Audi S4 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Audi S4 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2003 drew the fewest (1) and the 2000 the most (143).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Power train | — | — |
| 2015 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Engine | 5★ | 20–21 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 24 |
| 2019 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 1 | Engine | — | 24 |
| 2021 | 2 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 23 |
| 2008 | 4 | 2 | Air bags | — | 15–16 |
| 2018 | 7 | 2 | Engine | — | 24 |
| 2007 | 13 | 2 | Air bags | — | 15–16 |
| 2020 | 16 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 23 |
| 2014 | 17 | 1 | Steering | 5★ | 20–21 |
| 2002 | 22 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 18 |
| 2012 | 22 | 1 | Power train | 4★ | 21 |
| 2011 | 26 | 1 | Power train | 4★ | 21 |
| 2004 | 29 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 16–18 |
| 2006 | 30 | 2 | Exterior lighting | — | 16 |
| 2013 | 33 | 1 | Steering | 5★ | 20–21 |
| 2005 | 43 | 2 | Exterior lighting | — | 16 |
| 2010 Among the most complaints |
60 | 0 | Power train | — | 21 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
87 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 18 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
143 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 18 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Audi S4 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2000 Audi S4: 143 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 49 (34%); Service brakes 40 (28%); Tires 37 (26%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 66,250 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2001 Audi S4: 87 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 47 (54%); Engine and engine cooling 11 (13%); Tires 10 (11%).
Reports mention 4 crashes. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2010 Audi S4: 60 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 42 (70%); Engine and engine cooling 11 (18%); Electrical system 6 (10%).
Reports mention 2 crashes. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 59,900 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Audi S4 years with the fewest complaints
2019 Audi S4: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 1 (50%); Lane departure 1 (50%); Service brakes 1 (50%).
1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Audi S4 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42,430 |
| 2013 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,100 |
| 2012 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 70,000 |
| 2011 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62,000 |
| 2010 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59,900 |
| 2008 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49,650 |
| 2005 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 57,000 |
| 2004 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 55,000 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36,254 |
| 2001 | 87 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2000 | 143 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 66,250 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Audi S4 recalls
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2005–2009 model years; 237,947 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2018; 18V427000)
- Disabled Passenger Air Bag (2018–2020 model years; 208,332 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2021; 21V874000)
- Rearview Display Inoperative/FMVSS 111 (2021 model year; 170,296 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2022; 22V742000)
- Passenger Air Bag May Switch Off/FMVSS 208 (2018 model year; 145,337 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2019; 19V547000)
- Front Air Bags may not Deploy on Secondary Impact (2013–2015 model years; 101,938 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2014; 14V667000)
All 16 Audi S4 recall campaigns · Audi S4 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Audi S4 years FAQ
Which Audi S4 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2003 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Audi S4 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2000, 2001 and 2010 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Audi S4 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (149 of 559 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Audi S4 have?
NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns covering the Audi S4. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Audi S4 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.