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2000 Audi S4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

64 reports with mileage · 79 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

49 reports
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19,955 miles · Aug 23, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON ALL THE AUDI S4S AND ALSO ON VW LOOSE PIXELS ON THE DASH AND IT GOES OUT, IT IS A HAZARD BECAUSE THIS IS A GAUGE THAT DOES A SYSTEM CHECK EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, THE CAR TELLS THE DRIVER IF THERE ARE BRAKE PROBLEMS, ENGINE PROBLEMS, ALSO IF LIGHTS ARE OUT I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS TURN SIGNALS, AND AL…

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THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON ALL THE AUDI S4S AND ALSO ON VW LOOSE PIXELS ON THE DASH AND IT GOES OUT, IT IS A HAZARD BECAUSE THIS IS A GAUGE THAT DOES A SYSTEM CHECK EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, THE CAR TELLS THE DRIVER IF THERE ARE BRAKE PROBLEMS, ENGINE PROBLEMS, ALSO IF LIGHTS ARE OUT I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS TURN SIGNALS, AND ALSO FLUID STATUS OF THE CAR. WHEN THIS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES OUT OR AS AUDI CALLS IT LOSES PIXELS, THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF THE CAR WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY AND HARM TO THE OPERATOR. IT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPLACED ON MY CAR OVER 4 TIMES AND IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OTHER AUDI OWNERS. ALSO THE WINDOW REGULATOR CLIP THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW BREAKS AS WELL, AUDI AND VW DID A RECALL VIN SPECIFIC MODELS OF THE BEETLE JETTA AND A4 BUT NOT THE S4, THE CLIP IS THE SAME DESIGN THAT IS USED IN MY VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED MANY TIMES OF FAILING AND CAUSES ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE, IF THE CLIP BREAKS THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, I.E. CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BREAK WHICH THROWS GLASS ALL OVER THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR AND ALSO EXPOSES LIMBS TO OBJECTS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES WITH AUDI MULTIPLE TIMES AND PHONE CALLS AND MULTIPLE EMAILS, REGARDLESS OF THE AGE AND MILES ON MY CAR, IT IS THE SAME THINGS THAT KEEP BREAKING, CAUSING THESE SAFETY ISSUES. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE WHEN THESE DESIGNS WERE PUT ON THE MARKET. AND REPLACING THESE ITEMS IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY OCCUPANTS AND MYSELF. THEY NEED TO BE REDESIGNED AND REVAMPED TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES. REPLACING THEM EVERY SINGLE YEAR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND EVEN MORE SO WHEN SOMEONE'S LIFE IS AT RISK, DUE TO A BAD AND CARELESS DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471969

114,000 miles · Mar 16, 2010
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS SENSOR FAILURE ON 2000 AUDI S4 QUATTRO. LIGHT CAME ON AT 114,213. LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FLASH ALONG SIDE OF IT AND BEEP EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT COST 1,700. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE …

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ABS SENSOR FAILURE ON 2000 AUDI S4 QUATTRO. LIGHT CAME ON AT 114,213. LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FLASH ALONG SIDE OF IT AND BEEP EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT COST 1,700. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ON VW'S AS WELL AS THE AUDI IN YEARS FROM 1996-2001. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320252

100,000 miles · Aug 5, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK IN HIS VEHICLE. OCCASIONALLY, HE IS UNABLE TO READ THE DISPLAY PANEL. THE DEALER QUOTED HIM A COST FOR THE REPAIR, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10279486

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2009
Electrical System

I OWN A 2000 AUDI S4. MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS AN LCD DISPLAY THAT DISPLAYS INFORMATION LIKE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, POSSIBILITY OF ICY CONDITIONS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS LOW ENOUGH TO WARRANT THESE CONDITIONS, AVERAGE MPG AND OTHER INFORMATION OF THIS NATURE. THIS SCREEN ALSO GIVE SAFETY WARNINGS LIKE BAD HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT, LI…

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I OWN A 2000 AUDI S4. MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS AN LCD DISPLAY THAT DISPLAYS INFORMATION LIKE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, POSSIBILITY OF ICY CONDITIONS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS LOW ENOUGH TO WARRANT THESE CONDITIONS, AVERAGE MPG AND OTHER INFORMATION OF THIS NATURE. THIS SCREEN ALSO GIVE SAFETY WARNINGS LIKE BAD HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, WORN BREAK PADS, LOW WASHER FLUID, LOW ENGINE OIL AS WELL AS OTHERS. THIS SCREEN, AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, DOES INDEED PROVIDE CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTOMOBILE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267213

100,000 miles · Apr 28, 2009
Electrical System

CENTER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY DOES NOT FUNCTION. PIXELS WHICH DISPLAY CRITICAL VEHICLE WARNING INFORMATION ARE OUT AND ILLEGIBLE. PROBLEM IS PERMANENT AND ENTIRE CLUSTER HAS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267158

178,000 miles · Apr 24, 2009
Electrical System

THE 2000-2002 AUDI S4S HAVE A VERY LARGE PROBLEM WITH THE INFORMATIONAL GAUGE CLUSTER SCREEN FAILING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. IT FAILS TO ALERT YOU OF THINGS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE LIKE BRAKE PAD WEAR, TAILLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, ENGINE ISSUES, VEHICLE SPEED, TEMPERATE (ISSUE WHEN ITS GETS FREEZIN…

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THE 2000-2002 AUDI S4S HAVE A VERY LARGE PROBLEM WITH THE INFORMATIONAL GAUGE CLUSTER SCREEN FAILING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. IT FAILS TO ALERT YOU OF THINGS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE LIKE BRAKE PAD WEAR, TAILLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, ENGINE ISSUES, VEHICLE SPEED, TEMPERATE (ISSUE WHEN ITS GETS FREEZING). THIS IS MOSTLY DUE TO RELYING ON THIS SCREEN FOR SO MANY YEARS. MANUAL CHECKS CAN BE DONE OBVIOUSLY BUT IT FAILS WITHOUT WARNING AND THAT CAN BE TO LATE IN MANY CASES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266593

45,000 miles · Jan 20, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE LED INDICATORS DIMMED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM TO PURCHASE A NEW CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THE TIME, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. RECEN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE LED INDICATORS DIMMED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM TO PURCHASE A NEW CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THE TIME, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LED INDICATORS WERE TOO DIM TO ASSIST WITH THE WARNING INDICATORS NOTIFYING HIM OF A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF UPDATED 03/10/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10255744

40,000 miles · Dec 24, 2008
Electrical System

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS PIXEL LINES NOT SHOWING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION DISPLAYED BY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252722

90,000 miles · Oct 5, 2008
Electrical System

SCREEN IN GAUGE CLUSTER IS GOING BAD AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I CAN NOT READ IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244450

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2008
Electrical System

THE PIXELS IN THE CLUSTER ARE GONE. THE CLUSTER DISPLAYS VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION AND I CAN'T SEE THEM BECAUSE THE PIXELS ARE DEAD. I SEE THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244411

Official recalls

1

21V470000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jun 23, 2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CJ.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.