2010 Audi S4: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
60 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
58,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 42 of 60 complaints (70.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 33 | 55.0% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 42 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Power Train: 42; Electrical System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine: 4; Exterior Lighting: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2010: 8; 2011: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 7; 2015: 8; 2016: 12; 2017: 7; 2018: 2; 2019: 7; 2020: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 33 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 10352596 · 2010-08-29 (August 29, 2010)
I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE WATERPUMP USED IN THE 2010 AUDI S4 3.0T. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A WATERPUMP FAILURE WHICH RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING AND PARTIAL OR FULL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURE HAVE HAD THEIR 'BLACK PLASTIC' WATERPUMPS REPLACED WITH A REVISED 'ALUMINUM WATERPUMP'. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS ENTHUSIAST FORUMS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL. IT IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352656 · 2010-08-30 (August 30, 2010)
THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE TO MANY 2010 AUDI S4 OWNERS. MANY OF THEM REPORTED A WATERPUMP FAILURE BASICALLY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, I.E., HIGHWAY DRIVING, CORNERING, AND LOW SPEED DRIVING. 2010 AUDI S4 PRODUCED IN 2009 CLEARLY HAVE A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP, WHICH TEND TO MOSTLY FAIL PRIOR TO 10K MILES ON THE CAR. MANY S4 OWNERS AND FORUM MEMBERS REPORTED MANY KINDS OF HAZARD THAT THIS FAILURE CAN BRING, INCLUDING COOLANT SPILLING THAT CAN POTENTIALLY HARM THE SURROUNDING MOTORISTS (SLIPPERY SURFACE CAUSED BY OILY COOLANT) AND THE LOSS OF POWER …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10352656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358825 · 2010-10-02 (October 2, 2010)
2010 AUDI S4 WATER PUMP FAILURE -- THIS COMPLAINT IS IDENTICAL TO THE PREVIOUS TWO COMPLAINTS SURROUNDING THIS MODEL'S WATER PUMP FAILURE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A NEAR FULL LOSS OF STEERING DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME. IN MY CASE THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED, HOWEVER LIKE OTHERS WHO HAVE DETAILED THEIR EXPERIENCES, AUDI HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL, NOR IS THE REPAIR SATISFACTORY AS THE DISTINCT ODOR OF G-12 (G-30 IN EUROPE) IS PRESENT. THOUGH THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FIRST, IT IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10362075 · 2010-10-23 (October 23, 2010)
2010 AUDI S4 WATER PUMP FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363621 · 2010-11-01 (November 1, 2010)
MY CAR LEAKED A LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT NOTICED AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT TO DEALER WHERE THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PLASTIC SEAL ON THE PUMP HAS FAILED WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS AND WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW METAL SEAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365874 · 2010-11-15 (November 15, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM NEWARK AIRPORT ON NJ TURNPIKE AT 1 A.M., THE WATER PUMP FAILED ON MY 2010 AUDI S4. THE COOLANT WARNING INDICATED A PROBLEM. I MADE IT TO A SERVICE AREA WITHIN A FEW MILES. I DID NOT WANT TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND COOLANT SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE ENGINE WITH STEAM RISING UP. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER IN EDISON, NJ. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BY A REDESIGNED UNIT. AUDI HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THIS DEALER HAD OVER 100 VEHICLES RECENTLY T…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,806 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369263 · 2010-12-05 (December 5, 2010)
2010 AUDI S4 WITH V-6 3.0T ENGINE. RETURNING HOME AFTER A 7 MINUTE DRIVE, I WAS 300 FT. FROM MY HOUSE WHEN I RECEIVED AN ENGINE MESSAGE COOLANT LOW, TURN OFF ENGINE AND CHECK COOLANT. I STOPPED IN DRIVEWAY TO FIND MY WATER PUMP HAD BURST, AS WITH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HERE. I KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AS MORE THAN 50 OTHER AUDI S4 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AND IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON AUDI OWNER'S FORUMS. MY CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE, AND WILL BE TOWED TO DEALER TOMORROW UNDER WARRANTY. AUDI OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A CAMPAIGN TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369955 · 2010-12-11 (December 11, 2010)
ON DEC 8, MY AUDI S4, MODEL YEAR 2010, BUILT END 2009, 11,000 MILES, STRANDED WITH A LEAKING COOLANT SYSTEM "OUT OF THE BLUE", DURING MODERATE HIGHWAY DRIVING. WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED TO TURN OFF ENGINE AND CHECK COOLANT. NOT NECESSARILY SAFE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON A 8 LANE HIGHWAY. AUDI SERVICE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED A DEFECT WATER PUMP WITH AN "UPDATED MODEL" (METAL BODY, REPLACING THE "PLASTIC BODY MODEL"), AND REFERS TO THIS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN TO AUDI FOR THE LATE-2009 BUILT 2010 S4S, BUT ALSO FOR Q5 AND A6…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369955 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.