If you are shopping for a new or pre-owned sedan, but you don’t know where to start, look at the reliability of the various models. For starters, the Audi has been reliable for its owners over the years. You can choose from many models and several engine and drivetrain combinations.
How reliable are Audi vehicles?
The 2020 Audi lineup offers medium to high reliability ratings, according to experts and owners alike, receiving such awards as:
- 2020 Audi e-tron Sportback: Top Safety Pick+ Rating from IIHS
- 2020 Audi A3: J.D. Power Quality Award Winner
Using data provided by NHTSA as well as data from our massive database of information at Vehicle History, we’ve compiled a list of expert reviews, owner reviews, official recalls, and more, to help you choose your next new or used vehicle with confidence.
Continue reading for more about Audi reliability.
Audi History
Audi car and engine manufacturing has roots in four different companies, thus the four rings in the company’s logo. August Horch was one of Germany’s best auto engineers. After working for the Carl Benz company, he started his own business – A. Horch & Cie. – in 1899.
He left the company in 1909 and established Zwickau, a second car company. When he left the original company, because the name was trademarked, he had to leave it. Instead, he chose the Latin translation for Horch – “Hark” in English – which was Audi. The new company, Audi Automobilwerke GmbH, became a joint-stock company in 1914.
The rings stand for Audi, Horch, DKW and Wanderer, which became Auto Union AG. Several changes happened after 1945, including making extremely reliable cars and using the name for a model before the name as a brand was able to be used without the ties of the other companies involved.
Audi Overall Reliability
Overall, the Audi models are very reliable vehicles. They have very few recalls and very few customer complaints filed with the NHTSA.
A-Series
The Audi A-Series includes the A3 sedan and the Cabriolet C versions, the A4, A5, A6, A7 PHEV, A8L PHEV, and the A8L. The models that have been rated by the NHTSA all have an overall star rating of five stars. The A-series models that have been rated include:
- The A4 all-road SW AWD, A4 all-road SW FWD, and the A6 all-road SW AWD
- The A3 Cabriolet C in FRD and AWD
- The A5 Cabriolet C AWD
- The A7 AWD
- The A8L AWD
Of notable mention, in addition to the J.D. Power Quality Award Winner, the A3 also earned the Number 10 spot in U.S. News’ ranking for luxury small cars.
The A3, A3 Cabriolet, A5 Cabriolet, A8 PHEV, A8L, and A4 show no recalls, complaints or investigations from the NHTSA.
The A6 and A6 all-road have no customer complaints, but have two recalls:
- Improper deployment of passenger air bag
- Moisture may enter starter generator
The A7 PHEV and A7 have one recall: improper deployment of passenger air bag. It has no customer complaints.
S-Series
The S-series includes the S3; the S5 coupe, cabriolet and sportback AWD models; the S4 AWD; S7 AWD; S8 AWD; and SQ8 SUV AWD. The only vehicle rated by the NHTSA was the S3 AWD version, which received a five-star overall rating.
The SQ8, S4, SQ7, S8, S7, and S5 Sportback do not have any recalls or customer complaints, according to the NHTSA.
Q-Series
The Q-series includes the Q5 AWD, Q8 SUV AWD, Q3 SUV AWD, Q5 PHEV SUV AWD, and Q7 SUV AWD. The Q3, Q5, and Q8 all earned NHTSA’s five-star rating. The Q5 PHEV was not rated; and the Q7 was only rated for rollover and side crashes, earning 4 and 5 stars, respectively.
The Q5 earned the Number 2 spot in U.S. News’ ranking for luxury compact SUVs. The Q5 and Q5 PHEV have two recalls:
- Front seat backrest frame not welded properly
- Wheel arch cover trim may detach
The Q5 PHEV has three customer complaints: two for a defective electrical system and one complaint stating that the seat belt sensor thinks a cellphone is a person and gives a seat belt warning.
The Q8 has one customer complaint and one recall. The recall is for a transmission oil pipe that could leak.
The Q3 has no complaints and no recalls.
The Q7 has no recalls, but it does have one customer complaint about the rear differential failing at about 6,200 miles.
Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback
Both e-tron models received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The e-tron earned the Number 2 spot in U.S. News’ ranking for luxury hybrid and electric SUVs. Neither model has recalls or customer complaints filed with the NHTSA.
TT and TTS
None of the TT and TTS models, including the TT roadster, coupe and RS coupe, received ratings from the NHTSA. The TT and TTS models do not have any recalls or customer reliability complaints.
The TT Roadster C and TT RS coupe have no recalls and no customer complaints.
R-Series
None of the R-series models received a rating from the NHTSA, including the R8 Spyder and coupe models. The R8 earned the Number 5 spot in U.S. News’ ranking for luxury sports cars.
The RS7, R8 coupe, RS Q8, and R8 have no recalls or customer reliability complaints.
Visit Vehicle History
Before you buy a new or used vehicle, make sure you are not going to suffer from buyer’s remorse after you plunk down your hard-earned money. Read professional reviews, customer complaints and comments, and learn more about maintenance and repair for various Audi models before you head to the dealership.
Visit Vehicle History to find reviews, comments and more about the Audi’s models.
