Most common 2013 Audi A4 problems
Share of the 24 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 2013 Audi A4 owners say
Steering
2013 Audi A4 with a 2.0 turbo engine approximately 62.5K miles and up to date with all services. I was driving on the highway at highway speeds when the engine suddenly started to misfire with a partial loss of power making the car difficult to steer. At that time the check engine light was not illuminated. I was able to get off the highway and drive home about 2 miles away from when the misfires first occurred. The police did not get involved as I was able to return home. The following week the car was towed to my mechanic where it was diagnosed that cylinder 3 had a problem. At that time the check engine light illuminated. He recommended that I tow my car to the Audi dealership as they have better availability of parts. The dealer took apart the engine and diagnosed a broken piston ring which destroyed many other parts of the engine. …
Purchased my 2013 Audi A4 in 2017 and similar to all the other complaints the steering seized sporadicly indicating it was unsafe to drive etc.. The car was towed and I after a couple weeks the problem was that the power steering module was defective. I had a new one installed at the cost of 2500$ (the dealer wanted to charge 4000$!) . The car was running smoothly until recently (it always seems to be in the winter when it becomes mild) the steering has begun to stick once again and its only a matter of time before my dash lights up notifying me the car cant be driven. This is clearly a problem as there are hundreds of complaints for the same issue. Please fix it!
Engine & cooling
The contact owned a 2013 Audi A4. The contact stated that his grandson was driving at an undisclosed speed when he heard a loud unidentified sound coming from the engine compartment. Suddenly, white smoke and flames were emerging from the engine compartment. The vehicle was successfully pulled to the side of the road by the contact's grandson. After the grandson managed to exit the vehicle, a short while later the vehicle caught fire. A bystander came over and assisted in extinguishing the fire. No one was injured during the incident. The fire department arrived and extinguished the remaining flames. There was no police or fire department report filed. The vehicle was towed and the insurance company determined the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
2013 Audi A4 with a 2.0 turbo engine approximately 62.5K miles and up to date with all services. I was driving on the highway at highway speeds when the engine suddenly started to misfire with a partial loss of power making the car difficult to steer. At that time the check engine light was not illuminated. I was able to get off the highway and drive home about 2 miles away from when the misfires first occurred. The police did not get involved as I was able to return home. The following week the car was towed to my mechanic where it was diagnosed that cylinder 3 had a problem. At that time the check engine light illuminated. He recommended that I tow my car to the Audi dealership as they have better availability of parts. The dealer took apart the engine and diagnosed a broken piston ring which destroyed many other parts of the engine. …
2013 Audi A4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | AWD | 22 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 24 / 31 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Audi A4 a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 A4 rates better than average: 76% 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 2013 Audi A4?
The steering — 10 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (7) and fuel & propulsion system (2).
How many recalls does the 2013 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 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 2013 Audi A4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 101,000 miles; 7% 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.