2011 Audi S4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
61,897 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 26 complaints (84.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 84.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.8% |
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 | 22 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Power Train: 22; Engine: 5; Electrical System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Suspension: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2012: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10481521 · 2012-10-23 (October 23, 2012)
THIS ISSUE CONCERNS MY AUDI 2011 S4, A CAR THAT I TOOK DELIVERY ON IN APRIL, 2011. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE THE DELIVERY, HOWEVER, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SPECIFIC FILING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. ON OCCASION, THE CAR WILL STRUGGLE AND "BUCK" IN LOW GEARS AT A VERY SLOW SPEED (OR FROMA COMPLETE STOP) UPON ACCELERATION. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE TAKING DELIVERY. I HAVE TRIED ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM WITH AUDI CORAL SPRINGS IN THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558946 · 2014-01-07 (January 7, 2014)
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP DO THE DASHBOARD SAYING "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION, REVERSE GEAR NOT AVAILABLE, YOU CAN STILL DRIVE". AT THE SAME TIME, THE TPMS WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON. THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE, AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD, AND THEN LOOSE SPEED AGAIN. THIS REPEATED A FEW TIMES, UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. AT THE INTERSECTION, I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10661438 · 2014-12-01 (December 1, 2014)
AUDI RECENTLY REPLACED MY 2ND THERMOSTAT (1ST WAS 11/2012 AND THE 2ND WAS 11/24/2014), NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND RETURNED MY CAR TO ME AFTER HOLDING ONTO MY CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE CHECKED OUT OKAY VIA A DIAGNOSTIC AND MECHANICS REVIEW. I DROVE MY S4 FOR TWO DAYS AND WHILE DRIVING, I RECEIVED AN INDICATOR WARNING THAT READ, GEARBOX MALFUNCTION REVERSE NOT AVAILABLE, YOU CAN STILL DRIVE. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY BUCK WHEN I ACCELERATED. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHICH WAS ALARMING T…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,366 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823972 · 2016-02-03 (February 3, 2016)
THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT, CAUSING THE CAR TO MIS-SHIFT AND SURGE WHILE DRIVING, OR FAIL TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC IN "D" DRIVE, DUE TO PARKING BRAKE DRIVE-SELECT MALFUNCTIONS. IN THESE CASES THE CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF, IN TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD AGAIN. THIS TECHNIQUE HAS WORKED SO FAR BUT I AM AFRAID THIS WILL NOT WORK EVENTUALLY, AND BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE ON THE ROADWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10785293 · 2015-10-22 (October 22, 2015)
ENGINE - EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION (1QT REFILL IS REQUIRE FOR EVERY 750MILES). DSG TRANSMISSION ' GETTING GEARBOX MALFUNCTION, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON DASHBOARD. THIS IS DUE TO P179E - DRIVE RANGE SENSOR ELECTRICAL ERROR.
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10785293 at NHTSA ↗