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2005 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

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

33 reports
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60,438 miles · Nov 14, 2012
Exterior Lighting

MY CAR IS A 2005.5 AUDI S4 WITH BI-XENON HID HEADLIGHTS. I ALMOST ALWAYS GET A DIPPED HEADLIGHT ERROR WHENEVER I TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS. IT OCCURS MORE OFTEN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. THIS WILL RANDOMLY HAPPEN BUT I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY RIGHT AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED ON. IT WILL ALSO HAPPEN …

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MY CAR IS A 2005.5 AUDI S4 WITH BI-XENON HID HEADLIGHTS. I ALMOST ALWAYS GET A DIPPED HEADLIGHT ERROR WHENEVER I TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS. IT OCCURS MORE OFTEN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. THIS WILL RANDOMLY HAPPEN BUT I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY RIGHT AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SWITCHED ON. IT WILL ALSO HAPPEN WHEN THE ROAD IS EITHER ON AN INCLINE OR DECLINE, OR REALLY WHEN THE ROAD IS NOT FLAT. THE DIPPED HEADLIGHT ERROR IS CHARACTERIZED BY A FLICKERING, THEN A DIMMING, THEN ULTIMATELY, THE LIGHT TURNS OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO RE-IGNITE THE LIGHT IS TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE LIGHT SWITCH THEN TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN. ALTHOUGH THE AFFECTED HEADLIGHT WILL COME ON, IT WILL EVENTUALLY DIP AGAIN. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BOTH TO ME AS A MOTORIST, TO OTHER MOTORISTS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO PEDESTRIANS. THIS WILL HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED - BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS. ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HEADLIGHT/S COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN, THE PRECEDING FLICKERING CAN ALSO POSE A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD AS IT MAY CONFUSE ONCOMING VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY FROM AUDI MANY TIMES. AND I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM EVEN AS IT OCCURS AS SOON AS I DRIVE AWAY. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER AUDI A4/S4 OWNERS. I FEEL THIS IS CAUSE FOR AUDI TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE WITH THE OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS FOREMOST IN MIND AND WITH THE PREVALENT PROBLEM WHICH COULD SUGGEST A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484689

106,250 miles · Jun 2, 2012
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAMS ILLUMINATED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF AND THE CAR WILL WARN OF A INOPERATIVE "DIPPED HEADLIGHT". THE HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF AT TIMES AND THIS CAUSES DISCONCERTING DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER CARS IN THE VICINITY. EVERY TIME THE LIGHT FLICKERS, THE W…

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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAMS ILLUMINATED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF AND THE CAR WILL WARN OF A INOPERATIVE "DIPPED HEADLIGHT". THE HEADLIGHT WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF AT TIMES AND THIS CAUSES DISCONCERTING DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER CARS IN THE VICINITY. EVERY TIME THE LIGHT FLICKERS, THE WARNING SYSTEM CHIMES AND ALERTS TO THE MALFUNCTIONING HEADLIGHT. OTHER DRIVERS ARE CONFUSED BECAUSE THEY SEE YOUR HEADLIGHTS FLASHING AT THEM FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS CYCLED TO "OFF" AND BACK TO "ON", THE HEADLAMP IS RESTORED UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH ONE HEADLAMP FLICKERING OR COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO CYCLE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTORE PROPER ILLUMINATION. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE PROBLEM BRIEFLY OCCUR IN THE RIGHT HEADLAMP. I DRIVE IN FEAR THAT BOTH HEADLAMPS WILL GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO PREDICT WHEN THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. BESIDES THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF BEING TICKETED FOR MALFUNCTIONING LIGHTING, THERE IS A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY THIS MANUFACTURER. THIS COMPLAINT IS WIDESPREAD BY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS ON MANY OWNER INTEREST WEB BOARDS. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CLEARLY DEFINED SOLUTION AND OWNERS CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY CHASING A PROBLEM WHOSE OWNERSHIP SHOULD REST ENTIRELY WITH AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA. I URGE THE NHTSA TO PURSUE A RESOLUTION WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460374

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2012
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS DIP AND GO COMPLETELY DARK. TURNED OFF AND AFTER A SHORT TIME PERIOD HEADLIGHT COMES BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443438

110,000 miles · Jul 28, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER AND SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND OCCURRED WHILE PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING AT DIFF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER AND SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING, THE HEADLIGHTS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND OCCURRED WHILE PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10415507

