Common problems with Audi A4 B8

The Audi A4 B8 was in production between 2008 and 2012 while the B8 facelift was first introduced in 2012 and was in production until 2016. The A3 B8 is actually one of the most popular A4 models to date because it offered a really good-looking exterior with the very best interior design in its class.

The A4 B8 was also the very first true modern A4 because it was available with the very first LED running lights and with the first truly comprehensive MMI infotainment system. The engines on offer are decently reliable, while the post-facelift S-Tronic A4 B8s are also extremely refined and easy to drive.

The A4 B8 is one of the best all-around value-used compact luxury cars you can buy right now. Nonetheless, before you dwell deeper into potential A4 B8 ownership, you need to address some of the most common issues with the A4 B8.

These include a faulty water pump, leaks, excessive oil consumption, issues with the steering system, and carbon buildup within the intake valves. Most of these can be fixed easily and they don’t reappear often. All in all, the A4 is a reliable car, and if you maintain it correctly, you are going to enjoy it for a long time to come.

Audi A4 B8 water pump issues

The water pump is one of the most vulnerable components on the Audi A4 B8 and you are likely going to experience an issue with the water pump eventually. The issue here is that the pump is made out of plastic which tends to crack and disintegrate over time because it comes in contact with components that operate at high temperatures.

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This means that the housing is likely going to crack at some point which tends to leads to coolant leaking. If you don’t address this issue soon enough, your A4 B8 is likely to overheat. The gasket located between the pump and the thermostat is also a well-known weak point of the A4. Some say that issues with the water pump can appear 2-3 times every 100k miles, especially on the 2.0L models.

Audi A4 B8 leaks

The A4 B8 relies on direct engine injection which means that the fuel injectors spray fuel into the engine cylinders directly. These injectors are known to become clogged, dirty, and damaged which eventually causes a leak. The good news is that it is fairly unlikely for all the injectors to leak at once, but the bad news is that even a single leaking injector will cause performance issues.

If you sense your A4 to be unwilling to start, it idles poorly, experiences misfires, or lacks performance, chances are that the injectors are to blame.

Audi A4 B8 excessive oil consumption

There are many owners online saying that their A4 B8 models tend to suffer from excessive oil consumption. Some say that their A4s use 1 quart of oil every 1,000 to 2,000 miles while others experience no issues at all. Due to these issues, many A4 owners placed a class-action lawsuit against Audi in 2012.

Excessive consumption of oil is not likely going to cause any major problems if you always fill it up when necessary. However, fixing the issue is always a better idea.

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Audi A4 B8 steering system issues

The Audi A4 B8 is known to experience speed wobble and high levels of vibrations while driving both at high speeds and at lower speeds. According to Audi, this problem appears due to a faulty steering system hose and is more common with drivers who tend to drive more aggressively.

Earlier pre-facelift B8 models are a lot more susceptible to these, so much so that Audi even issued a recall. Some online sites say that the issue can often be fixed by simply replacing the steering system fluid while also flushing the old one completely.

Audi A4 B8 carbon build up in intake valves issues

The Audi A4 B8 also tends to suffer from carbon build-up within the intake valves because the fuel is being sprayed directly into the cylinders. This means that these engines are known to occasionally experience carbon build-up caused by oil blowbacks.

As these deposits build up continuously, they restrict airflow and can affect the performance of the engine drastically.  If you sense your A4 B8 suffers from lack of power, misfires, or rough idling, you will have to clean your intake valves with walnut blasting.

FAQ Section

Is the Audi A4 B8 reliable?

The Audi A4 B8 is one of the most reliable Audi sedans of all time due to two specific reasons. The first one is that the B8 represents the biggest technological leap within the A4 family while still being designed on a well-known platform and because post-facelift A4 didn’t change all that much besides fixing many of the issues that plagued the pre-facelift model.

As such, the B8 A4 is as stout as they come, but only if you do all the maintenance. These executive German cars are not designed to live without proper maintenance. Not because they lack quality, but rather because they need maintenance to be as superior as they are when compared to economy cars.

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Is the Audi A4 B8 worth it?

The Audi A4 B8 is indeed worth it if you are after a compact luxury car that is able to deliver in almost every situation. The A4 is available with AWD which means that it is a great car for all seasons. Furthermore, it bridges the gap between the newest A4 model and the more affordable A4 generations which means that the B8 A4 is now the value champ.

If you pair that with superior reliability and the badge appeal Audi models tend to carry, the B8 A4 is definitely worth it.

Which Audi A4 B8 should I buy?

First of all, you should focus your attention on the post-facelift model as it is a lot more refined and is also a lot more reliable. As far as engines are concerned, the 2.0L post-facelift TFSI is the one to get as it perfectly balances power with efficiency.

It is also the most popular choice of the bunch which means that parts availability is also superior with this engine. The range-topping V6 engines are potentially even more durable, but they suffer from higher levels of carbon build-up.

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Marko Mikulic

Why do you love writing about cars? I love writing about cars as cars are a huge personal interest of mine. I was raised in a car enthusiast community and ever since I was young, I always wanted to do car-related work.

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