Audi A1 2010-2018 Reliability & Common Problems

Is the Audi A1 reliable?

Autocar's sister title, WhatCar? publishes a reliability survey each year, and while this generation of A1 did not feature on it, Audi itself ranked 26th out of 32 manufacturers featured in its latest survey, with an overall score of 89.1%. This placed it above Alfa Romeo, Jaguar and Vauxhall.

Yours truly owned an A1, which threw up the occasional electrical issue concerning the alarm and parking sensors. There are, however, some more specific problems affecting a wider range of A1s.

Audi A1 Common problems

Engine: A1s with the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre TDI engines have diesel particulate filters that can become clogged up if the car is used only for short journeys. Happily, there is an easy fix: simply drive the car at 60-70mph on a motorway for 20 minutes and the warning light should disappear as the DPF clears itself out. On high-mileage cars, the timing chain can become stretched and wear out prematurely. Telltale signs include a whining noise when the engine is cold or powering the car up a hill. Budget around £600 for a replacement.

While the 1.4 TSI is a good engine, its turbocharger has been known to fail. This could cost around £2000 to replace, so check that there’s no black smoke coming from the exhaust or a loud whistle when the engine is under load.

Electrics: The alarm can go off at seemingly random times, and if your A1 is specified with parking sensors and it’s raining, they might think they are closer to an object than they really are. To save yourself from tinnitus, get an Audi dealer to run diagnostics on the electronics.

An owner's view

Jackie Rothenberg: “I bought my A1 Sportback new in 2016. I was looking for a nippy hatchback and chose the Audi for its neat styling and quality fittings. There’s enough interior space to carry four people in a car that’s ideal for driving in town, and having four narrower doors is a boon in car parks. I have some issues with the sat-nav, though: while it’s easy to program and the radio/navigation console is nicely laid out, the maps aren’t very clear. I have driven a lot of BMWs in the past and think Audi could learn something from them. But overall it’s a great little car and not one I want to change yet.”

Also worth knowing

It is likely that the A1 has been used by younger drivers who may not have taken as much care of it as you would have wanted, with many examples out there looking quite neglected. So ensure there’s a comprehensive service record of the car and at the very least check that it has had two long-life services.

Also check tyre and brake wear, oil and coolant levels and how many advisories the car received on its last MOT test. Essentially, try to work out exactly why the current owner doesn’t want it any more.

The A1 was available with either three or five doors; the Sportback tag attached to some examples simply signifies the latter.

Jonathan Bryce

Title: Social Media Executive

Jonathan is Autocar's social media executive. He has held this position since December 2024, having previously studied at the University of Glasgow before moving to London to become an editorial apprentice and pursue a career in motoring journalism.

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