A used Audi A4 is a strong compact luxury sedan if you know you are looking at a B9 (2017-2025) car and the VIN is clean on the passenger air bag sensor cable and rearview camera campaigns. Clear those first, then talk Quattro, Premium Plus, and confirm the 40 or 45 power rating matches the ad.
The A4 nameplate ran a long time, but the shopping decision in mid October 2026 is mostly B9 cars still on lots, with earlier B8 examples cheaper and older. We pulled A4 recall filings on October 13, 2026, and they line up by year once you decode the car with our Audi VIN decoder. This is a different checklist from our used BMW 3 Series buying guide or the Q5 SUV path.
B9 generations and power ratings
Per Car and Driver's 2017 review, the A4 was all new for 2017 on a new chassis with a 252-hp turbo 2.0-liter and an Ultra variant at 190 hp. Later B9 cars moved to 40 and 45 badges. Car and Driver's 2025 overview notes Audi dropped the lower 40 trim for 2025, leaving a 261-hp 45 with a mild hybrid system as the main gas A4. Quattro all-wheel drive is common on U.S. cars and changes both winter manners and repair costs, so confirm it on the window sticker, not the seller's memory.
Passenger air bag sensor cable recall
21V-874 covers about 208,332 2017-2020 A4 sedan and A4 allroad vehicles (plus related A5 and S models). The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System may develop a contact fault, so the software can misdiagnose a problem and disable the passenger air bag. Dealers replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or the seat cover. Letters went out January 7, 2022. The campaign expands earlier recall 19V-547, so cars repaired under the old number still need the new remedy. We've seen "air bag light was on once, then went away" stories that match this exact failure mode.
Rearview camera and related B9 campaigns
22V-742 covers about 170,296 2021 Audis including A4 sedans whose rearview image may show blank or black in reverse. Dealers update infotainment software. 21V-825 hits a smaller set of early 2022 A4 sedans with a similar reverse-image delay. 22V-034 covers about 31,058 2020-2021 A4 models that needed a rear axle alignment check after earlier recall 21V-295, including tire replacement if wear is uneven. A tiny 2022 campaign, 22V-368, replaces an engine control unit that may short and stall the car. Our post on Audi recall checks by VIN walks the status lines across the brand.
CPO versus private sale
Audi certified pre-owned adds inspection and warranty that help on a dual-clutch sedan with a lot of electronics. Get CPO terms in writing and still print open campaigns. Private sales need an independent Audi shop inspection with a focus on oil consumption on older 2.0T cars, DSG behavior, and water intrusion around sunroof drains. If your shortlist also includes a compact SUV, the Mercedes GLC path in our used Mercedes GLC buying guide is a different package entirely.
During the test drive, put the car in reverse in daylight and confirm the camera image appears within a couple of seconds without a blank screen. Then buckle a front passenger and watch for an air bag-off light that should not be on with an adult in the seat. Those two checks take a minute and catch the exact failures 22V-742 and 21V-874 were written for.
History report and price
CARFAX says its reports show title brands, odometer readings, ownership, and reported accidents, and our guide on how to read a CARFAX report helps. IIHS rates the 2024 A4 sedan if you want crash-test context after recalls are closed. As of mid October 2026, CARFAX through us is about $5.50 guest or $4.50 member, bundle about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. A cheap A4 with a passenger air bag light that the seller cleared with a code reader is still an open safety debt.
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