Audi A4 B8
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
450 PS
4.2L FSI V8 Benzin
RS4 B8 — NA V8 in a wagon, the last of its kind
Legendary!179 PS
2.7L TDI V6 Diesel
5 weaknesses
Good Choice344 PS
4.2L V8 FSI Benzin
8 weaknesses
Stay Away!Body Variants
The Audi A4 B8 is available as Limousine and Avant — choose your body type for specific insurance data:
Generations
Engine Overview
The Audi A4 B8 is available with 9 engine variants — from 101 to 450 hp. 4 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
The Audi 2.0L TDI (Diesel, 136–177 PS) comes with 4 different engines: CAGA (2007–2015, Be Careful) und CAHA (2008–2015, Stay Away!) und CGLC (2011–2015, Stay Away!) und CMFA (2013–2015, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 2.0L TDI!
The Audi 2.7L TDI V6 (Diesel, 190 PS) has the CANA (2.7L TDI V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 5 known weaknesses.
The Audi 3.0L TDI V6 (Diesel, 204–245 PS) comes with 2 different engines: CCWA (2007–2012, Stay Away!) und CLZB (2007–2015, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 3.0L TDI V6!
The Audi 1.8L TFSI (Benziner, 120–170 PS) comes with 3 different engines: CDHA (2007–2012, Stay Away!) und CDHB (2007–2012, Be Careful) und CJEB (2011–2015, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 1.8L TFSI!
The Audi 2.0L TFSI (Benziner, 179–224 PS) comes with 3 different engines: CAEB (2008–2015, Stay Away!) und CDNC (2008–2015, Stay Away!) und CNCD (2012–2015, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 2.0L TFSI!
The Audi 3.2L FSI V6 (Benziner, 265 PS) has the CALA (3.2L FSI V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Audi RS4 (Benziner, 450 PS) has the CFSA (4.2L FSI V8) — rated: "Stay Away!", 9 known weaknesses.
The Audi S4 (Benziner, 333 PS) has the CAKA (3.0L TFSI V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 15 known weaknesses.
The Audi S4 Avant (Benziner, 333 PS) has the CAKA (3.0L TFSI V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 15 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Front Axle and Control Arm Wear The complex front axle shows wear at higher mileages in suspension components, control arm bushings and springs. Brake hoses regularly appear on repair lists. Symptoms: Clattering or knocking from the front axle, imprecise steering, uneven tyre wear on one side from 100,000 km | Medium | |
| Suspension Springs Broken Springs break through corrosion on the powder coating after stone chip damage. Front axle springs particularly affected. A broken spring can damage the tyre. Symptoms: Vehicle sits lower on one side, scraping noise from the wheel arch, visible spring break from 130,000 km | Medium |
Top Reported Issues
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Known Problems and Issues
A total of 226 weaknesses have been documented for the Audi A4 B8 (2007–2015) — 217 engine-related and 9 vehicle-related. 15 problem engines: AXX (2.0L TFSI), BWE (2.0L TFSI), CAEB (2.0L TFSI), CDNC (2.0L TFSI), CAHA (2.0L TDI), CGLC (2.0L TDI), CCWA (3.0L TDI V6), BFC (2.5L TDI V6), AUK (3.2L FSI V6), CDHA (1.8L TFSI), BKN (3.0L TDI V6), BBK (4.2L V8 FSI), CFSA (4.2L FSI V8), BVE (2.0L TDI), BNS (4.2L FSI V8). Typical issues affect Suspension, Gearbox, Electronics, Cooling. Considered reliable: BSE (1.6L MPI), BPP (2.7L TDI V6).
A4 (BKC, 2004–2008) — Be Careful: Camshaft scored — typical PD weakness, Timing belt — PD system increases belt load, PD unit injector failure. Power: 101 PS.
A4 (BFC, 2004–2009) — Stay Away!: Camshaft and valvetrain wear, Timing belt failure with engine damage, VP44 injection pump failure. Power: 163–165 PS.
A4 (ASB, 2004–2008) — Be Careful: Timing chain elongation, Timing chain tensioner 3.0 TDI — drive C, Turbocharger wear. Power: 204–211 PS.
A4 (BRE, 2004–2008) — Be Careful: Oil pump hex-shaft drive wears out, Cylinder head crack (less common than the 170hp version), Dual-mass flywheel wear. Power: 163–170 PS.
A4 (BKN, 2004–2008) — Stay Away!: Piezo injector failure, Timing chain and tensioner, Timing chain stretch BKN 3.0 TDI. Power: 204–211 PS.
A4 (BMP, 2004–2008) — Be Careful: Oil pump drive hexagonal shaft worn, Cylinder head gasket crack, PD injectors leaking. Power: 120–126 PS.
A4 (BVE, 2004–2008) — Stay Away!: Hex oil pump drive shaft shears — engine failure, Camshaft scored, Piezo PD element failure — 2.0 TDI 170 hp. Power: 120–126 PS.
A4 (BSG, 2005–2008) — Be Careful: EGR cooler leak, Piezo injector wear, DPF blockage due to short-trip driving. Power: 163 PS.
A4 (ASB, 2006–2008) — Be Careful: Timing chain elongation, Timing chain tensioner 3.0 TDI — drive C, Turbocharger wear. Power: 232–239 PS.
