2005 Audi S4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (26) · Exterior Lighting:headlights (5) · Visibility/Wiper (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Audi S4 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
34 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-06-22 · campaign 18V427000 · 237,947 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployme
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R7. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V382, 17V032 and 18V004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-01-11 · campaign 17V032000 · 33,421 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswag
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by recall number 18V427.
Service bulletins (213)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-10-04 · A0023742052680_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-28 · DC_AudiRingsV12 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
inside the rings | volume 12, spring 2023
Air Bags 2023-03-13 · TRMDMV_MA_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the massachusetts dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,907 audi owners in the state of massachusetts on march 13, 2023.
Air Bags 2023-03-13 · TRMDMV_NM_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the new mexico dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 389 audi owners in the state of new mexico on march 13, 2023.
Air Bags 2023-02-13 · TRMDMV_CO_Audi · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
in conjunction with the colorado dmv, audi will be sending takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,174 audi owners in the state of colorado on february 13, 2023.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-02-10 · DC_Rings_VOL10 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
takata recall and 3g turndown
Showing the 6 most recent of 213 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-04-26 · Exterior Lighting:headlights“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2005 audi s4. the contact stated that the exterior headlamps failed to illuminate without warning. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v382000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time…”
2018-04-18 · Air Bags“takata recall. i received two letters from audi in march 2017 and recently a third letter in march 2018 informing me of the passenger frontal airbag inflator problem. the most recent letter states that it is dangerous to drive and the airbag could explode causing serious injury or death. i called audi service in april 2017 and again in april 2018 a…”
2017-11-10 · Exterior Lighting · 90,256 mi“takata recall 1. the left headlight flickers. 2. it then turns itself off 3. the message "left dipped headlight" appears 4. this happens while my vehicle is parked and in motion so it is a very serious safety risk. i have had both headlights go out at night while driving with my 2 year old in the car!…”
2017-11-09 · Engine“the complaint is about the motors losing oil every 1000 miles a 1qt is need each time. the engine is caused and burns oil fast to the motor to lose oil more rapidly. needs to be replaced. my motor is losing oil! and so do other models havening this problems isnt good. …”
2017-09-14 · Steering · 95,000 mi“i was on my way to substitute teach at an elementary school in santa cruz, ca and so was in the middle of a lot of early traffic at a left turn signal when i heard a very strange rumble. i thought it was another car as my car had just been in for a 95,000 mile service a few weeks earlier. however, part way through the turn i was almost unable to st…”
2016-04-25 · Exterior Lighting · 75,000 mi“my driver's side headlight frequently goes out with the message, "left dipped headlight." if i turn the lights off and back on sometimes the light comes back on, sometimes not.…”
2015-11-23 · Seats · 111,300 mi“heated seat element burned or melted the seat while the car was off overnight. passenger seat leather is now separated, shriveled (hard as a rock) and would have burned the passenger if they had been in the seat.…”
2015-02-16 · Visibility/Wiper · 95,000 mi“driver headlight dipped info on dash. headlight turns off or flickers till it turns off and must turn all lights off on the car while driving and reset lights to activate headlight back on. sometimes this does not work and forced to drive with one headlight with is extremely dangerous condition, police have citied me twice for faulty headlight equi…”
2014-06-21 · Exterior Lighting · 65,000 mi“as i was driving on the freeway my headlight went out with and the message, "right dipped headlight" came on. when this happen i stopped to fill up with gas and when i started the car the message was gone and the headlight was back on. this has happened a several more times since then. *tr…”
2014-05-21 · Exterior Lighting · 67,000 mi“bought this car from dealer, used, low mileage, great car. headlights were filled with condensation. dealer said to dry them out and re-seal them. that didn't work. there is still water in both headlights. it hasn't rained and has not been humid outside. pulled over the first night and told they were a safety concern and needed to get them fixed, l…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.