2004 Audi S4 Engine Problems

AFTER ENGINE COOLS DOWN, TIMING CHAIN RATTLE CAN BE HEARD UPON STARTING THE CAR. CHAIN RATTLE MEANS THAT PLASTIC GUIDES OR ADJUSTERS ARE WORN, AND MIGHT GO ANY SECOND. SPOKE WITH AUDI REP ONLINE, WHICH ADVISES ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL, AND EXPECTED. KNOWING BASICS OF ENGINES AND TRANSMISSION, I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING IS "LIFE TIME" AND IS NOT SERVICEABLE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S PLASTIC (WHICH TENDS TO SHRINK AND EXPAND DEPENDING ON TEMPERATURES, AND THEN HAS FRACTURES WHICH SNAPS). TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT LICENSED AUDI SHOPS CONFIRMED THAT THE GUIDES AND ADJUSTERS HAS TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO PREVENT CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. CHAIN SKIPPING A TOOTH MIGHT MEAN BENT VALVES, SCORED CYLINDER WALLS AND THE LIST GOES ON. WHAT IS LIFETIME, SHOULD BE COVERED BY AUDI. IF IT'S PROMISED TO BE LIFETIME AND NEEDS NO SERVICE, SHOULDN'T BREAK. IF IT BREAKS THAT ONLY MEANS DESIGN FLAWS, WHICH ARE OBVIOUS IN THIS ENGINE. YES, CAR ISN'T NEW, BUT THE PARTS WERE LIFETIME, SO I'M EXPECTING THEM TO LAST UNTIL ENGINE IS WORN OUT, NOT THE PARTS THAT ARE LIFETIME. IF NHTSA WILL DO FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION. WILL BE OBVIOUS THAT LARGE AMOUNT OF S4'S RANGING FROM 2004 TO 2007 ARE AFFECTED. EVEN 10% IS LARGE NUMBER, CONSIDERED THE COSTS OF FIXING WHAT IS "LIFETIME" ACCORDING TO AUDI, AND WHEN IT FAILS THEY LEAVE THEIR DESIGNS FLAWS FOR YOU TO FIGURE OUT. HOPEFULLY JUSTICE CAN BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT AS TO WHAT AUDI TRIES TO TURN IT'S BACK TO. SYMPTOMS: CHAIN RATTLE UPON START. CHAIN RATTLE DOESN'T GO AWAY WHILE DRIVING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, LOSS OF POWER OR CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11036013

Incident

Oct 20, 2017

Mileage

102,000 mi

ON SATURDAY MORNING 12/15/2014 START MY CARD AND HEARD A RATTLE NOISE ON THE ENGINE, FIRST TIME IT MAKE THAT NOISE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. ON MY WAY TO WORK I STARTED HEARING THE RATTLE NOISE AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT WAS LOUDER I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING AND KEPT MAKING THE RATTLE NOISE ON THE ENGINE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR NOT EVEN A WEEK AGO, AND ALREADY STARTED HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE ENGINE MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACE SOON, SINCE THAT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CARS AND THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE SIGNS THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT GO BAD SOON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10666999

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

111 mi

AUDI CLAIMS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ON THOSE VEHICLES ARE LIFETIME AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE SERVICE. UNFORTUNATE THE TIMING CHANGE TENSIONERS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC WHICH THE WEAR OUT AT ABOUT 50K MILES, CAUSING A START UP RATTLE AND EVENTUALLY ENGINE EXPLOSION FROM THE CHAIN COMING OF THE GUIDES AND DESTROYING THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND CAUSING A MASSIVE ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED. HUNDREDS OF PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ONE ARE REPORTED ONLINE FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EVEN YOUTUBE VIDEOS. NOT TO MENTION THAT EVERY TIME YOU BRING YOUR VEHICLE AND COMPLAINT TO AUDI THE CLAIM THAT THE RATTLE IS NORMAL; JUST TO FIND OUT THAT IS THE FIRST CLUE OF FUTURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622265

Incident

Oct 3, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

2004 AUDI S4. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING LOCKED UP *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE HAD SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN OR ADJUSTERS. THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $24,000 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE LEARNED IT WAS A RELATIVELY COMMON PROBLEM FOR HIS MODEL AND YEAR. THE SPECIFIC MECHANICAL FLAW SEEMED TO BE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN COORDINATED THE ACTION BETWEEN THE PISTONS AND THE VALVES. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SUPPORTED BY SEVERAL PLASTIC GUIDES. THE GUIDES PUSHED AGAINST THE CHAIN BY THE ADJUSTERS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10446471

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

ENGINE FAILURE GOING 45MPH DUE TO BROKEN VALVE SPRING. FAULTY PART DOCUMENTED IN 5/2005 USA TODAY BUT AUDI WILL NOT REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297853