A4 (CAGA, 2007–2015) — Be Careful: Injector failure caused by HP pump damage, EGR valve carbon build-up after update, Dual-mass flywheel wear. Power: 136–150 PS.
A4 (CCWA, 2007–2012) — Stay Away!: Chain tensioner cold-start rattle, Piston Slap — Alusil Block, EGR valve soot deposits. Power: 232–245 PS.
A4 (CANA, 2007–2012) — Be Careful: Timing Chain Stretches Prematurely, EGR System Clogged and Leaking, Piezo Injectors Wear Out at High Mileage. Power: 190 PS.
A4 (CLZB, 2007–2015) — Be Careful: Camshaft breakage from material defect, Piezo injectors wear prematurely, Timing chain system prone to wear. Power: 204–218 PS.
A4 (CAHA, 2008–2015) — Stay Away!: Oil pump hex-shaft drive wears out, Mandatory software update — VW emissions scandal (EA189), EGR cooler failure and carbon build-up. Power: 163–177 PS.
A4 (CGLC, 2011–2015) — Stay Away!: Injector failures after EA189 software update, Oil Pressure Drop at Hot Idle — Bearing Damage, EGR valve coked and blocked. Power: 163–170 PS.
A4 (CMFA, 2013–2015) — Be Careful: Wet timing belt — rubber abrasion in the oil circuit, Turbocharger wear from DPF back-pressure, EGR valve and EGR cooler failure. Power: 177 PS.
A4 (AXX, 2004–2008) — Stay Away!: Becherstößel / Cam Follower Hochdruckpumpe, Ölpumpenmodul / Ausgleichswellen unzureichend, Becherstößel Hochdruckpumpe verschlissen. Power: 200 PS.
A4 (BFB, 2004–2008) — Be Careful: Turbocharger Damage from Oil Coking, Turbocharger K03 Shaft Play / Bearing Damage, Crankcase Breather (CCV) Failure. Power: 160–163 PS.
A4 (AGA, 2004–2009) — Be Careful: Chain elongation — internal camshaft chains, Idler and tensioner pulley — timing belt drive, High oil consumption. Power: 163–170 PS.
A4 (AUK, 2004–2008) — Stay Away!: Cylinder Bore Coating Detachment and Piston Slap, Piston Slap / Piston Seizure, Timing Chain Stretch — 3.2 FSI. Power: 256 PS.
A4 (BBK, 2004–2008) — Stay Away!: Timing chain: tensioners and guide rails — THE main problem, Alusil cylinder bore wears — elevated oil consumption to engine failure, Camshaft adjusters generate fault codes — limp home. Power: 344 PS.
A4 (BDV, 2004–2008) — Be Careful: Chain Stretch and Faulty Chain Tensioners, Elevated Oil Consumption, Valve Cover Gasket Leaks. Power: 163–170 PS.
A4 (BWE, 2005–2008) — Stay Away!: Massive oil consumption from piston rings (series problem), Camshaft chain and tensioner worn, Crankcase breather defective. Power: 200 PS.
A4 (BNS, 2005–2008) — Stay Away!: Intake valve coking — no RS4 B7 ever reaches stock power, Timing chain on gearbox side — engine-gearbox separation required, Camshaft adjusters wear with neglected oil maintenance. Power: 420 PS.
A4 (CDHA, 2007–2012) — Stay Away!: Elevated Oil Consumption Due to Piston Rings, Timing Chain Elongation, Elevated Oil Consumption Due to Undersized Oil Scraper Rings. Power: 120 PS.
A4 (CDHB, 2007–2012) — Be Careful: Extreme Oil Consumption (Piston Rings EA888), Timing Chain Broken / Jumped, Coolant Pump Leaking. Power: 160–163 PS.
A4 (CALA, 2007–2012) — Be Careful: Rear timing chain — extremely expensive to replace, Four-chain timing drive — 3.0 TDI, Engine damage from bearing failure at 95,000 km. Power: 265 PS.
A4 (CAEB, 2008–2015) — Stay Away!: Increased oil consumption from coking oil control rings, Timing chain and tensioner — premature wear, Overly narrow oil control rings — mass-production problem. Power: 211 PS.
A4 (CDNC, 2008–2015) — Stay Away!: Elevated Oil Consumption Due to Undersized Oil Scraper Rings, Timing Chain Stretch and Tensioner Defect, Water Pump Failure. Power: 179 PS.
A4 (CAKA, 2009–2016) — Be Careful: Internal intercooler in supercharger leaking, High-pressure pump failure with swarf distribution, Timing chain rattles on cold start. Power: 333 PS.
A4 (CJEB, 2011–2015) — Be Careful: Timing chain stretched / tensioner failed, Plastic water pump housing cracks, Elevated oil consumption from piston rings. Power: 163–170 PS.
A4 (CNCD, 2012–2015) — Be Careful: Oil Pump Delivers Insufficient Pressure at Idle, Chain Stretch and Tensioner Failure, Hydraulic Chain Tensioners Lose Oil Pressure. Power: 224 PS.
A4 (CFSA, 2012–2015) — Stay Away!: Timing Chain on Gearbox Side — Most Expensive RS4/RS5 Problem, Con Rod Bearings at High RPM — RS4/RS5 Revs to 8,250 rpm, Camshaft Adjusters — Heavily Stressed at High RPM. Power: 450 PS.
What to watch out for with the Audi A4? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee