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Audi · NHTSA safety record

2013 Audi A4 Allroad

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 87 safety complaints about the 2013 Audi A4 Allroad with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 47 complaints, 54% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 47,750 miles, the median across the 72 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2012 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

87 complaints on file

87

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

5

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
STEERING 47 · 54%
ENGINE 14 · 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 · 10%
POWER TRAIN 9 · 10%
AIR BAGS 5 · 6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 6%
SUSPENSION 3 · 3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 · 3%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 · 2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 · 2%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 1%
0 19 38

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 87.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2018 at 24.

28 21 14 7
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2012 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2013 Audi A4 Allroad. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

18V229000 · April 11, 2018

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sedan and Audi Q5 vehicles, 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles and 2013-2016 Audi A4 Sedan and A4 allroad vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can either become blocked with debris from the cooling system causing it to overheat or can short-circuit from moisture within the pump.
The risk
A blocked pump or a short-circuited pump can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pumps, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number's for this recall is 19N3/19N4. Note: This recall is in additional to the coolant pump software update applied as a remedy under recall 17V002.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 342,867 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

17V622000 · October 5, 2017

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Audi A5 Coupe, A5 Cabriolet, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad and Q5 vehicles. Contact corrosion within the electrical connector for the auxiliary heater may cause the heater wires to overheat or melt.
The risk
The melted wires can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the auxiliary heater and, as necessary, update the software, free of charge. The Recall began November 27, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 216,913 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

17V002000 · January 3, 2017

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Audi A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 vehicles, 2013-2016 Audi Allroad and Audi A4 vehicles and 2012-2015 Audi A6 vehicles. These vehicles, equipped with 2.0l Turbo FSI engines, have an electric coolant pump that can be blocked with debris from the cooling system, resulting in the pump overheating.
The risk
If the coolant pump overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Audi will notify owners, and dealers will update the software so that the power supply to the coolant pump is deactivated if the pump becomes blocked with debris, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19M1.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 342,867 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

14V667000 · October 24, 2014

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Audi A4 and S4 vehicles manufactured February 16, 2012, to October 21, 2014, and 2013-2015 Audi Allroad vehicles manufactured March 12, 2012, to October 21, 2014. Due to an improper algorithm in the air bag control module, if a crash necessitates deployment of the side air bags, a second impact to the front of the vehicle may not command the front air bags to also deploy.
The risk
If the front air bags do not deploy in the event of a secondary impact to the front of the vehicle, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on November 14, 2014. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69K5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 101,938 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 65,000 miles

REAR ENDED A TRUCK AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint 11014681. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 65,000 miles

TAKATA RECALL - REARENDED A STOPPED TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. CAR IS TOTALED. AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF DESPITE MASSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint 11016424. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 26,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO CENTER AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT SPUN INTO A CIRCLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND SIDESWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA complaint 10722043. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · towed

The contact owned a 2013 Audi A4 Allroad. The contact stated that while parked and occupied in the vehicle, after starting the vehicle, her friend heard a puff noise coming from under the vehicle. No warning light illuminated however, after starting the vehicle, the electronic power control illuminated. In addition, the contact's friend lifted the hood of the vehicle, and he noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. The fire was extinguished by the contact and her friend. A fire department arrived at the scene however the fire was already extinguished upon their arrival. The fire report was unknown. A police report was

NHTSA complaint 11680186, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Audi Allroad - Subframe is severely corroded noted at annual service/inspection. Audi Allroad, a vehicle marketed as a more rugged version of a standard sedan or other wagons, has severe corrosion in subframe, with a large rusted hole, unable to pass safety inspection until replaced. The car has been housed in a dry garage, has been well maintained with annual service completed at dealership since purchased, same owner, just over 40,000 miles. This problem has been the cause of a lawsuit in the Audi brand Q5 model, see reports in web search that the Allroad may also be known for this. The dealership does not state any warranty coverage for this major defect. Car was purchased to provide

NHTSA complaint 11767406, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear carrier frame has rusted through. There are trim pieces that are attached to the frame , they trap and hold moisture and salt like a cup under the frame, not visible during a regular inspection. My car only has 95k has been garage kept and taken through car washes in the winter with undercarriage wash (to no avail). After some investigation it seems that Volkwagon /Audi corp. has known about this issue since 2009 , but has kept it internally and not made owners aware of this. It would have been so simple to just remove these trim pieces and I wouldn’t have this hole in my car frame, which has basically made it unsafe as this frame holds my suspension and rear differential. There

NHTSA complaint 11752972, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Excessive abnormal corrosion of rear subframe.

NHTSA complaint 11651333. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Audi installed plastic covers over sections of the subframe on allroad, Q5 models, and other models. These covers held in water and salt causing severe rusting and corrosion of the rear subframe. Subframes of these models are seriously structurally compromised and also hidden from view due to these plastic covers. It’s seems Audi is repairing some under their 12 year rust/corrosion/penetration warranty, but the response varies based on dealership (some people are being told this warranty only applies to body panels, others are told that they are ineligible due to not regularly servicing their vehicles at the dealer). Many others are past the warranty timeline. This issue requires immediate

NHTSA complaint 11643895, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

82,000 miles

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 SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE BAY. DRIVING VEHICLE HOME, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED IN EVERY GEAR. VEHICLE STRUGGLED TO GET UP TO SPEED AND RPM WOULD RISE AND FALL WITH THE PRESS/DEPRESS OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE HAS 80K MILES, NEVER ABUSED AND HAS ALL RECALLS COMPLETED.

NHTSA complaint 11266502. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Audi A4 Allroad

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2020 30 1 —
2018 9 3 —
2017 31 5 —
2016 15 3 —
2015 25 4 —
2014 46 4 —

Other 2013 Audi models

Every Audi on this site — 155 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst