2004 Audi S4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 29 complaints (27.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 31.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 17.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Visibility | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2; Visibility: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2007: 3; 2009: 14; 2010: 3; 2012: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10261281 · 2009-03-09 (March 9, 2009)
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 R…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10262201 · 2009-03-17 (March 17, 2009)
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 OFFI…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,641 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212985 · 2007-12-27 (December 27, 2007)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10267048 · 2009-04-28 (April 28, 2009)
AT 44,000 MILES MY CAR HAS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I STATED ABOVE BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE ENGINE REVVING UP. THE TRANSMISSION CAN ALSO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS UNDER HARD BRAKING WHICH ALL OF YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE IN GEAR YOU SLOW DOWN BETTER IF ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU POP OUT OF GEAR YOU CAR DOES NOT HAVE AS MUCH HOLDING YOU BACK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178832 · 2007-01-16 (January 16, 2007)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446471 · 2012-02-02 (February 2, 2012)
2004 AUDI S4. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE FAILED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE, POWER BRAKES AND STEERING LOCKED UP *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE HAD SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN OR ADJUSTERS. THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $24,000 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE LEARNED IT WAS A RELATIVELY COMMON PROBLEM FOR HIS MODEL AND YEAR. THE SPECIFIC MECHANICAL FLAW SEEMED TO BE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN COORDINATED THE ACTION BETWEEN THE PISTONS AND THE VALVES. T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10446471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10747523 · 2015-08-10 (August 10, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865507 · 2016-05-17 (May 17, 2016)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10865507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11036013 · 2017-10-24 (October 24, 2017)
AFTER ENGINE COOLS DOWN, TIMING CHAIN RATTLE CAN BE HEARD UPON STARTING THE CAR. CHAIN RATTLE MEANS THAT PLASTIC GUIDES OR ADJUSTERS ARE WORN, AND MIGHT GO ANY SECOND. SPOKE WITH AUDI REP ONLINE, WHICH ADVISES ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL, AND EXPECTED. KNOWING BASICS OF ENGINES AND TRANSMISSION, I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING IS "LIFE TIME" AND IS NOT SERVICEABLE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S PLASTIC (WHICH TENDS TO SHRINK AND EXPAND DEPENDING ON TEMPERATURES, AND THEN HAS FRACTURES WHICH SNAPS). TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT LICENSED AUDI SHOPS CONFIRMED THAT T…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11036013 at NHTSA ↗