Recalls: Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro
Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro 3.0 TDI: loss of braking assistance
In August 2014, a recall was issued for Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro vehicles with 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engines. In these vehicles, engine oil may enter the brake servo via the vacuum lines. If this occurred, the diaphragm in the brake servo could rupture and cause the brake servo to fail. As a result, stopping distances may be increased, posing an accident hazard to occupants and other road users (PRA 2014/14280).
2012-14 Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro: airbags may not inflate correctly
In October 2014, a recall was issued for Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro vehicles that were manufactured up to and including October 2014. In these vehicles, the front airbags may not inflate correctly in the event of an accident. If the airbags did not deploy correctly, there was an increased risk of injury to the front occupants during a collision. As part of the recall, a software update was to be applied to the airbag control unit (PRA 2014/14402).
2012-15 Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro 2.0 TDI: excessive NOx emissions
In October 2015, Audi Australia issued a recall for Audi B8 Allroad quattro vehicles with 2.0-litre EA189 diesel engines that were available for sale from 2012 to 2015. According to the recall notice, the exhaust emissions for these vehicles ‘may not meet regulatory requirements when the affected vehicle is driven under normal conditions’ (see ‘Diesel engines: NOx emissions “defeat device”‘, below). For the 2.0-litre EA189 engine, a software update will be introduced which takes advantage of improved simulation of air currents inside the air intake system. Volkswagen aims to implement the software update from January 2016; the labour time for installing the updated software is around half an hour. Owners could determine whether their vehicle was included in the recall by using a VIN checking tool at audi.com.au (PRA 2015/14956).
2014-15 Audi B8 A4 allroad quattro: Bang & Olufsen sound system
In April 2018, a recall was issued for Audi B8 A4 allroad quattro vehicles that had Bang & Olufsen sound systems and were manufactured after October 2014. In these vehicles, the ends of aluminium trim strips in the front or rear door loudspeakers could become detached and protrude. If the driver or passengers were to make contact with the sharp edges of these trim strips, cuts or other injuries could occur. For the recalled vehicles, all four aluminium trim strips were to be replaced. The VINs of the recalled vehicles are available at PRA 2018/16738.
2012-15 Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro: heater element in air conditioner could overheat
In August 2018, recall 80C5 was issued for Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro vehicles that were manufactured prior to May 2015. In these vehicles, the auxiliary heater element in the air condition may fail due to overheating in the area of the connectors – this could cause smoulder damage or a fire. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2018/16956.
Problems and faults: Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
Diesel engines: NOx emissions “defeat device”
Australian-delivered Audi B8 A4 Allroad quattro vehicles powered by 2.0-litre diesel engines that were available for sale from 2012 to 2015 had software in the electronic control module (ECM) that could sense – via sensors measuring the position of the steering wheel, vehicle speed, the duration of the engine’s operation and barometric pressure – when the vehicle was undergoing emissions testing. The ECM would then run a ‘dyno calibration’ to produce lower nitrous oxide emissions during testing. At all other times, the ECM would run a separate ‘road calibration’ which reduced the effectiveness of the emission control system, specifically the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or the lean NOx trap.
Based on testing conducted by the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), NOx emissions for the ‘road calibration’ were 10 to 40 times higher than US standards – this led the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a notice of violation under the Clean Air Act. As a result, these vehicles did not meet the environmental standards claimed by Audi.
