← New search

2004 Audi S4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all S4 years →

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

27 reports with mileage · 2 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 17, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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 …

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10865507

79,000 miles · Aug 10, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

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.…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #10747523

Official recalls

1

05V096000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Mar 15, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT XENON HEADLAMP REFLECTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

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.