Most common 2016 Audi A4 problems
Share of the 11 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 2016 Audi A4 owners say
Engine & cooling
Car has 69,700 miles. All Audi suggested maintenance has been done. Synthetic oil changed every 5,000 miles (more frequently than Audi 10,000 mile recommendation). At 60,000 mile oil change, engine used 1 qt of oil. At 65,000 miles engine used 2 qts oil. At 69,500 mile oil change engine used 3.5 qts of oil. Audi is not sure this is excessive oil use. Must perform oil consumption test at our expense. Really?!?! Audi solution is for us to pay $8,500 for new pistons and rings. From what I see online, this is a common problem, a manufacturer defect that Audi is unwilling to stand behind. Please share my complaint with Audi USA. Registered a complaint with them also.
Ok before my previous incident it must've been 2 weeks ago that my car just sped up and broke on it's on on a 65 mile road it's to the point that I'm very hesitant to drive the car but it's my only means of commute it's just a total safety problem and I don't feel safe one bit
Steering
We live in Montana where it gets very cold on a regular basis while driving our Audi the steering wheel ceased to function and would not allow us to control the vehicle this occurred three times. A warning on the dash came up that said steering malfunction stopped vehicle but it was very scary and intimidating to know that your steering wheel could quit at any time we got stranded and took it to a dealer and they said that the steering rack computer had failed and could not get the part for at least a month since they had so many of these vehicles having the exact same issue in the United States the dealership stated that the other three dealers locally to them all were waiting on the same exact part for the same problem they charge us $6,000 to repair it I would think that if so many of the same vehicles are having the same problems that there's no parts available in the country that …
Rubber boot around the electronic steering rack wore out after only 30k miles. This has caused no warning lights, and very dangerous behaviour from the steering mechanisms. To include the steering wheel locking up mid turn, and the steering wheel "stuttering" due to the electronic motor failing.
Electrical system
Ok before my previous incident it must've been 2 weeks ago that my car just sped up and broke on it's on on a 65 mile road it's to the point that I'm very hesitant to drive the car but it's my only means of commute it's just a total safety problem and I don't feel safe one bit
Brucken motors, I purchased an Audi a4 that was advertised on your Facebook as safe, reliable, and dependent. I came to you with a down payment in hand, stating that I needed a car that drove without issues. I can afford minor repairs, but I wanted something with a clean HISTORY and service RECORD. Zachary Laney, the salesman, claimed that there was nothing wrong with this car. I asked about the headlight and was told, "Oh no, it's just a bulb! I will buy it so you can replace it." Asked about any issues and was told the car was absolutely clean. Sure enough, less than a week after I bought it, it started acting up. I took it to the mechanic to remedy the issue, paid out of pocket even though I was sold a warranty (mistake number two on your part) that I was told would cover most issues. …
2016 Audi A4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 24 / 31 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | AWD | 22 / 32 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Audi A4 a good car?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 A4 rates better than average: 85% fewer complaints than a typical year of the A4 at the same age. It is one of the best A4 years by this measure. 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 2016 Audi A4?
The engine & cooling — 7 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the steering (3) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2016 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2016 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 2016 Audi A4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 47,000 miles; 75% 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.