2011 Audi S4: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
61,897 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 26 complaints (84.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 84.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.8% |
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 | 22 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Power Train: 22; Engine: 5; Electrical System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Suspension: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2012: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10453165 · 2012-03-27 (March 27, 2012)
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 AUDI S4 SEDAN AND HAD A SUSPENSION AND/OR ALIGNMENT ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. I GOT THREE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS (INCLUDING THAT OF A CERTIFIED AUDI TECHNICIAN) AND ALL AGREED THIS WAS CAUSED BY AN ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION, CAUSING THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE TIRE TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND SPLIT OPEN. THIS INSTANCE IS ABNORMAL BECAUSE THE TREAD WAS WELL ABOVE THE TREADWEAR INDICATORS. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10481521 · 2012-10-23 (October 23, 2012)
THIS ISSUE CONCERNS MY AUDI 2011 S4, A CAR THAT I TOOK DELIVERY ON IN APRIL, 2011. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE THE DELIVERY, HOWEVER, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SPECIFIC FILING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. ON OCCASION, THE CAR WILL STRUGGLE AND "BUCK" IN LOW GEARS AT A VERY SLOW SPEED (OR FROMA COMPLETE STOP) UPON ACCELERATION. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE TAKING DELIVERY. I HAVE TRIED ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM WITH AUDI CORAL SPRINGS IN THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558946 · 2014-01-07 (January 7, 2014)
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP DO THE DASHBOARD SAYING "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION, REVERSE GEAR NOT AVAILABLE, YOU CAN STILL DRIVE". AT THE SAME TIME, THE TPMS WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON. THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE, AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD, AND THEN LOOSE SPEED AGAIN. THIS REPEATED A FEW TIMES, UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. AT THE INTERSECTION, I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10625884 · 2014-08-17 (August 17, 2014)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10625884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641193 · 2014-10-03 (October 3, 2014)
THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI 3.OT ENGINE'S PLASTIC THERMOSTAT FAILING! I WAS DRIVING AND THE THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TEMP TO SKYROCKET TO "H"! I DROVE HOME BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH WITH THE HEATER ON HIGH. THEY FLATBEDED MY CAR ON 9/29/14 FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A FAILED THERMOSTAT AND REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER "PLASTIC THEMOSTAT." THE SECOND THERMOSTAT FAILED 2 DAYS LATER. I JUST TOOK THE CAR TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP AGAIN THIS MORNING 10/3/14 TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN! THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10661438 · 2014-12-01 (December 1, 2014)
AUDI RECENTLY REPLACED MY 2ND THERMOSTAT (1ST WAS 11/2012 AND THE 2ND WAS 11/24/2014), NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND RETURNED MY CAR TO ME AFTER HOLDING ONTO MY CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE CHECKED OUT OKAY VIA A DIAGNOSTIC AND MECHANICS REVIEW. I DROVE MY S4 FOR TWO DAYS AND WHILE DRIVING, I RECEIVED AN INDICATOR WARNING THAT READ, GEARBOX MALFUNCTION REVERSE NOT AVAILABLE, YOU CAN STILL DRIVE. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY BUCK WHEN I ACCELERATED. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHICH WAS ALARMING T…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,366 miles reported. Look up ODI 10661438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10668609 · 2014-12-28 (December 28, 2014)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS CLUNK WHEN COMING TO A STOP FROM 3, 2, TO 1, AND SHIFTS NOISILY AND ABRUPTLY PARTICULARLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, OR IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES IE MIDDLE OF SUMMER ON A HOT DAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670345 · 2015-01-06 (January 6, 2015)
I WAS CRUISING AT APPROX. 55MPH ON MY WAY TO WORK. I HAD NO SYMPTOMS OF ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING AND DECELERATING AS IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I MADE AN EMERGENCY MERGE INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN AND WAS LUCKILY NOBODY REAR ENDED ME. AFTER INSPECTION OF MY TIRES WHICH WERE OK I GOT BACK IN CAR. D OR R WOULD NOT WORK. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,794 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670345 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.
15V019000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail
Reported: 2015-01-20 (January 20, 2015)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 24AP for Audi customers and 24BK for Volkswagen customers.
NHTSA campaign record ↗