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B6 A4 reliability
Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.
We've been providing results for 2002 for some time, and a partial result for the 2003. More participants are needed to break out results by powertrain. Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter. To encourage participation, panel members receive full access to the results for free. For the details, and to sign up to help out: Vehicle reliability research |
RE: B6 A4 reliability
May resultsrecently posted.
For the B6 we have results for the 2002, 2003, and 2004. The repair rates are relatively high for the 2002 and 2003, and then a little better than average for the 2004. Either Audi improved, Audis wait until out of warranty to require attention, or this is just the small sample sizes talking. All three results are asterisked for a small sample size. I'd like to get rid of these and provide more precise results in future updates. To help make this happen: Vehicle reliability research |
Updated results recently posted. In addition to the 2002 and 2004, we also have a result for the 2003 this time around. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 vehicle per year, with asterisks for results with inadequate sample sizes, and average odometer reading in ():
2002: 122 (74700) 2003: 91* (68100) 2004 42* (39700) The result for the 2004 looks too good to be accurate--and the sample size is small. But the reliability of the newer cars does clearly seem better--and the repair rates for the B7 are close to the result for the 2004. The question, of course, is whether the repair rates will remain low after the waranty runs out. Time will tell--and this survey will closely track the cars as they age. With more participants, we could provide more precise results. Especially need more 2003s, 2004s, and 2005s. The 2005s are tough, because that was a short model year. TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results |
Next set of results in November, with a preview for members next month.
540 A4s signed up so far. A very good start, but more remain needed. Vehicle reliability research |
2004 a4s are known to have better reliability and fewer recalls
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I don't doubt it. In the repair rates we've been reporting, the newer A4s have much lower repair rates.
We've had very good participation by A4 owners, but more participants remain needed for all years. The the more there are, the better the information we can provide in return. Vehicle reliability research |
The latest results of the Vehicle Reliability Survey, based on owner experiences through the end of September 2008, have been released.
B6 A4 reliability, in terms of successful repair trips per 100 vehicles per year: 2002: 81, about average, maybe a bit better 2003: 88, about average, but small sample size 2004: 53, better than average, but marginal sample size 2005: insufficient data Descriptions of all reported repairs have been posted to the site, for those interested in that level of detail. Additional participants would enable more precise results for all years. TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results |
My 04 has been driven hard and has yet to have a problem (knock on wood). Our family growing up had a 1980 Audi 5000 which drove solid at autobahn speeds (albeit took a while to get there) after 500,000km. It was a 5 cylinder and we never had more then a flat tire to prevent us from driving. No issues, just a great car, sold it used and abused (use to do light offroading with it and drive lots of gravel and winter roads). I learned to drive with it, and have always had an affection to Audis since. Sold it about 10 years ago still running, thinking about it makes me wish I still had it around.
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This month's survey is the last before the February results. Sample sizes have been marginal for the B6 A4, so additional participants would be very helpful.
Audi reliability research |
It doesn't surprise me that problems increase as the vehicles age -- simple wear and tear explains that and individual driving habits can cause problems. The person who bangs through the NJ or MI pot holes will have more suspension, rim, and tire problems that the person who avoids them or lives in the south.
A more important measure is probably JD Powers first quality measures where they look at problems reported immediately after the vehicle is delivered. Consumer's Reports also track this on a wide sample and they report Audi quality has steadily improved. |
I couldn't agree more with ppgoal. Aging has its degree of wear on a car, more importantly is level of care an owner shows his vehicle. That's a true statement for any vehicle, be it a Ford Festiva or an Audi R8. The level of care by an owner seems to be to wide a variable for the data to be taken without a grain of salt.
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We don't include alignments and direct damage from potholes for the reasons you describe.
