1994 Audi S4 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Audi S4, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system675.0%
- Brakes112.5%
- Engine112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUDI 94S4, OTHER MODEL YEAR S CARS AND OTHER AUDI CARS WITH THE 100 BODY. WHEN THE PLASTIC PART THAT CONNECTS THE THROTTLE BODY TO THE THROTTLE CABLE BREAKS, THE ENGINE GOES UP TO 7000 RPM (OVER RED LINE). IF IN HEAVILY CONGESTED TRAFFIC AS I WAS, THE OWNER RISKS HIS LIFE OR HIS ENGINE. SINCE I DECIDED MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY PASSENGERS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ENGINE, I LET THE ENGINE RACE AND USED THE BRAKE TO CONTROL SPEED UNTIL I COULD SAFELY GET OFF THE BELTWAY AND ONTO A SIDE ROAD. ONCE THERE, I SAW THAT MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD GOTTEN CHERRY RED WITH AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THESE CARS NEED IMMEDIATE RECALL AS A SAFETY MEASURE AND THE PART REPLACED WITH METAL. FAILURE WAS WITHOUT WARNING, CAR''S SPEED BEGAN TO INCREASE WITHOUT WARNING AND THROTTLE PRESSURE HAD NO IMPACT WHATSOEVER. LESS SKILLFUL PERSON WOULD HAVE PANICKED AND CAUSED SEVERE PILE-UP IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. MANY OTHER AUDI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM ON THE VARIOUS COMPUTER LISTS AND WEB SITES USED BY AUDI OWNERS. CALL OR WRITE FOR DETAILS. AUDI DEALER WAS UNCONCERNED ABOUT PROBLEM AND PART IS NOT LISTED NOR CAN BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY. MUST PURCHASE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY AT COST OF OVER $800. *NM
RECALL OOV068000; KY CONSUMER CONTACTED T MANUFACTURER, MANUFACTURER STATED THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. CONSUMER NOTED IN COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAKS AT THE LINE, LINES ARE VERY WET. ALSO, A GAS SMELL IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS REDONE BRAKES TWICE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE AUDI 94S4, OTHER MODEL YEAR S CARS AND OTHER AUDI CARS WITH THE 100 BODY. WHEN THE PLASTIC PART THAT CONNECTS THE THROTTLE BODY TO THE THROTTLE CABLE BREAKS, THE ENGINE GOES UP TO 7000 RPM (OVER RED LINE). IF IN HEAVILY CONGESTED TRAFFIC AS I WAS, THE OWNER RISKS HIS LIFE OR HIS ENGINE. SINCE I DECIDED MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY PASSENGERS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ENGINE, I LET THE ENGINE RACE AND USED THE BRAKE TO CONTROL SPEED UNTIL I COULD SAFELY GET OFF THE BELTWAY AND ONTO A SIDE ROAD. ONCE THERE, I SAW THAT MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD GOTTEN CHERRY RED WITH AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THESE CARS NEED IMMEDIATE RECALL AS A SAFETY MEASURE AND THE PART REPLACED WITH METAL. FAILURE WAS WITHOUT WARNING, CAR''S SPEED BEGAN TO INCREASE WITHOUT WARNING AND THROTTLE PRESSURE HAD NO IMPACT WHATSOEVER. LESS SKILLFUL PERSON WOULD HAVE PANICKED AND CAUSED SEVERE PILE-UP IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. MANY OTHER AUDI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM ON THE VARIOUS COMPUTER LISTS AND WEB SITES USED BY AUDI OWNERS. CALL OR WRITE FOR DETAILS. AUDI DEALER WAS UNCONCERNED ABOUT PROBLEM AND PART IS NOT LISTED NOR CAN BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY. MUST PURCHASE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY AT COST OF OVER $800. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .