2000 Audi S4: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
142 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,625 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 142 complaints (20.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 52 | 36.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 29 |
| Tires | 19 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 7 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 29; Tires: 19; Tires:Sidewall: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 15; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 13; Electrical System: 12; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Control Unit/Module: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 7
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 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 78 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 32 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 32; 2001: 8; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 22; 2005: 21; 2006: 1; 2007: 24; 2008: 15; 2009: 6; 2010: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010269 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
I OWN A 2000 AUDI S4 WITH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES: PIRELLI P6000, SIZE 225/45-17. AT 3,000 MILES, THE FIRST TWO TIRES DEVELOPED SEVERE BUBBLING IN THE SIDEWALLS AND BOTH TIRES WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BY THE AUDI DEALER BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES. BY 15,000 MILES 2 MORE TIRES HAD SEVERE BUBBLING IN THE SIDEWALLS AND I HAD A FLAT TIRE WHEN THE TIRE PULLED AWAY FROM THE RIMS. THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRE. I HAVE NOW REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES IN UNDER 15,000 MILES. ONE OF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025342 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
THUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION FOR LAST TWO YEARS WHEN I GET ON THE GAS OR ON THE BRAKES. TWO SEPARATE DEALERS TOOK THE CAR FOR A ROAD TEST AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND MORE NOTICEABLE. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS COULD BE LEADING UP TO A FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION OR STEERING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056399 · 2004-02-03 (February 3, 2004)
ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN 2000 AUDI S4 AFTER NUMEROUS FALSE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT INDICATIONS WERE INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYED WILL DRIVING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060607 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
ALL AUDI S4'S PRODUCED FROM MID 1999 TO 2002 SUFFER FROM AN INEFFECTIVE ALARM SYSTEM. THE MODEL YEARS ARE 2000, 2001, AND 2002. DUE THIS DEFECT THESE VEHICLES ARE BEING STOLEN AT AN ALARMING RATE OFF OF EVERY STREET CORNER IN THE NYC METRO AREA. THE AUDI S4 WAS A LIMITED PRODUCTION RUN VEHICLE. LESS THEN 15000 WERE IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES FOR SALE BY AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA. FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE NUMBER 25 OF THE TOP 25 CARS STOLEN IN NEW JERSEY SHOWS COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF AUDI. (NICB-- HTTP://WWW.NICB.ORG/PUBLIC/NEWSROOM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060607 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060609 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
THE AUDI S4 FROM 2000-2002 LACKS AN ALARM CAPABLE OF PREVENTING EASY THEFT. THERE IS NO IMMOBILIZER AND THE CARS ALARM CAN BE EASILY BYPASSED AND STARTED WITH A SIMPLE SCREWDRIVER. S4 THEFTS ARE HIGH, COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF THESE CARS ACTUALLY MADE THE THEFTS ARE GROSSLY UNPROPORTIONAL. PERSONALLY I HAVE HAD TO GET AN AFTERMARKET ALARM OUT OF THE FEAR THAT MY HIGH-PERFORMANCE AUTOMOBILE CAN BE STOLEN BY SOME KID WITH A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060611 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON MY 2000 AUDI S4 HAS NO ENGINE IMMOBILIZER, THEREFORE MAKING IT NOT NEARLY AS EFFECTIVE AS IT COULD BE. THERE ARE MANY MANY THEFTS (ESPECIALLY IN THE NY,NJ AREA) OF S4S, AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT A LOT OF THESE THEFTS WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF AUDI HAD MADE THE ALARM IN THE S4 WORTHWHILE (AFTER ALL, WE DID PAY FOR AN ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN THE CAR). I KNOW THAT I WOULD WORRY A LOT LESS ABOUT MY INVESTMENT IF I HAD A PROPER FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM IN THE CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060615 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
AUDI S4 AUTO ALARM/IMMOBILIZER CAN BE EASILY DEACTIVATED. DEACTIVATION THROUGH PUNCHING A SCREWDRIVER THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR KEY LOCK, WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE THE BOTH THE CAR'S ALARM AND ITS IMMOBILIZER. SO FAR, I PERSONALLY KNOW OF MORE THAN 30 VEHICLES BEING STOLEN WHILST USING THIS METHOD IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ALONE IN THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD TO TAKE ACTION THROUGH INSTALLING ADDITIONAL SECURITY MODIFICATIONS, RISKING NULLIFICATION OF THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY, IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND AVOID VEHICLE THEFT. *JB…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060626 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
I OWN A 2000 AUDI S4, AND I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE INADEQUACY OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://WWW.NICB.ORG/PUBLIC/NEWSROOM/WHEREISMYCAR/TOP25BYSTATE.CFM#NJ THE AUDI S4 IS #25 ON THE MOST-STOLEN-CAR LIST IN NJ, BASED ON QUANTITY ALONE. TO SHOW THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION, LET ME PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE: TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION QUANTITIES: AUDI S4: ~6000 TOYOTA CAMRY: ~300,000 HONDA ACCORD: ~250,000 FORD ESCORT: ~150,000 THERE ARE LESS THAN 4% THE NUMBER OF S4'S ON THE ROAD THAN CAMRYS, ACCORDS, AND…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060626 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V470000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2021-06-23 (June 23, 2021)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CJ.
NHTSA campaign record ↗