2010 Audi S4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
60 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
58,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 42 of 60 complaints (70.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 33 | 55.0% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 42 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Power Train: 42; Electrical System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine: 4; Exterior Lighting: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2010: 8; 2011: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 7; 2015: 8; 2016: 12; 2017: 7; 2018: 2; 2019: 7; 2020: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 33 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 10551886 · 2013-11-12 (November 12, 2013)
THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO JERK AND SLAM CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE JUST PRIOR TO STOPPING IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC. NOTICED THAT THIS HAPPENS ONLY AFTER DRIVING IN STOP/GO SITUATIONS AND USUALLY AROUND 5MPH. ALSO CLANKS/JERKS WHILE IN REVERSE. DEALER KEEPS SAYING THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10551886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556427 · 2013-12-17 (December 17, 2013)
MECHATRONICS UNIT FAILED IN THE VEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILURE MESSAGE LISTED ON CAR DASHBOARD. CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND THERE WAS NO REVERSE GEAR. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. MULTIPLE WEB FORUM POSTS STATED THE AUDI B8 MODELS SUFFERED THIS FAILURE FREQUENTLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10561980 · 2014-01-29 (January 29, 2014)
MECHATRONICS UNIT FAILURE IN DSG TRANSMISSION. HARD SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST WHILE STOPPING. (VEHICLE MAKES LOUD DRIVETRAIN BANG NOISE, SHAKES AND STOPS ABRUPTLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND TRYING TO COME TO A STOP, ALMOST AS IF YOU SLOWED DOWN TO 5-10MPH AND THEN SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES.) *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,304 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669498 · 2015-01-01 (January 1, 2015)
RECEIVED "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING, OKAY TO CONTINUE DRIVING" WARNING ON THE DASH WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, THREE MILES AWAY FROM HOME. ARRIVED 20 FEET FROM MY RESIDENCE AND RECEIVED ANOTHER ERROR, "PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION." THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE; WITH PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE CAR CORRECTED ITSELF AND WAS ABLE TO PARK IN GARAGE. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO AUDI AND THE RUDE AND UNKNOWLEDGEABLE SERVICE ADVISOR TOOK MY VEHICLE AND APPLIED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. DROVE THE VE…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,265 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352596 · 2010-08-29 (August 29, 2010)
I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE WATERPUMP USED IN THE 2010 AUDI S4 3.0T. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A WATERPUMP FAILURE WHICH RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING AND PARTIAL OR FULL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURE HAVE HAD THEIR 'BLACK PLASTIC' WATERPUMPS REPLACED WITH A REVISED 'ALUMINUM WATERPUMP'. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. IT IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352656 · 2010-08-30 (August 30, 2010)
THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE TO MANY 2010 AUDI S4 OWNERS. MANY OF THEM REPORTED A WATERPUMP FAILURE BASICALLY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, I.E., HIGHWAY DRIVING, CORNERING, AND LOW SPEED DRIVING. 2010 AUDI S4 PRODUCED IN 2009 CLEARLY HAVE A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP, WHICH TEND TO MOSTLY FAIL PRIOR TO 10K MILES ON THE CAR. MANY S4 OWNERS AND FORUM MEMBERS REPORTED MANY KINDS OF HAZARD THAT THIS FAILURE CAN BRING, INCLUDING COOLANT SPILLING THAT CAN POTENTIALLY HARM THE SURROUNDING MOTORISTS (SLIPPERY SURFACE CAUSED BY OILY COOLANT) AND THE LOSS OF POWER …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10352656 at NHTSA ↗