Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
190–25K
825–50K
150–75K
175–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
29 reports with mileage · 4 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.
Steering. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. 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.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reports
3,017 miles · May 1, 2013
Unknown Or Other
FOUND VEHICLE LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. RADIATOR INTERCOOLER WAS AT FAULT. IF ALL OR MOST COOLANT LOST WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE MAY HAVE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO OCCUR WITH POSSIBLE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. VW AUDI HAS KNOWN OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE INTERCOOLER AND HAS A PROTECTION SCREEN (8K0-820-…
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FOUND VEHICLE LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. RADIATOR INTERCOOLER WAS AT FAULT. IF ALL OR MOST COOLANT LOST WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE MAY HAVE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO OCCUR WITH POSSIBLE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. VW AUDI HAS KNOWN OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE INTERCOOLER AND HAS A PROTECTION SCREEN (8K0-820-746-C) AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. YOU NEED TO FORCE AUDI TO HAVE THIS ITEM INSTALLED ON ALL MODELS AFFECTED BEFORE OWNER(S) CAUSE AN INCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10511121
4,500 miles · Apr 2, 2013
Steering
MY 2013 AUDI S4 EXHIBITS AN ALARMING TENDENCY TO WEAVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT A STEERING INPUT. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT A CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL POSITION, VEHICLE SPEED, OR CHANGE IN ROAD SURFACE OR PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN WHEEL IS CENTERED AT 12 O'CLOCK BUT DOES OCCUR AT ALL …
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MY 2013 AUDI S4 EXHIBITS AN ALARMING TENDENCY TO WEAVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT A STEERING INPUT. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT A CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL POSITION, VEHICLE SPEED, OR CHANGE IN ROAD SURFACE OR PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN WHEEL IS CENTERED AT 12 O'CLOCK BUT DOES OCCUR AT ALL SPEEDS AND STEERING VECTORS. AUDI DEALERSHIP NOTES THE PROBLEM AND BLAMES THE NEW ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM BUT STATES IT IS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE SYSTEM AND IS NOT A DEFECT. I DISAGREE AND FEEL ANY DIRECTION CHANGE IN A VEHICLE WITHOUT A DRIVER INPUT OR A EXPLAINABLE EXTERNAL FACTOR CONSTITUTES A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505438
2,500 miles · Mar 21, 2013
Steering
CAR INTERMITTENTLY DEVELOPS A "NOTCHINESS" AROUND THE CENTER POINT AND IS NON-RESPONSIVE TO STEERING INPUT FROM CENTER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON AUDI DISCUSSION FORUMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503937
150 miles · Mar 18, 2013
Steering
THE CAR'S STEERING IS EXTREMELY NOTCHY AND SKIPS OVER THE CENTER ENTIRELY. IT BECOMES EASY AND HARD AND WHIPS BACK SOMETIMES. IT CAUSES YOU TO SWERVE IN TRAFFIC AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA AND MY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503501
753 miles · Feb 24, 2013
Steering
THE STEERING FEELS NOTCHY WHEN TURNING, IT ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS FLOATING WHEN CENTERED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO OVER CORRECT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. WHEN TURNING THERE IS A SLIGHT SLIP OF RESISTANCE SIMILAR TURNING A DIAL WITH GROOVES. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THE UNKNOWN STEERING RESPONSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10499877
200 miles · Feb 24, 2013
Steering
THE STEERING HAS A NOTCHING JUST OFF CENTER TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. FEELS LIKE THE STEERING FALLS INTO A DETENT POSITION. MAKES CONTROLLING THE CAR AWKWARD. THE FEEL IS NOT PROGRESSIVE. THE STEERING CANNOT BE HELD IN THE DESIRED POSITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10499851
5,100 miles · Feb 18, 2013
Steering
WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED ON CITY ROADS, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT FELT AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOTCHING/RATCHETING AS I TURNED IT. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, BUT STEERING FELT LOOSE AND INACCURATE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498547
3,000 miles · Feb 18, 2013
Steering
AUDI'S ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING ON MY S4 EXHIBITS UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS A "NOTCH" AT 12 O'CLOCK WHERE THE CAR USUALLY DOES NOT RESPOND TO WHEEL INPUTS UNTIL YOU TURN IT MORE THAN AN INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY REACT, IT OFTEN OVERCOMPENSATES. IT DOES NOT ALWAYS…
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AUDI'S ELECTRONIC ASSISTED STEERING ON MY S4 EXHIBITS UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS A "NOTCH" AT 12 O'CLOCK WHERE THE CAR USUALLY DOES NOT RESPOND TO WHEEL INPUTS UNTIL YOU TURN IT MORE THAN AN INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY REACT, IT OFTEN OVERCOMPENSATES. IT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN HOWEVER. SOMETIMES THE NOTCHINESS IS PRESENT, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EVEN ON THE SAME STEERING SETTINGS/SAME SPEED. I CAN NOT KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT AT TIMES. THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT TO THE RIGHT STEPS IT OVER INTO WHAT FEELS LIKE THE NEXT GROOVE AND I START SLIGHTLY HEADING OFF THE ROAD TOO THE RIGHT, TRY TO CORRECT AND IT STEPS A NOTCH OVER TO THE LEFT AND I START SLOWLY CHANGING LANES THAT DIRECTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498541
3,500 miles · Feb 18, 2013
Steering
MY STEERING IS UNABLE TO KEEP A STRAIGHT LINE AT TIMES. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IS IN NOTCHED LIKE A GEAR WOULD BE. MY CAR WILL START MOVING TOWARDS THE LEFT LANE LIKE THE ALIGNMENT IS OFF. WHEN I TRY TO CORRECT THIS THE STEERING MAKES A NON FLUID MOVEMENT TO NEXT LANDING NOTCH TO THE RIGHT, THEN THE CAR STARTS MOVING OFF …
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MY STEERING IS UNABLE TO KEEP A STRAIGHT LINE AT TIMES. THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IS IN NOTCHED LIKE A GEAR WOULD BE. MY CAR WILL START MOVING TOWARDS THE LEFT LANE LIKE THE ALIGNMENT IS OFF. WHEN I TRY TO CORRECT THIS THE STEERING MAKES A NON FLUID MOVEMENT TO NEXT LANDING NOTCH TO THE RIGHT, THEN THE CAR STARTS MOVING OFF TO THE RIGHT LANE. I HAVE TO MOVE BETWEEN THESE TWO LANDING NOTCHES EVERY FEW SECONDS TO REMAIN WITHIN MY LANE. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IS VERY CONCERNING! I TODAY STARTED RESEARCHING THIS AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE NEWER AUDI'S BUT NOT FIX IS BEING RELEASED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10498470
3,700 miles · Feb 18, 2013
Steering
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) RANDOMLY GETS A "NOTCHY" FEELING AND LOSES ITS TRUE CENTER. THE WHEEL CANNOT BE HELD AT A PERFECT "12 O'CLOCK." IT IS EITHER AT 11:57 OR 12:03, SO GOING STRAIGHT DOWN A ROAD REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER. THESE NOTCHES PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL. IN OTH…
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ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) RANDOMLY GETS A "NOTCHY" FEELING AND LOSES ITS TRUE CENTER. THE WHEEL CANNOT BE HELD AT A PERFECT "12 O'CLOCK." IT IS EITHER AT 11:57 OR 12:03, SO GOING STRAIGHT DOWN A ROAD REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER. THESE NOTCHES PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL. IN OTHER WORDS, BY MAKING A HARD LEFT, THE WHEEL WILL PASS THROUGH 8-10 DIFFERENT NOTCHES. AT SOME POINT, THE PROBLEM WILL THEN GO AWAY AND DISAPPEAR. *TR
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Audi A4 and S4 vehicles manufactured February 16, 2012, to October 21, 2014, and 2013-2015 Audi Allroad vehicles manufactured March 12, 2012, to October 21, 2014. Due to an improper algorithm in the air bag control module, if a crash necessitates deployment of the side air bags, a second impact to the front of the vehicle may not command the front air bags to also deploy.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the front air bags do not deploy in the event of a secondary impact to the front of the vehicle, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on November 14, 2014. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69K5.
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.
2013 Audi S4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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