FaultScore

Worst years for a Audi S4

Owners have filed 721 complaints about the Audi S4 with NHTSA across model years 1992 to 2022. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

2001 Audi S4

92 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

1993 Audi S4

18 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Audi S4 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2022 1 0 0 Electrical System
2021 2 0 0 Electrical System
2020 A 34 0 0 Electrical System
2019 3 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2018 9 0 0 1,300 Engine & Cooling
2015 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2014 A 23 0 0 58,000 Steering
2013 B 34 0 0 5,100 Steering
2012 B 27 0 2 67,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2011 B 34 0 0 62,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2010 C 73 2 0 63,000 Transmission & Drivetrain
2008 4 0 0 Airbags
2007 C 21 3 4 73,428 Airbags
2006 B 37 0 0 47,697 Lights
2005 C 54 4 0 52,500 Lights
2004 B 37 0 2 54,500 Engine & Cooling
2003 1 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2002 B 31 0 0 26,361 Brakes
2001 D 92 5 0 59,500 Electrical System
2000 D 171 9 0 64,800 Electrical System
1995 1 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1994 8 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1993 A 18 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
1992 5 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion

What breaks on a Audi S4

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Electrical System 150 20.8%

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2010

Brakes 82 11.4%

Worst in 2000

Engine & Cooling 72 10.0%

Worst in 2004

Lights 66 9.2%

Worst in 2005

Tires 51 7.1%

Worst in 2000

Steering 37 5.1%

Worst in 2013

Airbags 33 4.6%

Worst in 2007

Worst in 1993

Other & Unspecified 18 2.5%

Worst in 2020

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 17 2.4%

Worst in 2020

Seats 11 1.5%

Worst in 2001

Acceleration & Cruise Control 10 1.4%

Worst in 1993

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 10 1.4%

Worst in 2004

Exactly what failed on a Audi S4

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Instrument Cluster/Panel 64 34.8%
Sidewall 20 10.9%
Control Module 16 8.7%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 16 8.7%
Control Unit/Module 15 8.2%
Delivery 14 7.6%
Engine 12 6.5%
Cooling System 10 5.4%
Control Unit/Module 9 4.9%
Warnings 8 4.3%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Audi S4, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Dec 1997 peak 23 Sep 2025

Audi S4 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Audi S4

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.