2022 Audi A4 Problems and Complaints

The 2022 Audi A4 is a super saloon that comes in handy for people who are willing to commute comfortably and enjoy the performance at the same time. The German saloon goes against the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class with an MSRP of $40,995. The A4’s line-up brings a very potent turbocharged 2.0L Inline-4. This engine is paired to a 7-speed automatic gearbox for smoother gearshifts. For the enthusiasts, Audi also offers the S4 which takes the performance up by several notches. 

The Audi A4 has a superb reliability record with minimal user complaints or problems. The start was rocky for the German saloon but the waves settled and the recalls gradually decreased. Despite the recalls, the public acceptance was rather delightful with happy owners across the country. Let’s see why the recalls were made and what niggles the owners had to go through. Let us have a look at the problems, the recalls, and the other aspects in detail. 

2022 Audi A4 Common Problems

The Audi A4 has been around for five model years now but has had its share of problems reported by various owners. The car had troubles with the airbags in the initial model years but the later model years were comparatively easier to live with. Some of the common issues faced by the owners of the current generation are:

Electrical issues:

1. Horn failure: Many people have reported the horn to fail in the 2017 Audi A4. Complainants claim the horn to not honk when pressed once and go completely dead. The issue has popped up in new cars driven less than 2,000 miles. 
2. Infotainment issues: The infotainment system on the 2019 Audi A4 gave troubles. People have reported it freezing while operating. Some have complained of flickering displays as well as blank displays when the reverse parking camera is engaged. 
3. Window issues: Many people have complained of the erroneous function of the rear windows. The complainants have stated that the window rolls down as far as 6 inches when the car is locked via the keyfob, increasing the risk of theft. There have also been complaints regarding the windows of new vehicles getting stuck while rolled down. 
4. AC sensor malfunction: Some 2017 Audi A4 issues include the AC sensor. The sensor is said to malfunction and blow hot air into the cabin when the AC is turned on. 

Interior issues:

1. Bang & Olufsen trim issues: People have complained that the chrome trim on the B&O speakers in the front driver’s door peels off. Complainants have also reported cuts and injuries because of the same. Audi took heed of the issue and had issued a recall for the same. 

Exterior issues:

1. Exploding sunroof: Some people have reported the sunroof in their Audi A4 exploding without any impact. Some owners were thankful that the sunroof cover was closed while the others had glass inside the cabin, causing cuts to the occupants.

Mechanical issues:

1. Turbocharger issues: Many people reported a lag in acceleration due to the turbocharger. This has also caused a “Check Engine” light on the driver’s display. Concerned dealerships got the intake manifold changed for the affected customers. 
2. Thermostat leakage: The thermostat on the 2017 and the 2018 Audi A4 are reported to leak coolant, causing the level to drop abnormally. This also caused overheating of the engine and has, in some cases, resulted in an engine stall. 
3. Transmission issues: People have reported issues in the 7-speed transmission in the 2018 Audi A4. The complainants report an error message on the driver’s information display after which they had to use the paddle shifters to steer the car. 

Safety features issues:

1. Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) malfunction: Some 2018 Audi A4 owners report the PODS in their car to not detect the passenger. This might disable the passenger-side airbag which can be injurious to the occupant in case of a crash. 
2. Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) issues: People have complained of their cars braking automatically without any object in the surroundings. This also disables power assistance to the steering wheel, affecting the control of the vehicle.

2022 Audi A4 Recalls

The Audi A4 is a reliable vehicle but is no stranger to being recalled by the manufacturer. The 2017 Audi A4 had the most recalls in the current generation. It had quite a lot of niggles that the German manufacturer took care of. That said, the latest recall for the car was on January 26, 2022. 

Volkswagen Group of America recalled 31,058 affected units of many models including the Audi A5 Cabriolet, the A7, the A8, the S6, and even the RSQ8. The inspection of the rear axle alignment may not have been properly conducted after Recall 21V-295 (42L1). Details of the other recalls are given below:

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Affected Component	Additional Remarks
1.	September 6, 2016	16V642000	Electrical System	Inoperative side marker lights, parking lights, or headlights due to a software error reduce visibility at night, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment”.
2.	December 29, 2016	16V955000	Seatbelts	Improperly activated seatbelt pretensioners may not function as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
3.	October 25, 2017	17V675000	Structure	Exposed sharp chrome edges from the front and the rear doors might cause injuries to the occupants.
4.	November 27, 2018	18V836000	Airbags	Insufficiently tightened passenger airbag module mounting screw affects the deployment of airbags, increasing the risk of an injury.
5.	July 24, 2019	19V547000	Airbags	Disablement of passenger airbag due to software error in the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) increases the risk of injury in a crash.
6.	April 26, 2021	21V295000	Suspension	Breakage of the lock nut in the trailing arm due to stress corrosion may cause misalignment of the rear axle, affecting the handling and increasing the risk of a crash.
7.	August 5, 2021	21V606000	Seatbelts	Early deactivation of the rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may prevent proper restraint of the child restraint system, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The affected vehicles also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection”.
8.	October 20, 2021	21V825000	Back Over Prevention	The inability of the rear-view camera to display a rear-view image due to a software error may cause the car to collide with its surroundings, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility”.
9.	November 10, 2021	21V874000	Airbags	The passenger airbag may get disabled if the cable connecting the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to the seat heater contacts a fault, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
10.	January 26, 2022	22V034000	Suspension	Improper rear axle alignment after the repairs for Recall 21V-295 (42L1) may cause uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

This might cause the rear axle to misalign and cause improper wear of tires, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers were asked to inspect and adjust the rear axle and replace the affected tires. Here is a tabular representation of the number of various types of problems over the years.

Model Years	Airbags	Back Over Prevention	Electrical System	Seatbelts	Structure	Suspension
2017	3	0	1	1	1	0
2018	0	0	0	0	0	0
2019	1	0	0	0	0	0
2020	1	0	0	0	0	2
2021	0	0	0	1	0	2
2022	0	1	0	0	0	0

What model year of the Audi A4 to avoid?

The Audi A4 has been serving the needs of its owners well by being a great all-around car with superb versatility. The car’s debut model years did face a lot of criticism on how unfinished the product was and on how many niggles the owners had to face, some even fatal. The unpreparedness of the carmaker makes the 2017 Audi A4 a must-avoid for the people planning to own an A4. 

Should you buy the 2022 Audi A4?

The 2022 Audi A4 does it all with a posh cabin, superb ride quality, strong engine options, and a feature-laden cabin. The car has been fine-tuned all these years making it one of the most refined offerings in the segment. If you do plan on saving some dough, we’d suggest the 2019 Audi A4 and later model years to skip all the hassles that the initial model years bought with them.