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2013 Audi A4
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
109 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Steering problems dominate (52% of complaints, typically reported near 4k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
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.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Audi A4 4 DR FWD
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 2013 Audi A4, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (11) · Transmission & drivetrain (9) · Airbags (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Steering
52%57 complaints · typically near 4k mi
“August of 2021. It was raining out and I drove through a puddle and my electric steering shut down. This has been a known defect for at least 10 years with Audi and NH…”
Engine
18%20 complaints · typically near 70k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“Component that failed is a/an electric coolant pump for turbo. Yes, it is available for inspection. Safety was compromised due to increased risk of fire. Yes, the issu…”
Electrical system
10%11 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Coolent migration from the coolant valve through the wire into the connection to ecu. This caused corrosion which in turn caused an unsafe driving condition by shuttin…”
Transmission & drivetrain
8%9 complaints
“WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE'S RPM WOULD GO UP, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WITH THE INCREASED ACCELERATION. STRONG SMELL OF BURNT CLUTCH FLUID. AND SOME SMO…”
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 2013 Audi A4 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every A4 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 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.