When attempting to accelerate to enter traffic from a complete stop, & inputting a significant trottle demand, usually engine does not accelerate for several seconds (sometimes it accelerates normally. This is not turbo lag). After nearly causing an accident a couple of times, I cannot rely on required acceleration, and consider this condition very dangerous, and am reluctant to drive the…
2016 Audi A4 engine problems
severe 7 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 7 engine complaints filed for the 2016 Audi A4, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 12 model years of Audi A4 we track for engine problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (7).
Engine accounts for 29% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Audi a4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v229000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact did not call a dealer to see if the parts were available; however, the contact mentioned that the…
Only 500 miles following an Audi oil change, the oil sensor light went off notifying us to add one quart of oil. We added one quart of oil and continued driving and then the light went off again. We called Audi service and they told us to follow the instructions and add another quart of oil. We did and repeated one more time after another hour (75 miles). After filling the third time and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Audi a4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v229000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (Audi chantilly, 14839 stonecroft center ct, chantilly, va 20151, (703) 956-2100) was contacted…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Audi a4. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he detected a burning odor. The dashboard gauges and epc warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a gas station to refuel then back to his commercial property when he noticed there was fire coming from underneath the hood. The contact exited the vehicle and the fire went out on it's own.…
Had engine trouble with your 2016 Audi A4?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2016 Audi A4?
It's a meaningful issue. 7 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 7 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 62,333 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Audi/A4.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.