2004 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 2004 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
- Engine1541.7%
- Visibility38.3%
- Exterior lighting38.3%
- Transmission38.3%
- Powertrain (other)25.6%
- Steering25.6%
- Electrical25.6%
- Seat belts12.8%
- Tires & wheels12.8%
- Brakes12.8%
- Driver assistance12.8%
- Body & structure12.8%
- Airbags12.8%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE IN RAIN ALL WINDOWS FOGGING UP FROM INSIDE, UNABLE TO DEFOG, THE A/C WILL NOT TURN ON, CHECKED FOR LEAKS - NO LEAKS OBSERVED, SPORADICALLY THE A/C TURNS ON AND OFF, VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN CARS FROM THIS YEAR, MAY CAUSE DAMAGE AND INJURY. *TR
2004 S4 WIPERS STOP WORKING (STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD) IN RAIN, MOTOR WORKS SEEMS AS SOMETHING SIZED, IN SOME SITUATIONS MAY CAUSE BIG DAMAGE AND INJURY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
XENON HEADLAMPS WIRING ALL CORRODED AND BARE WITH NO INSULATION LEFT. CHECK WITH AUDI AND THEY SAID OUR VEHICLE AND VIN IS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. YET RCORRD-05V096-4498 IN YOUR DATABASE SHOWS A MOFIFICATION LETTER FROM VW TO INCLUDE OUR VIN. THERE IS NO RECORD ACCORDING TO AUDI SERVICE SHOPS THAT SHOW ANY RECALL WORK DONE TO OUR HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE THAT SHOWS THE DETERIATION OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND HEADLAMPS TO OUR 2004 AUDI S4. WOULD APPRECIATE SOME ASSISTANCE TO HAVING OUR HEADLAMPS REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI S4. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO THE HEAD LAMP BULBS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WIRING WAS BURNED AND DAMAGED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2004 S4 WHICH CRUNCHES WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. AUDI REPLACED THE SYNCHROS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THEY KEEP TELLING ME ITS NORMAL. THE CRUNCHES OCCURS EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT AND ALSO MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GET INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLES RPMS WILL SOMETIMES STICK, KEEPING THE VEHICLE MOVING WHEN NOT UNDER ACCELERATION.
I HAVE A 2004 AUDI S4 THAT IS SLIPPING OUT OF SECOND GEAR... IT IS A KNOWN SECOND GEAR SYNCHRO PROBLEM THAT AUDI IS IGNORING. I HAVE CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA, AND THEY ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE BUT STILL OFFER NO HELP. THE ISSUE STARTED AT 55,000 MILES WHICH IS 5K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
I OWN A 2004, AUDI, S4 WHICH I PURCHASED USED FROM MY BROTHER, WHO BOUGHT IT NEW. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM HIM WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT. AT 55,000 MILES THE CAR HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. 5,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD! THE MECHANIC THAT IS REPAIRING THE DAMAGE SAID IF ONE MORE COMPONENT WOULD HAVE BROKE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH. THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. I CONTACTED AUDI OF U.S.A. TO,1. ALERT THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE, 2. BECAUSE THE CAR IS ONLY 5,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY AND IT HAD SUCH MASSIVE FAILURE I BELIEVE IT ONLY REASONABLE TO ASK FOR SOME HELP IN THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE REPAIR COST ARE GOING TO BE BETWEEN 4,000 AND 5,000 DOLLARS. 3. I WORK IN QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR A COMPANY AND I REALLY WANTED TO SPEAK WITH THEIR QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ALERT THEM TO THIS BIG PROBLEM. IT IS CRUCIAL THEY (AUDI) UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THE REPS AT AUDI OF U.S.A. THAT I SPOKE WITH WOULD NOT HELP (EXCEPT TO LISTEN, THEY ARE GOOD AT THAT), AND WERE NOT COOPERATING WITH ME IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING DESPERATELY TO ALERT THEIR QUALITY PEOPLE OF THIS FAILURE THAT OCCURRED TO MY CAR. I BELIEVE I WAS COMPLETELY IGNORED AND I NEED TO FIND OUT HOW I CAN EFFECTIVELY REPORT THIS. NOT ONLY TO AUDI BUT ALSO OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE PUBLIC. THANK YOU. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO CONFIRMED THERE WAS A PUNCTURED HOSE CAUSING THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THAT HE HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AFTER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER STATED THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
