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2011 Audi A4
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
32 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (53% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2011 Audi A4 4 DR AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Audi A4, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (17)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
53%17 complaints
“The contact owns a 2011 Audi A4. The contact stated she needed to add 1 quart of oil frequently to the vehicle. The contact stated that the oil warning light was illum…”
Fuel system
13%4 complaints
“MY VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL FASTER THAN NORMAL. I HAVE SINCE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OIL CHANGES WERE DUE TO TOP OFF OIL DO TO SEVERAL LIGHTS COMING…”
Steering
13%4 complaints
“AS I AM MAKING A TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET IN TOWN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, WHEN I COMPLETE A TURN IT WON'T WALK IT'S WAY BACK AROUND, YOU HAVE TO FORCE IT AROUND. I…”
Transmission & drivetrain
13%4 complaints
“IN NH AND BOUGHT A4 USED; WITHIN 2 WEEKS NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM TAILPIPE, DEALER SAID IT WAS NOTHING; THEN STARTED BURNING QUARTS OF OIL IN WEEKS, DEALER SAID THE PI…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Audi A4 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every A4 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Audi A4 against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.