Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2018 Audi A4. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Disabled Passenger Air Bag
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.
- Consequence
- A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (44)
44 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The unknown or other is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 44 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 18 | 40.9% |
| Electrical system | 17 | 38.6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 13.6% |
| Structure | 6 | 13.6% |
| Engine | 5 | 11.4% |
| Power train | 5 | 11.4% |
| Air bags | 4 | 9.1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 9.1% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 9.1% |
| Back over prevention | 2 | 4.5% |
How 2018 compares with other A4 years
Best and worst A4 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 32 | 0 |
| 2015 | 19 | 0 |
| 2016 | 11 | 0 |
| 2017 | 55 | 1 |
| 2018 | 44 | 1 |
| 2019 | 10 | 1 |
| 2020 | 127 | 3 |
| 2021 | 11 | 4 |
| 2022 | 6 | 3 |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2018 Audi A4 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 31 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,650
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 284 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 31 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 37 / 31 | $2,650 | 284 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 27 | $3,050 | 327 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | All-Wheel Drive | 24 / 33 / 27 | $3,050 | 327 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 A4 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 Audi A4 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Audi A4 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 21V874000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Audi A4 problems?
Owners filed 44 complaints with NHTSA. Unknown or other (18), Electrical system (17), Fuel/propulsion system (6) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Audi A4 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic version at 27 city, 37 highway and 31 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2018 Audi A4 get?
NHTSA rated the 2018 Audi A4 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (9.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2018 A4 compare with other years?
Among the 2014–2021 Audi A4 model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (10) and the 2020 the most (127). The 2018 drew 44. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.