POWER COUPLING ON POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING AS I WAS DRIVING....DEALER LATER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT THAT HAD BEEN CORRECTED BUT I DID NOT SEE A RECALL POSTED. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
XENON HEADLAMPS WIRING ALL CORRODED AND BARE WITH NO INSULATION LEFT. CHECK WITH AUDI AND THEY SAID OUR VEHICLE AND VIN IS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. YET RCORRD-05V096-4498 IN YOUR DATABASE SHOWS A MOFIFICATION LETTER FROM VW TO INCLUDE OUR VIN. THERE IS NO RECORD ACCORDING TO AUDI SERVICE SHOPS THAT SHOW ANY RECALL WORK DONE TO OUR HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE THAT SHOWS THE DETERIATION OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND HEADLAMPS TO OUR 2004 AUDI S4. WOULD APPRECIATE SOME ASSISTANCE TO HAVING OUR HEADLAMPS REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI S4. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO THE HEAD LAMP BULBS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WIRING WAS BURNED AND DAMAGED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS INTERIOR DEFECTS AFTER 33,000 MILES. CAR IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY DUE TO YEAR OF VEHICLE. THE FEMALE RECEPTOR OF THE BUCKLE HAS SOME OF THE INNER MECHANISM HANGING OUTSIDE OF THE LIP OF THE BUCKLE, MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER BUCKLE NEXT TO IT WHICH IS IN NORMAL WORKING ORDER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
HANKOOK TIRES, VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 SPLITTING OUTSIDE SIDEWALL, CAUSED TO DEPRESSURE TIRE, WHICH CAUSED TO CRACK TIRE ON THE INNER SIDEWALL SUBSEQUENTLY LED TO MANUFACTURER CLAIM BLAME ON MY VEHICLE. THE TIRE MODEL IS UNDER A RECALL, BUT IN DIFFERENT SIZE, BUT IDENTICAL WALLS, MANUFACTURING PROCESS. MY VEHICLE'S TIRE SIZE 235/40/R18. RECALLED: VENTUS S1 NOBLE2 '245/45R18 96W', '245/40R19 94W', '275/35R19 96W PROPER TIRE PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED AND CHECKED WEEKLY FOR 3YEARS, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO CONFIRMED THERE WAS A PUNCTURED HOSE CAUSING THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THAT HE HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AFTER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER STATED THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
2004 AUDI S4 CONVERTIBLE - 40K - REAR WINDOW OF CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS SEPARATED FROM TOP - APPEARS TO BE GLUE, ATTACHMENT METHOD FAILURE. CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA REQUESTING ASSISTANCE, V. NICE - WANTED TO INITIATE CONVERSATION / INSPECTION 'AT DEALER LEVEL'. LOCAL DEALER LOOKS AT IT AND QUOTE $4350 TO REPLACE ENTIRE ROOF. DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN AUDI OF AMERICA AND DEALER APPARENTLY ENSURE WHERE 'LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION' TO ASSIST IS DISCUSSED. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A NEW S4 AT THIS DEALER IN 2000 AND TRIED TO PURCHASE S4 CONVERTIBLE FROM THEM IN 2007. WE HAD OWNED 10 (TEN) VWS PRIOR. FURTHER, ASST SVC MGR AT AUDI OF TYSONS CORNER ADVISED THAT I SHOULD HAVE GARAGED MY VEHICLE, PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE FAILURE OF ADHERING PROPERTY, BUT CLEARLY NOT MAINTAINED PROPERLY BY ME. MY REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WAS REFUSED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE OF 'DEALER LOYALTY'. AUDI OF AMERICA SAID THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY HELP EITHER. I SEE ON THIS SITE THAT MANY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEMS WITH 03 CONVERTIBLE PRODUCTS AND PRIOR TO READING THOUGHT THAT THIS ISSUE IS SOMEWHAT IF NOT ENTIRELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AUDI - AFTER ALL - SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE REPLACING AN ENTIRE ROOF FOR ALMOST $5000 AT ONLY SIX YEARS ???? AS A HUMOROUS ENDNOTE - THE DEALER CALLED ME TODAY - WE HAD LOOKED AT CARS WHILE THERE - THEY WANT ME TO COME BY - TEST DRIVE AND BUY :-) *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE AN AUDI S4 CONVERTIBLE THAT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE AND THE REPAIRS DO NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING HOLD WHEN THEY DO THEM. SO FAR THERE FORTUNATELY HAS NOT BEEN A NEED TO USE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, HOWEVER ITS UNAVAILABILITY IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN. *TR
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 .