The latest Car Reliability Survey results were recently posted. The reported number of repair trips per 100 cars per year for the Audi B6 A4: 2002: 133, about average 2003: 150, worse than average, marginal sample size 2004: 70, about average 2005: 197, very small sample size because of short model year, probably too high to be accurate; the 2005.5-2006 is 56 A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May, August, and November. With additional participants we could provide more precise results and include all model years. We now have a separate results page for each model. The one for the Audi A4: Audi A4 reliability comparisons |
Originally Posted by krystallbluea4
(Post 1032048)
I couldn't agree more with ppgoal. Aging has its degree of wear on a car, more importantly is level of care an owner shows his vehicle. That's a true statement for any vehicle, be it a Ford Festiva or an Audi R8. The level of care by an owner seems to be to wide a variable for the data to be taken without a grain of salt.
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Based on the hundreds of repair reports we receive every month, I believe shame.trammell's experience is far more typical. People want to believe that how a car is cared for will largely determine how many repairs it requires, perhaps becaue this means that the owner has control over a car's reliability. Fact is, the great majority of repairs would have been necessary no matter how a car was cared for. Consider only that most problems these days are electrical, not mechanical.
One big caveat: how a car is cared for should affect its long-term durability--by which I mean how many major mechanical repairs it requires at 7+ years of age. Earlier on, not nearly so much. These are questions I'd like to do more in-depth research on. Just need enough people involved first. Car reliability research |
752 Audi A4s signed up to participate so far. A great start. But more always helpful. The more owners that participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.
Car reliability research |
And now 804--gaining on the 3-Series.
Updated results soon. Everyone who has been participating--thanks. Car reliability research |
We've updated the results for the B6 A4 to include owner experiences through March 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2005: 159, worse than average, small sample size, actual repair rate probably much lower based on result for the 2004 2004: 87, about average 2003: 163, worse than average 2002: 149, worse than average A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and post separate results for each engine. Audi A4 reliability comparisons |
915 A4 owners now signed up. Strong growth in recent months. That said, more people remain needed so we can split results by engine in the future.
Car reliability research |
Updated results soon. As always, additional participants would be helpful.
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We've updated the results for the B6 A4 to include owner experiences through June 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2005: 217 -- rush to get things done before warranty ends? 2004: 113 2003: 179 2002: 145 All are worse than average. We've been seeing much lower repair frequencies for the B7 and B8. Everyone who has been helping, thanks, I certainly appreciate it. We'll have further updates in November and February. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Audi A4 reliability comparisons |
Hi
I have the 3.0 vert fully loaded and every time l take it out the first thing that enters my mind is how expensive it is to repair if a problem pops up. Never again will l buy an Audi for sure. |
Not much consolation, I know, but in our results the B7 and B8 are looking much more reliable, at least so far. We'll have updated results next month.
Still, not possible to just put the top down and enjoy the car? |
The B7 and B8 look more reliable because they haven't caugh on to maintenance yet. Wait a few more years.
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We've updated the results for the B6 A4 to include owner experiences through September 30, 2009. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2005: 168 -- an improvement from earlier--rush to get things done before warranty ends tapering off? 2004: 122 2003: 145 2002: 155 All but the 2004 are worse than average. We've been seeing much lower repair frequencies for the B7 and B8. Everyone who has been helping, thanks. We'll have further updates in February and May. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Audi A4 reliability comparisons |
Excellent participation by B6 A4 owners. That said, with more participants I could report separate results for each engine and also provide two new stats, one for the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year (usually more than you'd think) and another for the percentage with 3+ repair trips.
For the details, and to help make this happen: Car reliability research |
Updated results later this month. Excellent participation by B6 owners and especially by 2005.5-2006 owners. We'll have the new stats for that year and the 2007.
Not yet signed up? Details here: Car reliability research |
We've updated the results for the B6 A4 to include owner experiences through December 31, 2009. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2005: 154 -- a continuing improvement from earlier--rush to get things done before warranty ends tapering off? 2004: 136 2003: 119 2002: 159 All but the 2003 are worse than average. We've been seeing much lower repair frequencies for the B7 and B8. Everyone who has been helping, thanks. We'll have further updates in May and August. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Audi A4 reliability comparisons |
Just enhanced the related repair history survey so that it can (optionally) be used as a personal car maintenance record.
