Audi models we see most
| Model | US model years | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 1996-2025 | 2009-2011 A4 2.0Ts had a factory bulletin for excessive oil consumption; 2009-2015 2.0Ts were in timing chain settlements. |
| A3 | 2006-present | 2010-2013 A3 TDIs were in the 2.0-liter diesel buyback; 2008-2012 A3 2.0Ts were in timing chain settlement I. |
| A5 | 2008-present | 2010-2011 A5s are named in the oil consumption bulletin, and 2010-2015 A5 2.0Ts in timing chain settlements. |
| Q5 | 2009-present | 2008-2009 A4, A5 and Q5 airbag control units can corrode and fail (16V376000); 2014-2016 Q5 TDIs were in the diesel settlement. |
| A6 | 1995-present | 2014-2016 A6 TDIs are in the 3.0-liter diesel settlement; the 2012 A6 2.0T was in timing chain settlement I. |
| Q7 | 2007-present | 2009-2012 Q7 TDIs were offered a buyback under the 3.0-liter diesel settlement; 2013-2015 TDIs were slated for an emissions recall. |
| TT | 2000-2023 | 2009-2012 TT coupes and roadsters with the 2.0T are in timing chain settlement I. |
Known Audi problems that end up at the scrapyard
Excessive oil consumption in 2009-2011 2.0 TFSI engines
Audi issued a technical service bulletin titled engine oil consumption too high for the 2.0 TFSI (EA888) in 2009-2011 A4s, 2010-2011 A5s and A5 Cabriolets and the 2011 Q5. The first steps replaced the crankcase pressure regulating valve and front crankshaft seal. An engine still burning oil after years of top-ups usually has worn rings and fouled catalytic converters. source
Timing chain system failures in 2012-2015 A4, A5 and Q5
A second timing chain class action covered 2012-2015 A4, A5 and Q5 models with the second-generation EA888 2.0-liter, and a court granted final approval of its settlement on August 14, 2024. An earlier settlement covered 2008-2013 Audi models. A chain that jumps can wreck the engine, which on an older Audi often costs more than the car. source
3.0 TDI diesels in the emissions settlement
EPA's settlement with Volkswagen Group covered 3.0-liter diesels including 2009-2012 and 2013-2015 Q7s and 2014-2016 A6, A7, A8 and Q5 TDIs. Older first-generation models were eligible for buyback, later ones for an approved emissions modification. Surviving Audi TDIs are high-mileage diesels whose emissions parts are expensive to replace. source
Audi engines and the Chicago repair math
Most Audis that reach a junk buyer still look good outside. The trouble is usually inside the engine. The EA888 2.0-liter turbo that powered the A3, A4, A5, Q5 and TT for years shows up in two separate class actions over its timing chain system and in Audi’s own bulletin about oil consumption. Either problem can push a repair estimate past the value of a 12-year-old car, and Audi labor rates make the gap wider than on an economy car.
The 3.0 TDI is the other big file. The diesel settlement either bought back or modified affected Q7s, A6s, A7s, A8s and Q5s. The ones still around are getting old, and diesel exhaust treatment parts are not cheap.
Salt adds its own bill. An Audi that has done a decade of Chicago winters has had brine sprayed at its brake lines, subframe bolts, exhaust hangers and suspension arms every season, and quattro hardware gives the salt more places to settle. Rusted, seized bolts add labor time to almost any suspension or exhaust job. Our road salt rust guide explains how to tell surface rust from structural damage.
What makes one junk Audi different from another
- Engine and transmission: a running 2.0T or 3.0 with a good gearbox has reusable value.
- Completeness: wheels, headlamps, catalytic converters, seats and the MMI screen all count.
- Damage: flood, fire or a bent subframe changes the picture.
- Access: tell us if it’s in a tight garage or an alley spot.
Before the tow truck arrives
Leave every key, including the valet key if you have one. Remove the car from myAudi, pull your I-PASS, and take toll and parking stickers off the glass. Tell us which papers you have; Illinois rules decide which work for a scrap sale, and we confirm on the call. Other makes are on the makes we buy page.
Selling a junk Audi: questions
My A4 burns a quart every 1,000 miles. Should I fix it or sell it?
Get a compression and leak-down test before deciding. If the rings are worn on a 2009-2011 2.0T, the repair means taking the engine apart, which usually exceeds the car's value at this age. In that case we'll buy the car as is and tow it free.
How do I take my Audi off myAudi and Audi connect?
In the myAudi app, remove the vehicle from your account and cancel any Audi connect subscription. Reset the MMI to factory settings to erase phones, addresses and the garage door opener codes.