2013 Audi S4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
5,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 33 complaints (57.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 19 | 57.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 24.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 19 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Steering: 19; Power Train: 9; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 15; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10495010 · 2013-01-28 (January 28, 2013)
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 CHAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498341 · 2013-02-16 (February 16, 2013)
STARTING AROUND FEBRUARY 2, 2013 MY VEHICLE STARTED DISPLAYING INTERMITTENT BIZARRE STEERING BEHAVIOR. THE ISSUES WERE TWO FOLD. FIRST, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BUT MOST COMMONLY OVER 50 MPH THE STEERING EXHIBITED A "SLIP AND CONNECT FEELING" WHERE THE STEERING WOULD FEEL DISCONNECTED (OR VERY LOOSELY CONNECTED) TO THE WHEELS. LARGE DRIVER STEERING INPUTS RESULTED IN ONLY MINOR CORRECTIONS. ONLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT TWO INCHES IN EITHER DIRECTION WOULD THE STEERING GRAB AND FEEL NORMAL AGAIN. THIS PHENOMENON HAS RESULTED IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10618528 · 2014-08-04 (August 4, 2014)
THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR HAVING A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT. THE MECHATRONICS UNIT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY, AND CAUSES JERKING AND INSTABILITY TO THE DSG TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED OTHER VEHICLES AT RED LIGHTS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND LUNGE ME FORWARD TOWARD THE VEHICLE AHEAD. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN ISSUE THAT A PRESTIGIOUS NAME LIKE AUDI SHOULD NOT HAVE, BUT IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. AUDI OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT CHOOSES TO IGNORE IT FOR THE SAKE OF NOT HAVING TO COVER REPAIRS FO…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10924986 · 2016-11-08 (November 8, 2016)
THE PROBLEMS STARTED BY A WARNING ON MY DISPLAY SAYING TO PULL OVER GEAR BOX OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. YOU HAVE SECONDS TO PULL OVER BEFORE THE CAR NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE IN GEAR ALL THAT HAPPENS IS THE ENGINE REVS AND YOU GO NO WHERE. MY CAR HAS ONLY 38,500 MILES ON IT AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I HAD THE CAR TUNED ADDING SOMEWHERE AROUND 100 HP 6,000 MILES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND AUDI SAYS THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE ISSUE. TO FIX THE SENSOR ERROR CODE P179E00 WAS AROUND $5,000. 00 EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10924986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515323 · 2013-06-05 (June 5, 2013)
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. NOT WITH THE "KEY" OR THE BUTTON STARTER. AUDI SERVICE CLAIMS ITS THE BATTERY BUT WHEN THE ROADSIDE SERVICE SHOWS UP ITS NOT THE BATTERY, SO NOW A TOW TRUCK HAS TO BE CALLED. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME AND ANY PLACE. AUDI DENIES IT IS A COMPUTER ISSUE BUT YET THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND NOTHING IS AVAILABLE - ELECTRONICALLY OR MORE IMPORTANTLY MANUALLY. DON'T BE OUT LATE AT NIGHT OR YOU MIGHT BE A VICTIM TO MORE THAN A BROKEN DOWN VEHICLE. BY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN ONE MONTH OLD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11759753 · 2026-08-26 (August 26, 2026)
Transmission fail while driving and stationary at traffic light. Main DTC: P179F00 - Drive sensor position: malfunction Additional DTC: P179E00 - Drive sensor position: electrical malfunction ABS: 00473 Parking brake: U111300 TCM: 01315 This situation occurred 3 times in the past 3 weeks while driving or being stationary at a traffic light. Event triggers loud warning sounds, red flashing lights/icons in dashboard, total loss of power while engine still running. At this time, this problem creates highly dangerous driving conditions with rand…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11759753 at NHTSA ↗