Most common 2010 Audi A4 problems
Share of the 64 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi A4 complaints by model year
Best A4 years: 2011, 2016, 2012. Years to avoid: 2020, 2008, 1998, 2006, 1999. Compare all years →
What 2010 Audi A4 owners say
Engine & cooling all 46 →
The contact owns a 2010 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who determined that the timing chain tensioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that there was low compression in the engine. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
This audi doesn't have a dip stick that comes with the car. It burns 1-2 quarts of oil a month and doesn't indicate when your car is low on oil. It's a guessing game when the engine says put a quart of oil in and I needed 2 and a half quarts to be full. It's such a saftey hazard I'm surprised audi hasn't recalled this engine. I spent over $1000 to have everything resealed and fixed because it just ceased one day due to not having enough oil
Transmission & drivetrain
Purchased a used lease vehicle in 2014, 63,000 miles on it. Looked like a creampuff. Carfax was clean. Used oil excessively. Was told by local dealer I could not get car fixed per class action settlement because I was not original owner or did not have all service records. Car has now had an intake valve failure in cylinder 3 while driving on highway at normal speed. Possibly caused by defective piston rings breaking. 101,000 miles and just out of extended warranty I purchased for $2500 extra. Car is not drivable and stuck 3 hours from my home. Audi of America says car was "fixed" in 2012 and will not release maintenance records, citing privacy of previous owner, a corporate lease. Audi dealer in melbourne fl who did the repair in 2012 will not release records so I do not know what was fixed and what parts were used. Total runaround by Audi of America and Audi of melbourne. …
Car randomly shut off after making a quick turn causing it to lose power and stopped in the middle of a busy intersection. Luckily I was able to make it to the side of the road before the car completely turned off. Waited for a few moments to try and start to car, after the 3 time trying, the car starte.
Fuel & propulsion system
Car brought in for misfire condition that resulted in power reduction/hesitation while driving. Dealer detected faulty injector. Replaced injector and engine was still malfunctioning. Dealer then removed cylinder and observed piston ringland damage. Vehicle was starting to exhibit excessive oil consumption problems. Either faulty injector or piston ring defect is suspected to cause damage. Looking into remedies through arbitration or other means as Audi is aware about (I.e. Undersized rings / pistons). I will retain all suspect parts as Audi will not honor under warranty terms and independent shop will be performing repairs, and can be made available for further investigation. Excessive oil consumption is a known issue with Audi USA. The manual states that normal consumption is up to 1 quart for every 1000 miles. …
Problem one the car was burning through a quart of expensive oil every 300 miles. Took it in,dropped the engine,changed all pistons,removed crankshaft oil seal,faulty high mount brake light,pressure regulating valve all replaced. Car was accelerating with and without hesitation,but dealer duplicated the occurrence and said they fixed. One month later,car smelled like gas and was taking off on it's own brought back dealer could not duplicate. Very bad smell of gas and rapid acceleration -dealer removed engine again replaced all valves,diagnosis purge valve stuck. Suspected injector seal.replaced 4 injector seals, smell persisted.replaced intake valve,remove and replace purge valve assembly. …
2010 Audi A4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | AWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Audi A4 a good car?
Based on 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 A4 rates better than average: 42% fewer complaints than a typical year of the A4 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Audi A4?
The engine & cooling — 46 complaints, 72% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (9) and fuel & propulsion system (6).
How many recalls does the 2010 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2010 Audi A4. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi A4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2016 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2008, 1998, 2006 and 1999. See the full Audi A4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Audi A4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 86,000 miles; 34% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.