2010 Audi S4 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (41) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System (6) · Engine And Engine Cooling (4)
🧭 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
54 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (681)
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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2913-04-01 · 35 13 09 2028085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
speed s-tronic, leaks from transmission
Service Brakes 2026-08-21 · TSB_2069078_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information on the zirconium insercts in the brake piston (ceramic brakes only).
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-11 · TSB_2079732_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when there is a paint issue on alloy wheels.
Service Brakes 2026-08-11 · TSB_2072304_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when there is an abs/esc speed sensor implausible signal.
Structure:body 2026-07-09 · TSB_2073282_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.
Power Train 2026-06-22 · TSB_2041242_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information when, after replacing the mechatronic unit/gearbox, the engine only starts when the button has been pressed twice.
Showing the 6 most recent of 681 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2020-04-04 · Power Train“once car is put into reverse it launches back ? also in first one put in cost it wants to move practically forward .…”
2020-04-03 · Power Train · 102,998 mi“car slammed into different gear, wasn't able to shift into 2nd and threw gearbox malfunction and tpms errors. thankfully i was near home and able to make it there without an accident or being stranded, but my car is now immobile. i spoke with audi and they said it will likely be a $4k repair (mechatronics unit). after researching this more, it s…”
2019-10-23 · Power Train · 99,000 mi“my car flashed gearbox malfunction while driving down interstate i-264 in louisville ky. car seamed fine for about 2 miles and then suddenly went limp and i had no gears. had to hit flashers and coast into median. was almost hit by semi truck. repair shop could not find anything wrong. happened again 1 day after getting it back from shop. t…”
2019-07-16 · Power Train · 72,000 mi“the whole car jerked when going to 2nd gear and then thetpms, no reverse, and gear malfunction lights comes on. 2nd, 4th, 6th, and reverse gear are gone. restarting the car cleared the warning and drove fine for 10 miles before it happens again. try restarting again to clear the warning but light will come back on when going to 2nd or reverse.…”
2019-07-04 · Power Train · 56,000 mi“gearbox failure seems to be common issue on the 2010 model. seems a replacement mechatronics unit or full transmission will need to be done to resolve the issue.…”
2019-05-30 · Power Train · 67,455 mi“it happened again today driving down the highway going up to speed, at about 50 mph i got a "gearbox malfunction" error message in the cluster and it would not let me accelerate anymore, it was like the car was in neutral and pressing the accelerator pedal would just rev up the engine. the mechatronics unit on these vehicles are faulty, i know 2 ot…”
2019-05-29 · Power Train · 67,320 mi“vehicle was in motion, the mechatronics unit on my car is failing and just many many other vehicles of the same make, model, and year. the vehicle can stop engaging gears at any speed and can be very dangerous at any speed, especially on the highway…”
2019-02-15 · Power Train · 109,000 mi“transmission failure. lurching from a stop and lurching during shift changes.…”
2018-09-11 · Power Train · 125,000 mi“vehicle was at a stop at a traffic light with brake engaged and vehicle suddenly engaged into gear and tried to surge forward. had to put the transmission into neutral to disengage gear. in other instances, vehicle will slam into gear abruptly when accelerating from a full stop, and also lunges forward unpredictably. these incidents are all relate…”
2018-08-09 · Vehicle Speed Control · 101,500 mi“gearbox malfunction and tpms malfunction while driving on the road within the city about 45mph i felt a slight jerk and immediately following the warnings came on in the dashboard "tire pressure! system malfunction" & "gearbox malfunction: no reverse gear (you can continue driving)" throttle response was off and forced me to immediately puller o…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.