Audi S4 transmission problems
92 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
574 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 to 2022 model years. Data snapshot: . 377 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
92 of 574 complaints match this topic (16.0%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 721566 · 2000-04-17 (April 17, 2000)
EXPERIENCED A GRINDING NOISE AND VIBRATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM A STOP, SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AT APPROX. 4500 RPM. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISISON GRINDED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR ALL THE TIME ABOVE 3500 RPM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HAD TO WAIT A WEEK FOR THEM TO SEE MY CAR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A DAY TO "DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM." THEY TOLD ME THAT 2ND GEAR WAS "SHOT" DUE TO "SHIFTING AT HIGH RPMS" OR FROM "HARD SHIFTING" AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I SAID THAT THI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 742955 · 2001-03-24 (March 24, 2001)
ON OR ABOUT 11/20/00 I APPLIED BRAKES WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL. CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP CAR, WHICH EVENTUALLY CRASHED INTO TELEPHONE POLE. I INJURED MY LEFT LEG. AUDI ADVISED ME THEY KNEW OF NO "DEFECT" THAT COULD CAUSE THIS ACCIDENT. ON 13/21/01 AS I APPLIED BRAKES TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE CONTIGUOUS TO A BUILDING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. WHEN I BOTH HEARD TO ENGINE RACING AND THE CAR ACCELERATING I FORTUNATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STOPPED THE VEHICE. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR! I REFUSE TO DRIVE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 742955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145179 · 2005-12-14 (December 14, 2005)
CAM COVER OIL LEAKS DISCOVERED AFTER 50,000 MILE SERVICE AT APPROX 48,500 MILES 11/7/05. AUDI TSB 05-03, NOV. 2, 2005 COVERING 2000-2006 MODELS A4, CABRIOLET, TT, A6, S4, ALLROAD, A8, S8, AND RS6 WITH ENGINES 1.8T, 2.8 V6, 2.7 V6T, AND 4.2 V8 STATES THAT IF A CUSTOMER COMPLAINS AND THE AREA IS WET WITH FLUID RESIDUE OR DROPLETS THAT ARE NOT COMING OFF, TO CLEAN THE OIL STAINED AREA AND TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT IT COULD BE THE RESULT OF SPILLAGE WHEN TOPPING OFF OR NORMAL GASKET "SWEATING" AND IS NOT INDICATION OF A MALFUNCTION. IF FOUND AND N…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145179 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