Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Audi A4 Allroad owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Audi A4. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel failed to center and the traction control warning light illuminated. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and it spun into a circle. The contact crashed into the guardrail and sideswiped another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a head injury that did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.
After two test drives we purchased a used Audi A4 on 2/10/2018. While test driving we didn't notice any issues with steering, but the following day with my family in the car we nearly side swiped a tractor trailer on the i80 ohio turnpike. The straight line steering in this vehicle is completely unpredictable, scary and downright dangerous at any speeds above 20+ MPH. NHTSA issued a vehicle safety recall to replace the auxiliary heater, I guess I don't understand how the auxiliary heater is more dangerous than this steering problem. Steering complaints clearly outnumber other complaints on this website, but search outside of this site and see just how widespread this problem is. Audi is well aware of the issue, a TSB has been issued for software changes and steering rack, neither address the issue, and both are at the customer expense. …
Purchase a Audi A4 2013 in February of 2019. Steering wheel is an ongoing issue with Audi electric power steering rack and needing it to be replaced. Its dangerous to drive because turning takes strength and a handful of effort. It is extremely dangerous to drive to the point where I dont want to risk my life driving the car. After researching the "electric power steering rack" issue multiple people have it. Searching youtube, and google multiple owners have the issue and as a result some dont drive or have to spend an enormous amount of money to get it fixed. It is an issue for multiple models the stiffness of the steering wheel is severe. Nearly crashed multiple times due to the stiffness and had to revert back to my older car. …
The steering wheels present temporary problems since the car was new, showing noises (like a pressure valve air leaking), and change in resistance to steering the vehicle. I've asked the dealer to check it sometimes, but they could not reproduce the problem. Last Sunday, July 21, 2019, after stopping the car, the steering wheel lost all power, stop working, and send a message not to drive the vehicle. I tow it to a dealer which recommend change the steering rack and made alignment ($2900). The car is in the dealer right now. Reading this site, I realize it May be a more generic problem, with serious safety implication, on this particular model of Audi. I have to sya that otherwise it is an excellent car.
2013 Audi A4 quattro with approx. 61K miles - the steering wheel has started to offer inconsistent resistance to driver input. The steering wheel appears to intermittently lose the electric power assist which impacts drivers ability to judge the amount of force it would take to make a turn or change a lane. Issue occurs intermittently at various speeds including the vehicle being stationary. While rotating the wheel, it feels like the steering has hit a dead end after turning a mere 20 degrees, upon additional force the steering wheel will rotate further. This behavior is intermittent which makes it hard to drive the car safely through turns and at high speeds.
13 Audi A4 with approx 56K miles - the steering wheel has started offer inconsistent resistance to driver input. The steering wheel appears to intermittently lose the electric power assist which impacts drivers ability to judge the amount of force it would take to make a turn or change a lane. Issue occurs intermittently at various speeds including the vehicle being stationary. While rotating the wheel, it feels like the steering has hit a dead end after turning a meagre 20 degrees, upon additional force the steering wheel will rotate further. This behavior is intermittent which makes it hard to drive the car safely through turns and at high speeds.
The issue appeared in cold weather. When stationary the issue look like a 'zone', located approximately every 90 degrees when you turn wheel right/left, where the wheel is 'jamming' and driver have to apply an excessive force to turn the steering wheel further or back to neutral. In motion the issue look like 'jammed wheel': it's hard to turn wheel more than 90 degrees right/left and... If it's already rotated and 'in the zone', it require an excessive force to turn the wheel back to neutral. The wheel will not return to center position themselves as it does when steering behave normally. Overall issue feels like failing power assist.
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 Audi A4. The contact stated that the steering was erratic and no longer centered. The contact heard a clicking sound coming from the steering wheel prior to the failure. While traveling 65 MPH, the contact lost control of the steering wheel and crashed into a guard rail. The vehicle was destroyed. None of the air bags deployed. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The front driver side tie rod fractured; however, the contact did not know whether the failure occurred before or after the crash. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
I was traveling down route 1 in nj with my family and nearly got into a fatal accident with a tractor trailer because my steering wheel got extremely tight and needed an excessive amount of force to move. I have a colleague that also has a 2013 Audi A4 and he was telling me his car is experiencing the same steering issue. I looked it up online and apparently a lot of people with this year make and model are having the issue. This is a very serious and potentially life threatening issue. Please see the how unethical it is for this issue to be not fixed already with so many people reporting this issue.
Audi A4 2013. The car will not stay centered in the lane on the highway. It wanders off center without any change in the road or position of the steering wheel. It constantly feels like it is being buffeted in a heavy wind.. When I turn to correct, the car overshoots and I have to turn back again to center it. Software upgrade did not fix the problem. This is dangerous, as the car drifts from side to side with the steering wheel held steady. Dealer says this is normal for Audi cars. Not true, as I drove a 2017 A4 with no steering issues at all. This is a problem with the electromechanical steering.
Steering complaints in other A4 Allroad years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2013 Audi A4 Allroad?
NHTSA has 47 complaints about the steering of the 2013 Audi A4 Allroad, 54% of the model year's 87 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Audi A4 Allroad steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2013 Audi A4 Allroad, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Audi A4 Allroad steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.