Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Audi S4. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 16 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
No owner complaints recorded for this model year
Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This informational bulletin contains technical information for when there is condensation visible on the inside of the headlight, taillight, fog light, side marker light, front turn signal, daytime running lights, and/or third brake light lens.
EQUIPMENT
This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the document and order the superseded part numbers going forward.
EQUIPMENT
Due to increasing requests for high voltage personal protective equipment (HVE PPE) for dealer technicians working with high voltage vehicles (Hybrid, Plugin Hybrid, Electric Vehicle), the Volkswagen Tools and Equipment Team has identified two US based suppliers to support dealers in USA and Canada.
WHEELS
This information TSB provides information regarding the correct way to torque adjust a wheel bolt.
ENGINE
AUDI: ENGINE, ON SOME VEHICLES, WOULD RUN IRREGULARLY OR HAVE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON OR POSSIBLE FILTER ELEMENT FOR CAMSHAFT ADJUSTMENT VALVE CAN LOOSEN AND IN OIL CIRCUIT, THERE IS NO DAMAGE FROM LOOSENED PARTICLES. MODEL ALL. ALL YEARS. *PE
WHEELS
Tightening wheel bolts
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 41.2 |
| 2019 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 31.6 |
| 2013 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 33.0 |
| 2012 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 40.2 |
| 2011 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 38.1 |
| 2010 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 36.5 |
| 2009 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 48.4 |
| 2006 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 40.3 |
| 2005 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 45.0 |
| 2004 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 34.7 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 32.7 |
| 2001 | 87 | 1 | 0 | 39.2 |
| 2000 | 143 | 1 | 0 | 39.6 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996Viewing | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1994 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1993 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 45.8 |
| 1992 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.