Used car safety, rank #39 of 181
Audi A4 4WD Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Audi A4 4WD, a midsize luxury car, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2017-20 Audi A4 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 17 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize luxury cars average of 24.8, which is 31% below the class average. That places it #39 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 77.4/100.
What the Audi A4 death rate means
At 17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Audi A4 4WD beats the midsize luxury cars average of 24.8 by 31%. The 95% confidence interval is 0 to 36, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 21 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Audi A4. It is higher than the Audi A4's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used luxury cars
The safest midsize luxury cars in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Audi A4 4WD highlighted. It ranks 5 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Lexus ES 350 at a death rate of 0.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus ES 350 | 2019-20 | 0 (0 to 29) | 94.5 | 4.0/5 | $24,000 to $35,000 |
| Audi A4 2WD | 2017-20 | 7 (0 to 21) | 85.6 | 3.5/5 | $18,000 to $30,000 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 4WD | 2017-20 | 9 (0 to 21) | 84.0 | 3.5/5 | $20,000 to $34,000 |
| Tesla Model 3 2WD | 2019-20 | 15 (0 to 33) | 78.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Audi A4 4WD (this page) | 2017-20 | 17 (0 to 36) | 77.4 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan 2WD | 2017-20 | 28 (5 to 51) | 64.2 | 3.5/5 | n/a |
| Acura TLX 2WD | 2018-20 | 31 (0 to 64) | 59.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Tesla Model 3 4WD | 2019-20 | 52 (9 to 96) | 42.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class 2WD | 2017-20 | 64 (11 to 117) | 35.0 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize luxury cars: 24.8 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
Reliability and cost of ownership
Reliability: 3.5 out of 5
RepairPal rates the Audi A4 3.5/5, 14th out of 31 in its category. Owners spend about $739 a year on repairs and maintenance, visiting the shop 0.4 times a year for unscheduled work, and 13% of those repairs are severe.
RepairPal detailsSafety recalls for the Audi A4 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
3 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering tires, seats, suspension.
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Tires
Risk: Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear axle, adjust the alignment as necessary, and replace any prematurely or unevenly worn tires, free of charge.
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Seats
Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge.
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Suspension: rear, axle, non-powered axle assembly
Risk: A broken lock nut may misalign the rear axle, causing a loss of control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the lock nuts and, if necessary, the associated bolts, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Audi A4 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Audi A4 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 17 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Audi A4 4WD, 31% below the class average (24.8 for midsize luxury cars). That earns a used-car safety score of 77.4 out of 100 and rank #39 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Audi A4 4WD driver death rate?
17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 0 to 36. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Audi A4 died at a rate of 21 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Audi A4 4WD compare with other midsize luxury cars?
The midsize luxury cars class averages 24.8 driver deaths per million; the Audi A4 4WD sits at 17. Among the 9 midsize luxury cars compared above it ranks 5 by safety score; the top of that group is the Lexus ES 350 with a death rate of 0.