Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 4 recalls before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

4 total · 4 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Safety recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 22V742000 · Oct 2022

A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will update the infotainment unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 25, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DZ.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Tires recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 22V034000 · Jan 2022

Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L5.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Seat belts recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V606000 · Aug 2021

An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Suspension recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V295000 · Apr 2021

A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 42L1.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

11 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
2

Most reports here involve transmission slipping.

transmission slipping 1
A recent report: I am writing to report a persistent issue with my 2021 Audi A4, VIN [XXX] . I have been experiencing a noticeable vibration, humming, and shuddering sensation that occurs specifically when turning at…
Read full complaint

I am writing to report a persistent issue with my 2021 Audi A4, VIN [XXX] . I have been experiencing a noticeable vibration, humming, and shuddering sensation that occurs specifically when turning at slow speeds (e.g., in a parking lot or when making a tight turn at an intersection). This issue has been diagnosed at a dealership, and the diagnostic report from the service invoice dated 07/12/2025 noted "VIBRATION HUMMING SHUDDER WHILE TURNING." The vehicle's mileage at the time was 38,888 miles. Dealership diagnosed this issue as a failing AWD clutch system. I took the car to a different repair shop, and they redirected me to the Audi Technical Service Bulletin (TSB). The symptoms described in the TSB—"vibrations, humming, droning, or rubbing can be heard and/or felt in the vehicle interior... when the steering wheel is turned to full lock"—perfectly matches my experience. TSB Link - [XXX] The vehicle details are: Model: Audi A4 Year: 2021 VIN: [XXX] Current Mileage: 39490 Since this is an issue due to a sub-optimal part shipped by Audi, many other Audi owners are also facing similar issues. Therefore, I want to report this issue to the NHTSA and take action on cars sold by Audi. This issue divert driver attention and is a potential cause of accident while taking the turn as driver may get distracted. I already got my car serviced at Audi dealership but they didn't inform me about this issue while the car was under warranty. Now the car is out of warranty after Apr-2025, I'm facing this issue significantly and dealership is charging close to $5000 to fix the issue. Please let me know what information you require from me to proceed. I would like Audi to place a recall on the car models facing this issue and implement the fix for all owners facing the issue because of faulty part shipped by Audi of America. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11681029 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
5

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

software faults 5
A recent report: The instrument cluster has stop working. Have to monitore vehicle information, Mileage, service, Safty notifications and general vehicle information from the Audi app.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11692106 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
2

Most reports here involve unintended acceleration. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

unintended acceleration 2
A recent report: The contact leased a 2021 Audi A4. The contact stated that the dealer had provided her with the vehicle rental while her vehicle was being repaired. The contact stated that while driving at 4 MPH and…
Read full complaint

The contact leased a 2021 Audi A4. The contact stated that the dealer had provided her with the vehicle rental while her vehicle was being repaired. The contact stated that while driving at 4 MPH and turning into a parking pace on the 4th floor of a parking garage, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated on its own at 100 MPH. The contact depressed the brake pedal several times but it failed to respond. The vehicle crashed into the fence of steel and broke a portion of the wall. The air bags deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact sustained two concussions and a heart attack. The contact sought medical assistance the next day and had been seeking medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and it was totaled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,347.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11440644 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
2

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1
A recent report: Tires are original equipment. Only 19,000 miles on them. Was told all 4 tires have belt shifts and hop some. Suggested they should be replaced. These tires were great when new but you could tell from…
Read full complaint

Tires are original equipment. Only 19,000 miles on them. Was told all 4 tires have belt shifts and hop some. Suggested they should be replaced. These tires were great when new but you could tell from driving they were degrading. I'm [XXX] and never had an issue with tires this new. The belt shifting could be a manufacturing issue or hitting to many potholes. I suspect it is a combination of the two. Tire size is 245/40R18. Looking at internet reviews, these tires are great but wear out very prematurely. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11684155 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 11 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2021 and 2025, roughly 3 a year, which is fewer than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2021 has 11 complaints on file, fewer than the 2020 (127) and more than the 2023 (10). Of the 12 model years of the Audi A4 we cover, the 2020 has the most (127). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.