40,000 miles · Jul 20, 2011
Exterior Lighting

HELLO - I HAVE AN AUDI 2005.5 AUDI S4 AVANT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO DIP AND GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. GOOD THING BOTH IT HASN'T HAPPENED TO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. I'M ABLE TO TURN OFF AND TURN ON AN GENERALLY THEY WILL COME BACK ON, OTHER TIMES NOT. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10413870

57,000 miles · Mar 23, 2011
Exterior Lighting

I OWN A 2005.5 AUDI S4 B7. THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS BEGINS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT JUST SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON TO MAKE THE LIGHT THAT JUST SHUT OFF GO BACK ON AGAIN. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO TH…

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I OWN A 2005.5 AUDI S4 B7. THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS BEGINS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT JUST SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY. I HAVE TO TURN THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON TO MAKE THE LIGHT THAT JUST SHUT OFF GO BACK ON AGAIN. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE TIMES THAT BOTH LIGHTS FAILED. MAJOR DRIVING PROBLEM AT NIGHT. ONCE I CYCLE THROUGH THIS THE LIGHT DOES STAY ON FOR THE REST OF MY DRIVING TIME. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER AUDI OWNERS. AUDI SAID THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. WELL, IT SEEMS IF IT IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER AUDI DRIVERS, AUDI SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10392609

40,000 miles · Feb 27, 2011
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND SHUT DOWN. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY UNDER DECELERATION BUT CAN FREQUENTLY OCCUR DURING ACCELERATION AND TURNING. HEADLIGHTS RUN NORMALLY UNDER STEADY STATE SPEED OR AT REST. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO ISSUE. INDEPENDENT AUDI SPECIALIST HAS CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND SWAPPED BULBS (LEFT-RIGHT) WITHOUT EFFECT. THIS H…

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HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND SHUT DOWN. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY UNDER DECELERATION BUT CAN FREQUENTLY OCCUR DURING ACCELERATION AND TURNING. HEADLIGHTS RUN NORMALLY UNDER STEADY STATE SPEED OR AT REST. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO ISSUE. INDEPENDENT AUDI SPECIALIST HAS CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND SWAPPED BULBS (LEFT-RIGHT) WITHOUT EFFECT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR OVER FOUR YEARS AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, TO THE POINT THAT EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN THE LIGHTS NEED TO BE RE-IGNITED A MINIMUM OF 5 TIMES DURING A 30 MINUTE DRIVE. SAFETY ISSUE AS LIGHTS TURN OFF AT NEARLY ALL BRAKING SITUATIONS AND DRIVER MUST DIVERT ATTENTION TO CONTROLS TO RE-ILLUMINATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384675

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2011
Exterior Lighting

HEADLAMP OR HEADLIGHT DIP PROBLEM ON AUDI S4 WITH HID LIGHTS. CANNOT BE FIXED BY AUDI. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376926

55,000 miles · Jan 10, 2011
Exterior Lighting

AUDI: HEADLIGHT VIBRATION, 2005.5 S4. UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SUCH AS AT IDLE, VIBRATIONS OR RESONANCES IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO VIBRATE AND TURN OFF. HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN CAR IS STARTING UP OR COLD. CAN SPONTANEOUSLY FLICKER OR TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. OCCURS ABOUT 1…

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AUDI: HEADLIGHT VIBRATION, 2005.5 S4. UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SUCH AS AT IDLE, VIBRATIONS OR RESONANCES IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO VIBRATE AND TURN OFF. HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN CAR IS STARTING UP OR COLD. CAN SPONTANEOUSLY FLICKER OR TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. OCCURS ABOUT 1 OUT OF 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ASKED DEALER TO LOOK AT IT, SAID THERE WAS NO ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375519

63,400 miles · Nov 7, 2010
Exterior Lighting

2005 AUDI S4 - EXPERIENCING "DIPPED HEADLIGHT" ERROR WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER THEN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHT CAN BE TURNED BACK ON ONLY IF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON. THIS CORRECTS THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, WITH THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERING AGAIN THEN SHUTTING OFF. THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTE…

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2005 AUDI S4 - EXPERIENCING "DIPPED HEADLIGHT" ERROR WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER THEN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHT CAN BE TURNED BACK ON ONLY IF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS TURNED OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON. THIS CORRECTS THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, WITH THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERING AGAIN THEN SHUTTING OFF. THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TOOK MY CAR TO AUDI DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT FIX IT. I'VE READ THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF HIS ISSUE ONLINE.

NHTSA ODI #10364354

Official recalls

2

18V427000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.