As always, more participants would be helpful. Updated Car Reliability Survey results in May, with a preview for participants in mid-April. Car reliability research |
Updated stats later this week.
Additional participants always helpful. |
We've updated the results for the B6 A4 to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:
2005 A4: 174 -- rush to get things done before warranty ends? 2005 S4: 167 2004 A4: 125 2004 S4: 141 2003 A4: 99, results for other model years suggest that this one is not accurate 2002 A4: 146 All but the 2003 A4 are worse than average. Results for the A4 and S4 are essentially the same. We've been seeing much lower repair frequencies for the B7 and B8. Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help: Audi A4 reliability comparisons |
i tihnk they are pretty reliable the problem for me is that when something DOES break (which all cars shit happens, lets be honest.)...it is just INCREDIBLY expensive.
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Some cars are less expensive than others.
With the A6--I don't know if the A4 is similar--I've heard from owners that many repairs require an unusual amount of labor because the component is buried. I think the most recent example was a starter, which can be a cheap repair in some cars. We will have updated stats next month. Additional participants always helpful. Car reliability research |
Originally Posted by mkaresh
(Post 1227174)
I've heard from owners that many repairs require an unusual amount of labor because the component is buried. I think the most recent example was a starter, which can be a cheap repair in some cars.
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We've updated the results for the B6 A4 AND S4 to include owner experiences through June 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the more recent months until the summer or even fall of next year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year: 2005 A4: 145 2005 S4: 166 2004 A4: 152 2004 S4: 126 2003 A4: 103, results for other model years suggest that this one is not accurate 2002 A4: 148 All but the 2003 A4 are worse than average. We've been seeing much lower repair frequencies for the B7 and B8. Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in November and February. To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help: Audi A4 reliability comparisons |
Updated reliability stats next month.
As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone. Car reliability research |
We've updated the results for the B6 A4 AND S4 to include owner experiences through September 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of next year.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year: 2005 A4: 146 2005 S4: 229, but small sample size; result for 2004 likely more accurate 2004 A4: 153 2004 S4: 137 2003 A4: 117, results for other model years suggest that this one is not accurate 2002 A4: 175 All but the 2003 A4 are worse than average. Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help: Audi A4 reliability ratings and comparisons |
We have some new pages that display all reported repairs by problem area:
2009 Audi A4 problem reports From this page it's possible to select a different model year or specify a problem area. |
We've updated the results for the B6 A4 and S4 to include owner experiences through December 31, 2010.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year: 2005 A4: 123 2005 S4: 202, but small sample size; result for 2004 likely more accurate 2004 A4: 144 2004 S4: 113 2003 A4: 91, results for other model years suggest that this one is not accurate 2002 A4: 151 All but the 2003 A4 and 2004 S4 are worse than average. Note that the average odometer reading is lower for the S4s. Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information: Audi A4 reliability ratings and comparisons |
We've updated the reliability stats for the B6 A4 AND S4 to include owner experiences through March 31, 2011.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year: 2005 A4: 118 2005 S4: 177, small sample size 2004 A4: 155 2004 S4: 107 2003 A4: 101, results for other model years suggest that this one is not accurate 2002 A4: 151 The 2003 A4 and 2004 S4 are about average, while the others are worse than average. The average odometer reading is much lower for the S4s. We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants we could provide more precise results. To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information: Audi A4 reliability ratings and comparisons |
We've updated the results for the B6 A4 AND S4 to include owner experiences through June 30, 2011.
Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year: 2005 A4: 103, about average 2005 S4: 184, worse than average, small sample size 2004 A4: 142, worse than average 2004 S4: 111, about average 2003 A4: 92, about average, results for other model years suggest that this one is not accurate 2002 A4: 146, worse than average The average odometer reading is much lower for the S4s. We'll have further updates in November and February. With more participants we could provide more precise results. To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information: Audi A4 reliability ratings and comparisons |
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