking. The EPC warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with cylinder #4 failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.
Ok before my previous incident it must’ve been 2 weeks ago that my car just sped up and broke on it’s on on a 65 mile road it’s to the point that I’m very hesitant to drive the car but it’s my only means of commute it’s just a total safety problem and I don’t feel safe one bit
The car is completely not safe it seems to have a mind of its own and that’s saying that I’ve maintained everything up to par and it’s still a safety hazard
Brucken motors, I purchased an Audi a4 that was advertised on your Facebook as safe, reliable, and dependent. I came to you with a down payment in hand, stating that I needed a car that drove without issues. I can afford minor repairs, but I wanted something with a clean HISTORY and service RECORD. Zachary Laney, the salesman, claimed that there was nothing wrong with this car. I asked about the...
According to TSB 401548, car dealership/manufacture will not provide extended warranty to repair premature wheel bearing due to vehicle VIN not in their system as an affected vehicle. The 2016 A4 has premature wheel bearing as described in the TSB 401548. Covered vehicles are 2016 Audi A4. Faulty wheel bearing may result in loss of control of vehicle and will not pass Pennsylvania State Inspect...
Rubber boot around the electronic steering rack wore out after only 30k miles. This has caused no warning lights, and very dangerous behaviour from the steering mechanisms. To include the steering wheel locking up mid turn, and the steering wheel "stuttering" due to the electronic motor failing.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE DETECTED A BURNING ODOR. THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND EPC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION TO REFUEL THEN BACK TO HIS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WHEN HE NOTICED THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE WENT OUT ON IT'S OWN. NO...
GEAR SHIFTER PIN BROKE VIN # DOESN'T MATCH MY NAME NOR DMV
ONLY 500 MILES FOLLOWING AN AUDI OIL CHANGE, THE OIL SENSOR LIGHT WENT OFF NOTIFYING US TO ADD ONE QUART OF OIL. WE ADDED ONE QUART OF OIL AND CONTINUED DRIVING AND THEN THE LIGHT WENT OFF AGAIN. WE CALLED AUDI SERVICE AND THEY TOLD US TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND ADD ANOTHER QUART OF OIL. WE DID AND REPEATED ONE MORE TIME AFTER ANOTHER HOUR (75 MILES). AFTER FILLING THE THIRD TIME AND DRIVI...
WATER PUMP FAILURE - LEAKING AFTER 47,000 MILES. COOLANT LEVEL DOWN TO MINIMUM LEVEL IN ENGINE
INITIALLY MY FUEL PUMP BEGAN LEAKING FUEL. TWO WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT, THE NEW AUDI FACTORY FUEL PUMP BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THE SECOND TIME, A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL BEGAN LEAKING AROUND THE FUEL INJECTORS. THIS WAS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING AND FALLING ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND OTHER PARTS.
FUEL PUMP BEGAN LEAKING AT 55,000 MILE MARK
AIR SYSTEM IS PUTTING OUT EXCESSIVE DEBRIS AND PARTICLES . COMPUTER MMI DOES NOT WORK. CAN NOT LOG INTO TO AUDI PORTAL PROPERTLY AND SYNC. MY SOFTWARE. NEVER RECEIVED MY RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING. HAD IT AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICES MULTIPLE TIMES AND PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. KEEPS REOCCURRING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL A DEALER TO SEE IF THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE R...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A4. UPON ACTIVATING THE AIR CONDITIONER, AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR EMERGED FROM THE VENTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS ON MY AUDI IT TAKES A WHILE TO GO IT FEELS LIKE IT HAS NO POWER IT ALSO HAS BEEN SHAKING REALLY BAD ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP HILL. IT HAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YOUR RIDING A BIKE ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE WHILE IT'S IN MOTION IN BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE FASTER I GO IN THE VEHICLE THE MORE IT SHAKES AND THE MORE I HEAR THE NOISE AS WEL...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (AUDI CHANTILLY, 14839 STONECROFT CENTER CT, CHANTILLY, VA 20151, (703) 956-2100) WAS CONTACTED AN...
SAFETY RECALL 19N4 THIS RECALL STATES THAT THE CAR CAN GO ON FIRE BUT THEY AREN'T REPLACING THE PART TILL NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER. THEY SUGGEST PARKING OUTSIDE AND AWAY FROM PROPERTY WHICH ISN'T AN OPTION FOR ME. I SUPPOSE TO WAIT 6 MONTH WHEN THE CAR CAN GO ON FIRE? AT PRESENT I LIVE IN A BUILDING AND PARK IN A GARAGE WITH MANY OTHER VEHICLES - STREET PARKING IS DIFFICULT AND AUDI WILL NOT REPAIR...
Showing 20 of 24 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Audi A4
Has the 2016 AUDI A4 been recalled?
No, the 2016 AUDI A4 has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2016 AUDI A4 have?
The 2016 AUDI A4 has 24 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 AUDI A4?
The 2016 AUDI A4 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 AUDI A4?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 AUDI A4 involve engine (5 complaints), unknown or other (3 complaints), steering (2 complaints). Other affected components include fuel/propulsion system, engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control.
How many crash reports does the 2016 AUDI A4 have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2016 AUDI A4 in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2016 AUDI A4 have?
There are 2 fire reports for the 2016 AUDI A4 out of 24 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 AUDI A4?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 AUDI A4.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 AUDI A4?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 AUDI A4.
Should I buy a 2016 AUDI A4?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 AUDI A4 is generally recommended. It has 24 complaints, 0 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 AUDI A4?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 AUDI A4 are: 1. ENGINE (5 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints), 3. STEERING (2 complaints), 4. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2 complaints), 5. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (2 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 5 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 AUDI A4?
Be cautious with the 2016 Audi A4, especially regarding engine and engine cooling, fuel/propulsion system, and steering issues. Regular maintenance is crucial. The 2016 AUDI A4 has 24 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 AUDI A4?
The 2016 AUDI A4 receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 24 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 2 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and Engine Cooling and Fuel/Propulsion System.
What are the known issues with the 2016 AUDI A4?
Known issues with the 2016 AUDI A4 include: Engine and Engine Cooling, Fuel/Propulsion System, Steering, Electrical System. These are based on patterns found across 24 NHTSA complaints.
Are there any known issues with the 2016 Audi A4?
Yes, there are known issues with engine and engine cooling, fuel/propulsion system, and steering problems.
What should I do if I experience shaking at 65 mph?
Check for warning lights and have the vehicle inspected by a professional.
Are there any electrical system issues with the 2016 Audi A4?
Yes, there have been reports of gear shifter and MMI computer issues.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious with the 2016 Audi A4, especially regarding engine and engine cooling, fuel/propulsion system, and steering issues. Regular maintenance is crucial.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Audi A4
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Audi A4. The data includes 24 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 2 fire incidents, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Audi A4 an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-13