Incident

Nov 25, 2009

Mileage

103,000 mi

CAR ENGINE WAS MISFIRING - WAS INFORMED A FAULTY COIL PACK WAS CAUSING THE ISSUE. ONE WEEK LATER THE MISFIRES STARTED AGAIN. TWO MORE COIL PACKS WERE REPLACED. 2 WEEKS LATER ANOTHER MISFIRING EPISODE. CAR DIED AT INTERSECTION SO WAS TOWED IN FOR INSPECTION. CAMSHAFT ADJUSTER/CAM GUIDES HAD FAILED. PARTS WERE REPLACED FOR 5K AND THEN 2 WEEKS LATER CYLINDER 3 FAILED WHEN VALVE AND PISTON INTERACTED - CAR DIED AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR ENGINE IS GOING TO NEED TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295044

Incident

Nov 18, 2008

Mileage

94,000 mi

SEE THE NHTSA ODI COMPLAINTS: 10267048, 10263937, 10262201, 10261864, 10261281, AND 10294798. MY SECOND EXPERIENCE WITH THE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OF THE "CAM CHAIN TENSIONER" COMPONENTS WAS IN NOV OF 2009 ON THE BANK 1 CAM. FAULT CODE "SET POINT NOT REACHED (OVER-RETARDED)." WITH MISFIRES TO ALL CYLINDERS ON BANK 1 - LESS THAN ONE YEAR FROM THE SAME FAILURE ON BANK 2 (SEE NHTSA ODI COMPLAINT #10294798). THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ALTHOUGH THE S4 IS A LOW VOLUME CAR THE 4.2L ENGINE IS USED IN MANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS; AND IF THIS COMPLAINT VENUE ANY INDICATION THE ENGINE APPEARS TO SUFFER A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS FAILURES. THE COST TO DROP THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIR WAS ANOTHER ~$4,500. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294801

Incident

Nov 29, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

SEE THE NHTSA ODI COMPLAINTS: 10267048, 10263937, 10262201, 10261864, AND 10261281 MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OF THE "CAM CHAIN TENSIONER" COMPONENTS WAS IN DEC OF 2008 ON THE BANK 2 CAM. FAULT CODE "SET POINT NOT REACHED (OVER-RETARDED)." WITH MISFIRES TO ALL CYLINDERS ON BANK 2 - ALL BUT RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO DRIVE. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THOUGH OUT OF WARRANTY I CONTACTED AUDI TO NO AVAIL. I AM SORELY DISAPPOINTED IN AUDI FOR ENGINEERING SUCH SHODDY DESIGN, AND NOT STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT. IN FACT CRISWELL AUDI CHARGED $300 FOR AN ECU UPDATE THAT DID NOTHING. ALTHOUGH THE S4 IS A LOW VOLUME CAR THE 4.2L ENGINE IS USED IN MANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS; AND IF THIS COMPLAINT VENUE ANY INDICATION IT APPEARS TO SUFFER A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS FAILURES. THE COST TO DROP THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO MAKE THE REPAIR WAS ~$4,500. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294798

Incident

Dec 15, 2008

Mileage

54,000 mi

AT 44,000 MILES MY CAR HAS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I STATED ABOVE BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE ENGINE REVVING UP. THE TRANSMISSION CAN ALSO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS UNDER HARD BRAKING WHICH ALL OF YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE IN GEAR YOU SLOW DOWN BETTER IF ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU POP OUT OF GEAR YOU CAR DOES NOT HAVE AS MUCH HOLDING YOU BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267048

Incident

Apr 22, 2009

Mileage

44,000 mi

CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND SEIZE AT 70MPH. PREVIOUS THE FAILURE, AUDI REPLACED BENT VALVES DUE TO TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE. LESS THAN 300 MILES FROM NEW HEADS BEING INSTALLED, THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263937

