Audi A4
EA288 generation 2.0-litre diesel as successor to the EA189. Fundamentally more mature and reliable than its predecessor, but EGR valve and DPF are critical weak points with short-trip use. With correct service intervals, mileages over 300,000 km are realistic.
Solid everyday engine — does its job
190 hp 2.0L for everyday use. Watch for known weak points.
Engine Weaknesses 5
At high mileage or from DPF-related oil contamination, turbocharger bearings can wear. Typical BorgWarner turbo on the DETA shows problems from around 200,000 km.
Symptoms: Whistling or howling noises, power loss, blue smoke, oil in intake pipe, fault code P0299
A defective camshaft shaft seal allows oil to escape onto the timing belt, significantly shortening its service life. Detected too late, the belt breaks and causes engine damage.
Symptoms: Oil spots in the timing belt area, belt appears shiny/oily, whistling from the belt drive
Early EA288 engines up to production date September 2014 had a faulty water pump with a defective control valve (TPI 2041955). Coolant temperature rises to up to 130°C.
Symptoms: Coolant temperature exceeds 120°C, red temperature warning light, coolant loss with no visible external leak
The EGR valve carbons up from soot particles in the exhaust stream and blocks. Especially prevalent with short-trip use. Cleaning helps short-term; replacement is often required.
Symptoms: Rough idle, stumbling when accelerating, increased fuel consumption, engine warning light, fault code P0401
The diesel particulate filter only regenerates with sufficiently long, high-load drives. With frequent city use it clogs with soot and ash and triggers limp mode.
Symptoms: Engine warning light, 'Particulate filter loaded' message, increased fuel consumption, engine stumbling in limp mode
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
Defective coolant valves cause coolant loss that can silently lead to overheating. Temperature sensors and thermostat housing are a weak point from 60,000–100,000 km.
The rubber bushings in the upper control arms wear prematurely, in some cases from as early as 60,000–80,000 km. The issue is said to have been fixed only with the 2019 facelift.
Certain 19-inch tyre combinations on the B9 lead to premature wear on the inner flanks. The cause is a suspension setup not optimally tuned for larger wheels. Regular wheel alignment recommended.
The S tronic dual-clutch gearbox judders when pulling away and at low speeds. The mechatronics unit can become defective.
Water pump and thermostat housing typically fail between 60,000 and 170,000 km. A well-known weak point on the 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI.
The S tronic dual-clutch gearbox exhibits a known juddering in D and R at idle that Audi classes as within the state of the art. Diesel variants may additionally creep.
The MMI infotainment system frequently exhibits Bluetooth connectivity problems in facelift models: choppy music playback, missed ringtones. Software updates do not always provide a permanent fix.