2004 Audi S4: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 29 complaints (27.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 31.0% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 17.2% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Visibility | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2; Visibility: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2007: 3; 2009: 14; 2010: 3; 2012: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10178832 · 2007-01-16 (January 16, 2007)
POWER COUPLING ON POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING AS I WAS DRIVING....DEALER LATER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT THAT HAD BEEN CORRECTED BUT I DID NOT SEE A RECALL POSTED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199548 · 2007-08-14 (August 14, 2007)
I HAVE AN AUDI S4 CONVERTIBLE THAT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE AND THE REPAIRS DO NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING HOLD WHEN THEY DO THEM. SO FAR THERE FORTUNATELY HAS NOT BEEN A NEED TO USE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, HOWEVER ITS UNAVAILABILITY IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212985 · 2007-12-27 (December 27, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI S4. WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND THE CONTACT TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. UPDATED 01/24/08. *LJ THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF. THE COOLING FAN WOULD STAY ON AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED A FAULTY FAN MODULE. UPDATED
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212985 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 10261380 · 2009-03-09 (March 9, 2009)
I HAVE A 2004 AUDI S4 THAT IS SLIPPING OUT OF SECOND GEAR... IT IS A KNOWN SECOND GEAR SYNCHRO PROBLEM THAT AUDI IS IGNORING. I HAVE CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA, AND THEY ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE BUT STILL OFFER NO HELP. THE ISSUE STARTED AT 55,000 MILES WHICH IS 5K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261478 · 2009-03-10 (March 10, 2009)
2004 AUDI S4, BUILD DATE 09/03 : 1. 24 AUG 06- 16,500 MILES- A/C STOPPED WORKING- REPLACED ENTIRE A/C SYSTEM (COMPRESSOR, HOSES, PIPES, DRIER, RESTRICTOR) UNDER WARRANTY. 2. 10 APR 07- 23,253 MILES- CAR WON?T START- STARTER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. PEALING SHIFT KNOB (CHROME SURROUND WAS PEALING AND THE EDGES WERE LIKE A RAZOR BLADE), REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CENTER CONSOLE LATCH BROKEN- REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. 3. 22 FEB 08- 31,992 MILES- ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY VALVE SEAT. SEAT BROKE ALLOWING VALVE TO BE SUCKED INTO CYLINDER AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 31,992 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261864 · 2009-03-15 (March 15, 2009)
I DRIVE A 2004 AUDI S4. MY CAR SUFFERED A MAJOR FAILURE. THE MOTOR FAILED DUE TO A DESIGN BY AUDI AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE CAR FAILED DUE TO THESE PLASTIC GUIDES THAT AUDI USES AS TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. THE GUIDES ARE NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE SERVICED ALTHOUGH WHEN THEY FAIL YOU HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO GET THEM REPLACED BECAUSE THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE PULLED TO REPLACE THEM. THEY ARE ON THE BACK OF THE MOTOR SO THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER OR THE GUIDES FAIL IT CAN AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261864 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V096000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2005-03-15 (March 15, 2005)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT A DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT XENON HEADLAMP REFLECTORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.
NHTSA campaign record ↗