IllustrationHEATED SEAT ELEMENT BURNED OR MELTED THE SEAT WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF OVERNIGHT. PASSENGER SEAT LEATHER IS NOW SEPARATED, SHRIVELED (HARD AS A ROCK) AND WOULD HAVE BURNED THE PASSENGER IF THEY HAD BEEN IN THE SEAT.
2005 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
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
20–25K
1225–50K
1250–75K
475–100K
4100–150K
0150K+
34 reports with mileage · 9 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.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
5 reportsAS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WITH AND THE MESSAGE, "RIGHT DIPPED HEADLIGHT" CAME ON. WHEN THIS HAPPEN I STOPPED TO FILL UP WITH GAS AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WAS GONE AND THE HEADLIGHT WAS BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED A SEVERAL MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. *TR
CAR STARTED MISFIRING AND WITHIN LESS THAN 5 MILES IN THE HIGHWAY THEN STARTED TO BUILD UP SMOKE INSIDE THE CABIN, CAR THEN STOPPED AND TOWED TO A MECHANICS WHO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS OF MISFIRING OF 3 CYLINDERS AND FOUND OVERHEATING OF THE PASSENGER SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT LEAD TO A MELTING A CONNECTOR OF THE TRANSMISSION.…
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CAR STARTED MISFIRING AND WITHIN LESS THAN 5 MILES IN THE HIGHWAY THEN STARTED TO BUILD UP SMOKE INSIDE THE CABIN, CAR THEN STOPPED AND TOWED TO A MECHANICS WHO CONFIRM THE DIAGNOSIS OF MISFIRING OF 3 CYLINDERS AND FOUND OVERHEATING OF THE PASSENGER SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER THAT LEAD TO A MELTING A CONNECTOR OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI S4. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY INFORMATION. THE CLUSTER SYMBOLS ARE BROKEN. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
IN AUGUST 2006 WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 AUDI S4 CONVERTIBLE ON A BUSY STREET IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA AT 45-50 MPH, MY CAR DIED WITHOUT WARNING...I.E. NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE IT OFF-ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO ROYAL AUDI IN BLOOMINGTON, IN. THEY KEPT THE CAR OVER A MONTH THINKING MAYBE I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. H…
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IN AUGUST 2006 WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 AUDI S4 CONVERTIBLE ON A BUSY STREET IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA AT 45-50 MPH, MY CAR DIED WITHOUT WARNING...I.E. NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE IT OFF-ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO ROYAL AUDI IN BLOOMINGTON, IN. THEY KEPT THE CAR OVER A MONTH THINKING MAYBE I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HOWEVER, EVENTUALLY THEY SAID IT WAS A FUSE WHICH WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR DROVE FINE. HOWEVER, DRIVING CROSS-COUNTRY IN JANUARY 2007 WHILE ON I40 IN WEST OKLAHOMA, TRYING TO PASS AN ENORMOUS TRUCK, I FOUND I HAD NO BRAKES AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER SIMILAR LARGE TRUCK ,TOTALING MY CAR. DESPITE A SEVERE ACCIDENT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EITHER ON THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER'S SIDE. *TR
Official recalls
218V427000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 22, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
17V032000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 11, 2017
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.