Is the Audi A4 more reliable than the Lexus IS?

No. The Lexus IS rates excellent and leads by a large gap, while the A4 rates good. Owners filed 44 complaints on the IS versus 180 on the A4. Most A4 complaints involve electrical faults such as a blank instrument cluster or a rebooting MMI screen.

Which has more recalls, the A4 or the IS?

The A4 has more. Federal recall records show 16 recalls across 6 A4 model years, compared with 6 recalls across 9 IS model years. Some A4 owners also report waiting on airbag and suspension recall parts that dealers did not have.

What goes wrong most often on the Audi A4?

Electrical trouble leads by far. Owners describe the digital instrument cluster going blank or rebooting, sometimes while moving, which removes the speedometer and warning messages. A related MMI reboot can cut the backup camera and parking alerts. Two electrical complaints were crash-linked.

Is the Lexus IS sunroof a known problem?

Two owners reported the glass sunroof panel shattering without warning on the highway, with a loud bang. One said glass struck the driver's eye. Two reports are too few to call a pattern, but check for open recalls and ask about the roof before buying.

Which model years of the A4 and IS should I avoid?

Avoid 2018 on both cars, since it is among the weakest years for each. Also skip the 2020 A4 and the 2019 IS. For the A4, 2023 is a stronger year with some history. For the IS, 2020 is one of the strongest.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Audi A4 vs Lexus IS: Reliability Compared

Audi A4

Good

More Reliable

Lexus IS

Excellent

Reliability favors the Lexus IS over the Audi A4 by a wide margin. Owners filed 44 complaints on the IS against 180 on the A4, and the A4's list is dominated by a failing instrument cluster and screen. The A4 still rates good, but the IS is the safer used buy.

How Do the Audi A4 and Lexus IS Generations Compare?

Post-facelift cars with some track record are the safer ground for the Audi. The A4 in this data belongs to the fifth generation (B9), which started in US model year 2016. A facelift arrived for 2020 and covers the 2020 to 2025 years. Its weakest years are 2018, from before the facelift, and 2020, the first facelift year. A year such as 2023 has had time to show its record. The IS is in its third generation (XE30), which started in US model year 2014. A facelift was applied for the 2021 model year. Its weakest years are 2018 and 2019, so cars from 2020 onward are the safer range.

Verdict

The Lexus IS is more reliable than the Audi A4, scoring 83/100 vs 73/100.

A large gap separates these two, and the Lexus IS sits on the better side of it. Owners filed far fewer complaints about the IS, and federal recall records show fewer recalls across a longer run of model years. The A4 still rates good, so it is not a bad car. But its electrical complaints are heavy and repetitive, centered on a screen and instrument cluster that fail. The IS problems are few and scattered. For a shopper who wants the least risk of repeat shop trips, the IS is the clear pick.

Key Differences

1Lexus IS scores 10 points higher in reliability
2Lexus IS has 10 fewer total recalls
3Lexus IS has 2.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

0Audi A4

—

3Lexus IS

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Audi A4 vs Lexus IS: Which Is More Reliable?

Audi A4 vs Lexus IS at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Audi A4	Lexus IS
Reliability Score	73/100	83/100
Years Tracked	6	9
Total Recalls	16	6
Complaints per 10k Sold	2.8	0.7
Year Wins	0	6

What Are the Common Problems With the Audi A4 and Lexus IS?

Electronics dominate the Audi's complaints, while the Lexus list is short and mechanical. Most A4 reports describe a digital instrument cluster that goes blank or reboots, sometimes while driving. Related MMI screen reboots knock out the backup camera and collision warnings. Airbag complaints add recall repair delays and a warning light that stays on. One airbag report says nothing deployed in a severe front-end crash. Two IS owners reported a sunroof panel shattering at highway speed, and two reported a tire coming off its rim, one ending in a crash. Both models have crash-linked areas, but the A4 has more of them.

Audi A4 vs Lexus IS common problem areas comparison
Component	Audi A4	Lexus IS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.9Low	—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.7Very Low	—None
POWER TRAIN	0.1Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Audi A4 vs Lexus IS Reliability Compare by Year?

Audi A4 vs Lexus IS year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Audi A4	Lexus IS	Edge
2025	81/1000R / 0C	83/1000R / 1C	Lexus IS
2023	77/1000R / 8C	83/1000R / 9C	Lexus IS
2022	72/1004R / 3C	83/1000R / 13C	Lexus IS
2021	71/1005R / 12C	83/1000R / 1C	Lexus IS
2020	65/1003R / 122C	83/1000R / 3C	Lexus IS
2018	71/1004R / 35C	81/1002R / 6C	Lexus IS

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Audi A4 scored 77/100 and the 2023 Lexus IS scored 83/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Audi A4 vs the Lexus IS?

Pick the Lexus IS if you want the lowest chance of repeat problems. Complaints per car sold run far lower than the A4, and recalls are fewer. Check that the sunroof glass and tires have no open recall before you buy. Skip 2018 and 2019, which are the IS's weakest years. Model year 2020 is among the strongest, and the newest year, 2026, also scores well but has had less time to collect complaints. Pick the Audi A4 only if you value its feel and features and accept the electronics risk. Test the instrument cluster and MMI screen on a long drive, and confirm that every airbag recall repair is finished and the warning light is off. Avoid 2018 and 2020, the weakest A4 years. Model year 2023 is a stronger choice with more time on the road than 2025. If a dealer quotes full price for a blank cluster, walk away or negotiate it into the deal.

Audi A4 vs Lexus IS: Common Questions

Is the Audi A4 more reliable than the Lexus IS?: No. The Lexus IS rates excellent and leads by a large gap, while the A4 rates good. Owners filed 44 complaints on the IS versus 180 on the A4. Most A4 complaints involve electrical faults such as a blank instrument cluster or a rebooting MMI screen.
Which has more recalls, the A4 or the IS?: The A4 has more. Federal recall records show 16 recalls across 6 A4 model years, compared with 6 recalls across 9 IS model years. Some A4 owners also report waiting on airbag and suspension recall parts that dealers did not have.
What goes wrong most often on the Audi A4?: Electrical trouble leads by far. Owners describe the digital instrument cluster going blank or rebooting, sometimes while moving, which removes the speedometer and warning messages. A related MMI reboot can cut the backup camera and parking alerts. Two electrical complaints were crash-linked.
Is the Lexus IS sunroof a known problem?: Two owners reported the glass sunroof panel shattering without warning on the highway, with a loud bang. One said glass struck the driver's eye. Two reports are too few to call a pattern, but check for open recalls and ask about the roof before buying.
Which model years of the A4 and IS should I avoid?: Avoid 2018 on both cars, since it is among the weakest years for each. Also skip the 2020 A4 and the 2019 IS. For the A4, 2023 is a stronger year with some history. For the IS, 2020 is one of the strongest.

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How we score the Audi A4 and Lexus IS

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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