Audi S4 Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Audi S4? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Audi S4 — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Best | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2025 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2024 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2023 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2022 | Excellent | — | 1 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2021 | Good | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2020 | Good | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2019 | Excellent | — | 3 | — | — | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2018 | Good | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2017 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2016 | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2015 | Excellent | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2014 | Good | 1 | 14 | — | — | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Full report → |
| 2013 | Good | 1 | 14 | — | — | — | Steering | Full report → |
| 2012 | Good | 1 | 11 | — | — | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2011 | Good | 1 | 21 | — | 1 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2010 | Caution | — | 30 | — | — | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2009 | Excellent | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2008 | Excellent | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2007 | Caution | 2 | 10 | 3 | 6 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 2006 | Good | 2 | 15 | — | — | — | Exterior Lighting | Full report → |
| 2005 | Caution | 2 | 31 | 1 | 1 | — | Exterior Lighting | Full report → |
| 2004 | Good | 1 | 22 | — | — | — | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 2003 | Excellent | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2002 | Excellent | — | 5 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2001 | Caution | — | 47 | 1 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2000Worst | Avoid | — | 77 | — | 1 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
27 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Audi S4 Problems
Based on 317 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Recent Safety Recalls — Audi S4 (2022–2026)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2021-2022 AUDI A8, A6 Allroad, E-TRON Quattro, 2022 S3, RSQ8, RS7, RS6 Avant, Q8, Q7, Q3, E-TRON Sportback Quattro, S5 Cabriolet, E-TRON GT, S5 Sportback, A7, A6, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A4, A4 Allroad, A3, S8, SQ7, SQ8, S6, and S4 vehicles. The infotainment main unit may become damaged internally when the vehicle is shut off, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera display the next time the vehicle is started. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the infotainment main unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 91Ei.
Showing 1 recall from 2022–2026 model years. See the full year-specific pages for older recalls.
S4 Years to Avoid
Best S4 Years to Buy
Audi S4 Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Audi S4 Reliability
What year S4 has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2000 Audi S4 had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 77 complaints and 0 safety recalls. See the full 2000 report for specific defects.
Is the Audi S4 reliable?
The Audi S4 has accumulated 317 owner-filed complaints and 22 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2026 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used S4.
What are the most common S4 problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Electrical System (70 reports), Power Train (47 reports), Exterior Lighting (32 reports), Tires (26 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my S4 has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Audi S4 VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Audi S4 VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily