1996 Audi A4: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 133 complaints
133
Total Complaints
68,000mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Top Issue
4
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

55,000 25th Percentile
68,000 Median Mileage
100,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
17
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
4
SUSPENSION:FRONT
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
3

Severity Assessment

4
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ENGINE BURNS 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1,000 MILES."
"DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT; PARKED IN GARAGE, SHIFTED TO PARK; PARKING BRAKES APPLIED; VEHICLE STILL RUNNING; AIRBAG DEPLOYED AS DRIVER WAS EXITING VEHICLE; NO WARNING. *AK"
"DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED THREE TIMES."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28