Reliability concerns...
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Reliability concerns...
After going through a good number of pages on this forum I have concluded that the A4 is problem prone.
I can understand that with quattro and turbo (1.8T) the Audi is more sophisticated/complex/complicated car compared to most but I am disappointed to hear issues about paint, turbo failure, and the clutch in German car.
Why am I concerned? I am hoping to purchase an A4 1.8T quattro as my next car.
Reliability and longevity are very important to me and my Nissan Maxima hasn't failed me in either category yet.
So, basically, how reliable is the A4 1.8T and are any of my concerns valid?
I can understand that with quattro and turbo (1.8T) the Audi is more sophisticated/complex/complicated car compared to most but I am disappointed to hear issues about paint, turbo failure, and the clutch in German car.
Why am I concerned? I am hoping to purchase an A4 1.8T quattro as my next car.
Reliability and longevity are very important to me and my Nissan Maxima hasn't failed me in either category yet.
So, basically, how reliable is the A4 1.8T and are any of my concerns valid?
Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 0
Only prolem I've had with mine in almost 2 years...
...and 23k miles is when the in-dash CD stopped functioning about 2 months after I took delivery. It was replaced under warranty (yes, I'm chipped).
No other mechanical problems/failures.
Unfortunately, people squawk loudest when bad things DO happen (and that should be expected), but people rarely post to say how well everything's going.
Take that into consideration.
No other mechanical problems/failures.
Unfortunately, people squawk loudest when bad things DO happen (and that should be expected), but people rarely post to say how well everything's going.
Take that into consideration.
Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,052
Likes: 0
Did I hear someone mention the word.....clutch *evil grin*
With the A4 you either buy a complete lemon, or you buy an A4 that will virtually be trouble free for the term of ownership. That's what's most common on this forum. The clutches aren't necessarily unreliable, they just have strange habits, one of which is the disengage threshold, it's very long so it's easy to catch it wrong on jack rabbit take-offs and smoke the clutch with little effort. Other people experience their disengage threshold is too high from the floor making it uncomfortable to drive. Bottom line, Audi could spend a little more time designing and engineering the clutch for better usability. Reliability is basically up to the driver, and their driving style/habits. Audi ownership comes with a price like most prestigious automobiles, but we're able to pick up dirty college girls easier than most car owners =)
Trending Topics
AudiWorld Expert
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 26,669
Likes: 1
I've had mine for about 2.5 years now...
The issues so far:
Leak in the water pump @ 5k. Replaced under warranty.
Bad rear wheel bearing. Replaced under warranty (I am 99% sure that it was due to an earlier accident though so I don't really think it counts).
Other than that I can't complain. It's been very reliable so far (knock on wood). Also, I think that people on this board mod or plan to mod their cars. This may have it's effect on potential problems down the road. I've been reading this board for almost 3 years now and for the most part I haven't gotten the impression that this car is unreliable. If you read other car forums, I think you'll see the same pattern where people post only problems. That's what I would do since people can help with some of the issues.
Also, we get free service every 5k until 3/4 years or 50k so that adds piece of mind. I'm at roughly 42k now and still going strong.
-AlexD
Leak in the water pump @ 5k. Replaced under warranty.
Bad rear wheel bearing. Replaced under warranty (I am 99% sure that it was due to an earlier accident though so I don't really think it counts).
Other than that I can't complain. It's been very reliable so far (knock on wood). Also, I think that people on this board mod or plan to mod their cars. This may have it's effect on potential problems down the road. I've been reading this board for almost 3 years now and for the most part I haven't gotten the impression that this car is unreliable. If you read other car forums, I think you'll see the same pattern where people post only problems. That's what I would do since people can help with some of the issues.
Also, we get free service every 5k until 3/4 years or 50k so that adds piece of mind. I'm at roughly 42k now and still going strong.
-AlexD
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
9 Audi Designs That Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
New Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Not really that bad.
I had my 98 2.8QMS for over 3 years and 45K miles and have no reliability problems yet.
I dog the car, race to red line often, and AutoX once in a while. I have many upgrades and drive to rediculus threshhold levels. None of the factory parts have failed.
You don't hear much about Maximas because they are driven as family cars, to
the supermarket and back. Not saying that all Max's are driven conservatively
but many people in this forum are driving enthusiasts and do drive their cars to
or over the limits.
I often hear problems from my friends who own other brands, BMWs Mitsubishis, Toyota, Honda, American....etc....it's really not much different, cars these days are just not as perfect as we like them to be.
I dog the car, race to red line often, and AutoX once in a while. I have many upgrades and drive to rediculus threshhold levels. None of the factory parts have failed.
You don't hear much about Maximas because they are driven as family cars, to
the supermarket and back. Not saying that all Max's are driven conservatively
but many people in this forum are driving enthusiasts and do drive their cars to
or over the limits.
I often hear problems from my friends who own other brands, BMWs Mitsubishis, Toyota, Honda, American....etc....it's really not much different, cars these days are just not as perfect as we like them to be.
