What Audi S4 owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Audi S4 safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 525 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 779 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 837 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 856 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 956 |
| 2020 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 931 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 825 |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 787 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 286 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 513 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 683 |
| 2014 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 719 |
| 2013 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 873 |
| 2012 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 792 |
| 2011 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 774 |
| 2010 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 680 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Audi S4 complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Transmission fail while driving and stationary at traffic light. Main DTC: P179F00 - Drive sensor position: malfunction Additional DTC: P179E00 - Drive sensor position: electrical malfunction ABS: 00473 Parking brake: U111300 TCM: 01315 This situation occurred 3 times in the past 3 weeks while driving or being stationary at a traffic light. Event triggers loud warning sounds, red flashing lights/icons in dashboard, total loss of power while engine still running. At this time, this problem creates highly dangerous driving conditions with random total loss of power. The situation is temporarily remedied if engine is shut off and restarted.
The contact owns a 2021 Audi S4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Drive System Malfunction - Please Contact Service" was displayed. In addition, the vehicle hesitated to restart and shift into gear as intended. The contact stated that the failure had progressed over time. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing a pending software service update; however, the repairs would not be available until the end of 2025. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
My instrument cluster and its replacements have malfunctioned multiple times. The original instrument cluster/virtual cockpit failed to boot and had a black/blank screen on 4/19/2024 at 29,687 miles and was replaced on 5/15/2024 at 29,923 mi. That replacement one worked fine for a while and then did the same thing on 7/15/2024 at 33,655 miles and on 1/10/2025 at 42,532 miles. The instrument cluster was then replaced again on 2/10/2025 at 43,841 miles. That replacement unit took only a couple of days to act up again with the blank screen on startup on 2/13/2025 at 43,965 miles and once more on 8/1/2025 at 52,673 miles. I'm currently waiting to hear back from the dealer to get the instrument c…
The Audi MMI malfunctions and reboots randomly while driving. Possibly being a software issue. There is a TSB code that the dealer used to reference for me ( TSB 2078437/1), but I cannot find it on the NHTSA website. The reboot issue shuts off all functions associated with it, including, but not limited to: navigation, rearview camera, and parking sensor use. This poses a risk since it can be distracting to pull back your navigation while driving or having your rearview camera cutoff mid mid-use. The issue does not appear as a warning lamp or any type of notification, and there are multiple reports of similar issues on online forums that have not been addressed.
The MMI reboots continuously throughout my drive - whether it is 1 minute or an hour. It does this without a Bluetooth connection or wired connection. There is no ability to use hands free calling, listen to the radio, use Apple car play, Bluetooth, navigation, back up camera, parking assistance⦠It is startling to have your camera black out on your as your backing up (may back up camera works for about 45 seconds before stopping) I have done a hard reset. This is a problem that I am reading over and over and over again on forums I live nearly 2 hours from a dealer who takes weeks to get into and looking at a huge bill Hoping there is a fix soon
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a persistent and dangerous issue with the MMI (Multi Media Interface) system in my 2020 Audi S4. Since February 2025, the system has been spontaneously rebooting both while the vehicle is idling and in motion. When this occurs, the screen goes black and critical safety systems such as the rearview camera, parking sensors, and navigation become unavailable. The system requires driver interaction to restore functionality once it restarts, creating a major distraction. These reboots now occur every few minutes, severely affecting both usability and safe operation of the vehicle. Initially, this issue happened infrequently (about once every two week…
The vehicle software (known as Audi MMI) has been continuously rebooting every 30 seconds after the vehicle is started. This causes the entire dashboard (and entertainment screen) to repeatedly reboot which is very distracting while driving. While backing out of a parking spot, the MMI system rebooted which then disconnected my backup camera, blind spot warning, and rear collision warning systems which resulted in me almost hitting a car crossing behind me. There are zero messages anywhere in the car that an issue is present.
The main infotainment system is stuck restarting every 1-2 minutes. When the car is put into reverse, the rear back up camera will turn off while the vehicle is in motion and not resume.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This bulletin provides general information about the current tpp issues for Audi connect.
This bulletin provides information when the horn sound quality is poor.
This bulletin provides informaitn when there is a warning messsage; "Instrument cluster: fault. Limited warning messages. Please contact workshop"; DTC B200096.
A particularly noticeable factor is the vibration of the air column in a tire. When a tire starts to vibrate because of the road contact, this can lead to cavity resonances inside the tire that are transmitted via the wheel rim and the running gear to the vehicle interior. Because of the vehicle design and due to the specific properties of different wheel and tire combinations, a whining noise can occur at high speeds. This is a result of toroidal resonance whose frequency is noticeable between 180 - 250 Hz irrespective of the vehicle speed.
This bulletin provides information when there are cracks on the friction ring surface on ceramic brake discs.
This bulletin provides information when there is a wheel/tire imbalance.
This bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
This bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
This TSB describes a corrosion issue due to outside influence and the prohibition of warranty in these cases.
This bulletin provides information when there is corrosion on the friction survace of steel brake discs.
This bulletin provides information when there is an issue with wireless charging/wireless charging is not working.
This bulletin provides service infomraiton regardin gthe identifaction of noises with dynamic steering.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: power train, electrical system, steering. 187 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
