Audi A4 vs Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Which used car has the cleaner record?
We line up what owners actually reported to NHTSA — complaints and recall campaigns — for both cars, so you can compare their paper trail before you buy.
| Side by side | A4 | S-Class |
|---|---|---|
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Years sampled | 2016, 2020, 2024 | 2016, 2020, 2024 |
| Owner complaints | 150 | 42fewer |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0fewer |
| NHTSA investigations | 7 | 3fewer |
| Overall safety (NHTSA, US) | 5/5 | n/a |
| Combined economy (EPA, US) | 9 L/100km | n/a |
The quick read
Over the sampled model years, the Audi A4 has 150 complaints and 3 recalls, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 42 complaints and 0 recalls. Lower numbers point to fewer reported issues, but always confirm the exact car with a VIN check.
Deeper analysis
Across the model years checked, the Audi A4 accumulated 150 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns in NHTSA records, while the Mercedes-Benz S-Class logged 42 complaints and no recalls over the same span. On these raw figures the S-Class shows notably fewer complaints and a cleaner recall history, though the A4's higher complaint count may partly reflect its much larger sales volume in the US market. Both results are US-sourced data and serve only as a rough reliability signal rather than a definitive verdict on any individual example you might find in Europe.
NHTSA (US) owner-complaint and recall counts over recent model years. A reliability signal, not a check of any one car. Always run the VIN.