Incident

Nov 14, 2007

Mileage

34,000 mi

I GOT IN MY CAR THIS PAST FRIDAY TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND THEN MY CAR STARTS RUMBLING AND SOUNDS LIKE WHAT CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS A MUSCLE CAR. I ONLY LIVE A MILE FROM MY OFFICE SO I DRIVE MY CAR IN. WHILE DRIVING IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR HAS LOST LOW END POWER AND IS STILL IDLING WITH A RUMBLE. WHEN I GET TO WORK I POP THE HOOD AND NOTICE THE ENTIRE MOTOR SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH AND MY BUDDY SEES MY EXHAUST IS MOVING UP AND DOWN. SO I DECIDE TO GET IT TO THE LOCAL GARAGE THAT HAS WORKED ON MY CAR BEFORE. HE IS ONLY ABOUT 2 BLOCKS DOWN FROM MY OFFICE. WHEN I PULL OUT FROM MY PARKING LOT THE CAR THROWS A CEL AND ABOUT 500 FT FROM THE GARAGE IT STARTS FLASHING. SO I COAST THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE AND GET THE CODES READ. THEY'RE COMING UP AS CYL. 4, 5, 6, AND 7 MISFIRES AND P0021 CAM TIMING ADJUST BANK 2 NOT REACHED. SO THE MECHANIC CLEARS THE CODES AND TAKES THE CAR AROUND THE BLOCK AND ONCE AGAIN THE CEL COMES ON AND THIS TIME IT SAYS CYL. 1,3,7, AND 8 MISFIRING AND THE P0021 CODE FOR THE CAM TIMING AND ALSO A NEW CODE P1317 BANK 2 CAM/CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WRONG COMBO OF ECU'S....TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THE CAR WAS TOWED OVER 100 MILES AWAY TO THE NEAREST AUDI DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY CAM TENSIONER. THE WHOLE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AND TORE APART AND THE TENSIONER REPLACED. THE BILL IS $6286.18. MY CAR IS A 2004 AUDI S4 WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST PURCHASED IT ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO. IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262201

Incident

Mar 13, 2009

Mileage

67,641 mi

I DRIVE A 2004 AUDI S4. MY CAR SUFFERED A MAJOR FAILURE. THE MOTOR FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN BY AUDI AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE CAR FAILED DUE TO THESE PLASTIC GUIDES THAT AUDI USES AS TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. THE GUIDES ARE NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE SERVICED ALTHOUGH WHEN THEY FAIL YOU HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO GET THEM REPLACED BECAUSE THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE PULLED TO REPLACE THEM. THEY ARE ON THE BACK OF THE MOTOR SO THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER OR THE GUIDES FAIL IT CAN AND WILL RESULT IN A MAJOR MOTOR FAILURE. IF THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REBUILT IT WILL COST AT LEAST $10,000. LUCKILY I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS COVERED, BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND AUDI SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A FAILURE THAT ONE WOULD EXPECT ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261864

Incident

Jul 11, 2008

Mileage

66,000 mi

2004 AUDI S4, BUILD DATE 09/03 : 1. 24 AUG 06- 16,500 MILES- A/C STOPPED WORKING- REPLACED ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM (COMPRESSOR, HOSES, PIPES, DRIER, RESTRICTOR) UNDER WARRANTY. 2. 10 APR 07- 23,253 MILES- CAR WON?T START- STARTER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. PEALING SHIFT KNOB (CHROME SURROUND WAS PEALING AND THE EDGES WERE LIKE A RAZOR BLADE), REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CENTER CONSOLE LATCH BROKEN- REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. 3. 22 FEB 08- 31,992 MILES- ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY VALVE SEAT. SEAT BROKE ALLOWING VALVE TO BE SUCKED INTO CYLINDER AND THEN PUNCHED OUT THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK. ENGINE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. 4. 10 SEP 08- 37,448 MILES- A/C STOPPED WORKING. HIGH PRESSURE SWITCH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261478

Incident

Feb 22, 2008

Mileage

31,992 mi

I HAVE A 2004 AUDI S4 THAT HAD CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT ONLY 40,000 MILES DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE CAR HAS A PROBLEM WHERE A TENSIONER I AM TOLD ALLOWS THE MOTOR TO REV UP EVEN WHEN YOUR FOOT IS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OWNERS, MOST WERE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS PART FAILS AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE, IN SOME CASES UNDER 100 MILES. NOT ONLY DOES THIS CAUSE UN SAFE SITUATIONS FOR THE DRIVER AS THE ENGINE CAN HAVE THIS REV UP HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILS, IT ALSO CAUSES REPAIRS THAT ARE VERY VERY COSTLY AND NOT WORTH WHILE. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS NEEDING TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THIS IS ALSO DUE TO DEFECTIVE METALS USED IN THE SYNCROS IS WHAT I AM TOLD. AUDI HAS NO DESIRE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED NONE OF THE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO ABUSE BUT RATHER WEAK PARTS. EVEN THOUGH I AM OUT OF WARRANTY THAT SHOULD NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN THEY HAVE HAD SO MANY OF THE SAME EXACT CASES REPAIRED TO DATE. MY KBB VALUE IS 23,500 AND THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE AROUND $17,500. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261281

Incident

Feb 12, 2009

Mileage

41,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI S4. WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND THE CONTACT TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. UPDATED 01/24/08. *LJ THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. THE COOLING FAN WOULD STAY ON AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED A FAULTY FAN MODULE. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10212985

Incident

Nov 7, 2004

Mileage

5,000 mi