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2004 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

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

What owners actually said

29 reports
34,000 miles · Apr 2, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 ODI #10263937

67,641 miles · Mar 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

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…

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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 ODI #10262201

66,000 miles · Mar 15, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 …

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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 ODI #10261864

31,992 miles · Mar 10, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 RA…

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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 ODI #10261478

55,000 miles · Mar 9, 2009
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10261380

41,000 miles · Mar 9, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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 PAR…

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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 ODI #10261281

5,000 miles · Dec 27, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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 WO…

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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 ODI #10212985

15,000 miles · Aug 14, 2007
Air Bags

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 CON…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10199548

22,500 miles · Jan 16, 2007
Steering

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

NHTSA ODI #10178832

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.