Is the Audi A5 more reliable than the BMW 4-Series?

Yes, by a large margin. The A5 has 16 recalls across its model years, while the 4-Series has 182. Owners filed 91 complaints on the A5 and 579 on the 4-Series. The BMW also has more crash-linked problem areas, including air bags and brakes.

Which has more recalls, the A5 or the 4-Series?

The 4-Series has far more. Federal recall records show 182 across nine model years, compared with 16 across eight model years for the A5. Still check the specific VIN for open recall work, since recall counts describe the model year range and not one car.

What are the most common A5 problems?

Electrical faults lead the A5 list. The typical report is an instrument panel that blinks and goes dark, taking away the speedometer and warning lights. Other reports include Pre-Sense braking that fires with no threat, tires that shed tread at highway speed, and the MMI rebooting while in reverse.

What goes wrong with the BMW 4-Series air bag system?

The most common complaint is a "Passenger restraint system malfunction" or "Air Bag Off" warning, sometimes traced to the seat occupancy sensor. Dealers say the air bags may not deploy while it is on. Owners report that warranty coverage for the repair is often refused.

Which A5 and 4-Series years should I avoid?

For the A5, avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. For the 4-Series, avoid 2018 and 2020. The A5's 2023 is one of its strongest, while the BMW's strongest are 2024 and 2025, though newer years have had less time to collect complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Audi A5

Good

BMW 4 Series

Good

For used-car shoppers, the Audi A5 is clearly more reliable than the BMW 4-Series, with 16 recalls against 182 across the model years. Owners also filed far fewer A5 complaints per car sold, and the BMW's air bag and electrical problems are tied to crashes far more often.

How Do the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series Generations Compare?

Most used A5 shopping lands in the second generation (RE9), which covered 2018 through 2024 and received a refresh in 2022. That refresh splits the group into earlier and later cars. The third generation (RE10) began with the 2025 model year, so those cars are the newest and have the least complaint history. On the BMW side, the first-generation 4-Series (F32, F33, F36) ran from 2014 to 2020. The second generation (G22, G23, G26) began in 2020. Model year 2020 therefore sits in the overlap between generations, and it is also one of the BMW's weakest years. A 2018 car is a first-generation design.

Verdict

The Audi A5 is more reliable than the BMW 4 Series, scoring 76/100 vs 60/100.

The more reliable car is the Audi, and the gap is large. The deciding factor is the volume and weight of problems. The BMW has 182 recalls and 579 owner complaints, against 16 recalls and 91 complaints for the A5. The BMW's complaints also cluster in safety systems: air bags that may not deploy, power loss while driving, and brake faults. The A5 has real flaws, but they are fewer and less often tied to crashes. Both rate good, yet the A5 sits well above.

Key Differences

1Audi A5 has 166 fewer total recalls
2Audi A5 scores 16 points higher in reliability
3Audi A5 has 12.9 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

3Audi A5

—

0BMW 4 Series

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series: Which Is More Reliable?

Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Audi A5	BMW 4 Series
Reliability Score	76/100	60/100
Years Tracked	8	9
Total Recalls	16	182
Complaints per 10k Sold	2.9	15.8
Year Wins	8	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series?

Electrical and driver-assist faults dominate the A5 list. The instrument panel blinks, then goes dark, and the dealer may wait on parts. Pre-Sense braking can stop the car hard with no real threat, and some tires shed tread at highway speed. The BMW list is heavier. Cars shut off while moving, the "Air Bag Off" warning appears, coolant leaks cause overheating, and the shifter slips into neutral. Crash-linked reports are the sharpest split. The BMW has them in electrical, air bags, service brakes and power train. The A5 has one, in steering, involving broken rear suspension hardware.

Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series common problem areas comparison
Component	Audi A5	BMW 4 Series
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.5Low	2.3Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.5Very Low	1.7Low
AIR BAGS	—None	1.7Low
ENGINE	0.1Very Low	1.3Low
POWER TRAIN	—None	0.9Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	0.8Very Low
SEAT BELTS	—None	0.5Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	0.4Very Low
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	0.3Very Low
TIRES	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	0.2Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY	—None	0.1Very Low

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

How Does Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series Reliability Compare by Year?

Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Audi A5	BMW 4 Series	Edge
2026	82/1000R / 0C	64/1004R / 0C	Audi A5
2025	77/1000R / 1C	67/1009R / 2C	Audi A5
2023	81/1000R / 0C	63/10026R / 43C	Audi A5
2022	74/1003R / 5C	66/10018R / 36C	Audi A5
2021	71/1005R / 7C	57/10040R / 64C	Audi A5
2020	70/1005R / 60C	52/10034R / 66C	Audi A5
2019	73/1003R / 12C	55/10017R / 90C	Audi A5
2018	77/1000R / 6C	54/10021R / 261C	Audi A5

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Audi A5 scored 81/100 and the 2022 BMW 4 Series scored 66/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Audi A5 vs the BMW 4 Series?

Pick the A5 if you want the lower risk. It has far fewer recalls and complaints, and its repair cost is $739 a year with 0.6 unscheduled shop visits. Target 2023, which is among its strongest years. Avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest. Newer years such as 2026 look clean partly because they have had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat them as proven. Check that the instrument panel stays lit on a test drive, and ask about the tire brand and any past tire failures. Pick the 4-Series only if you prefer a coupe and will accept the added risk. Aim for 2024 or 2025, its strongest years, but remember that newer cars have had less time to collect complaints. Avoid 2018 and 2020, its weakest. Before buying, scan for stored air bag or occupant sensor warnings and ask for coolant system service records. Owners say dealers sometimes refuse warranty coverage for air bag repairs, so get any open recall work confirmed in writing.

Audi A5 vs BMW 4 Series: Common Questions

Is the Audi A5 more reliable than the BMW 4-Series?: Yes, by a large margin. The A5 has 16 recalls across its model years, while the 4-Series has 182. Owners filed 91 complaints on the A5 and 579 on the 4-Series. The BMW also has more crash-linked problem areas, including air bags and brakes.
Which has more recalls, the A5 or the 4-Series?: The 4-Series has far more. Federal recall records show 182 across nine model years, compared with 16 across eight model years for the A5. Still check the specific VIN for open recall work, since recall counts describe the model year range and not one car.
What are the most common A5 problems?: Electrical faults lead the A5 list. The typical report is an instrument panel that blinks and goes dark, taking away the speedometer and warning lights. Other reports include Pre-Sense braking that fires with no threat, tires that shed tread at highway speed, and the MMI rebooting while in reverse.
What goes wrong with the BMW 4-Series air bag system?: The most common complaint is a "Passenger restraint system malfunction" or "Air Bag Off" warning, sometimes traced to the seat occupancy sensor. Dealers say the air bags may not deploy while it is on. Owners report that warranty coverage for the repair is often refused.
Which A5 and 4-Series years should I avoid?: For the A5, avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. For the 4-Series, avoid 2018 and 2020. The A5's 2023 is one of its strongest, while the BMW's strongest are 2024 and 2025, though newer years have had less time to collect complaints.

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How we score the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series

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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