82 of the
721 complaints filed about the Audi S4
are about the braking system —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AUDI PRE-SENSE MESSAGE WAS ALSO DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLETCHER JONES AUDI (1523 W. NORTH AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60642, (312) 628-4300) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,800.
NHTSA complaint #11415106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE'S PRE SENSE AUTO-BRAKING AND BRAKING ALERT JOLT HAS BEEN ACTIVATING ERRONEOUSLY AND HAVE ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS AT SPEED. THE SYSTEM CANNOT BE PERMANENTLY DISABLED, IT DEACTIVATES UPON IGNITION RESTART. THE SYSTEM HAS ERRONEOUSLY AND AGGRESSIVELY JOLTED THE BREAKS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ON CURVES, ESPECIALLY WHEN CRESTING A HILL WITH VEHICLES PARKED ON THE DOWNWARD SLOAP. CLEARLY, IT IS MISTAKEN THE PARKED VEHICLES FOR A POTENTIAL IMPACT, EITHER AGGRESSIVELY JOLTING THE BREAKERS AND/OR BREAKING. THIS IS NOT ONLY VERY FRIGHTENING BUT ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE, WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS FEATURE ALSO ACTIVATED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65+ MPH WHILE SAFELY CHANGING LANES, AND ALMOST LED TO MY VEHICLE BEING REAR-ENDED. THERE SHOULD BE A WAY FOR A DRIVER TO PERMANENTLY DISABLE OR CUSTOMIZE THIS FEATURE TO BETTER ADAPT TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND/OR UNIQUE DRIVER CONDITIONS. AS IS, THIS FEATURE HAS BEEN DANGEROUS!
NHTSA complaint #11084045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUDI S4 2010, ELECTRONIC PARKING BREAK RANDOMLY DISENGAGED WHILE PARKED IN A SLOPED PARKING LOT. CAR ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING 1800 DOLLARS OF DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10894981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FOLLOW UP ON AUDI S4 2010: ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED WHILE PARKED IN SLOPED PARKING LOT. CAR ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE CAUSING 1800 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. CALLED THE AUDI DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY CLAIM "THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT. " I DID SOME RESEARCH AND APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY APPROXIMATELY 6 OTHER PEOPLE ON AUDI FORUMS SUCH AS AUDIFORUM.COM
NHTSA complaint #10894986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM A MECHNIC WITH 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND I JUST STARTED THIS NEW JOB TWO WEEKS AGO. THEIR JUST THREE MECHNICS IN THE SHOP. WE HAD A 2012 AUDI S4 COME INTO THE SHOP WITH THE OWNER COMPLAINING OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE OWNER OF THE CAR SAID THE SOMTIMES ALL THE SUDDEN HIS BRAKES WOULD GO OUT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AND HIS BRAKE PEDEL FELT SOFT. I TOOK ON THE WORK. MY SHOP FOREMAN TOLD ME TO BLEED THE BRAKES OUT. SO I DID. I NOTICED THT THE BRAKE RESIVIOR HAD A THICK GREEN SUBTANCE IN IT. I KNEW FROM MY EXPERIENCE THAT THEIR WAS A LOT OF WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINATION IN THE SYSTEM. I IMEADITLY INFORMD MY FOREMAN THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND CLEANED. MY FOREMAN TOLD ME THT THE CAR WAS DONE AND TO MOVE ON. I IMEADITLY EXPRESSED MY CONCERN AND GAVE MY PROFESSIONAL ADVICE THAT THAT CAR WAS NOT TO BE DRIVING UNTIL IT WAS FIXD. THE BRAKES COULD FAIL ANYTIME AND SOMONE COULD BE KILLED. HRS LATER I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND SEEN THE CARS OWNER AND HIS KIDS GET INTO THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF. I AGAIN EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO THE FOREMAN. HE HAD TOLD THE CUSTOMER THT IT WAS FIXED. MY FORMAN JUST LET THIS COSTMER LEAVE OUT IN A CAR WITH HIS KIDS THE WAS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. THE CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. MY FOREMAN JUST DIDNT CARE. NEXT DAY THE CAR CAME BACK WITH THE COSTOMER COMPLAING THE HIS BRAKES FAILD ON HIM AND THAT THEY WHERE NOT FIXED. IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN KILLED THAN IT WOULD BE MY FOREMANS FALT FOR NEGLANCE. I THINK HE SHOULD GOTO JAIL FOR THIS. IT IS MORALY WRONG AND DANGEROUS. WHT IS IT GONNA TAKE FOR THEASE TYPE OF ACTIONS FROM HIM TO STOP. HOPFULLY NOT FOR SOMONEMTO DIE FIRST.
NHTSA complaint #10852354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKES LIGHT CAME ON AND PADS ARE WORN AND ROTORS ARE WARPED AT ONLY 16,000 MILES. HAD THE AUDI DEALER IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA REPLACES BOTH PADS AND ROTORS. SEVEN MONTHS AND 8,000 MILES LATER, WHILE DOING THE MAINTENANCE OIL CHANGE, A DIFFERENT AUDI DEALER IN WOODLAND HILLS, CA NOTIFIED THAT BRAKE PADS ARE WORN AT 4MM AND ROTORS ARE WARPED. THIS WEAR OUT PATTERN IS BEYOND THE MINIMUM EXPECTATION OF THE LIFE OF THE BRAKES UNDER AVERAGE DRIVING CONDITION. BRAKES PADS ARE WORN TOO SOON, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE ROTORS ARE ALSO WARPED AND NEEDED REPLACING TOO FREQUENT. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION, 60% FREEWAY AND 40% SURFACE STREET, I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKES WORN OUT THIS QUICKLY IN ALL OF MY PREVIOUS 5 CARS. AUDI DEALER AUTOMATICALLY BLAME MY DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SAID THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. I FEEL THEY SOLD ME A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND THIS CAR IS A LEMON, BUT AUDI REFUSE TO TAKE IT BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10747592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO CONFIRMED THERE WAS A PUNCTURED HOSE CAUSING THE STEERING TO FAIL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THAT HE HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AFTER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER STATED THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #10451955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMMUNICATION FAILURE FROM THE ABS MODULE, IT CAUSES THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY LIT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ABS DOES NOT WORK ON THE CAR, IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE UNITS BUT AUDI HASN'T DONE A RECALL. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TO REPLACE THIS UNIT OUT OF POCKET SINCE I'VE OWNED MY 2000 AUDI S4.
NHTSA complaint #10350707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS SENSOR FAILURE ON 2000 AUDI S4 QUATTRO. LIGHT CAME ON AT 114,213. LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FLASH ALONG SIDE OF IT AND BEEP EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT COST 1,700. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ON VW'S AS WELL AS THE AUDI IN YEARS FROM 1996-2001.
NHTSA complaint #10320252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS BRAKE MODULE HAS FAILED ON MY 2000 AUDI S4. DASH INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING ON 10/9. ON 10/10 DEALER CHECKED COMPUTER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT MODULE HAD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10288609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ON HIGHWAY 93 NORTH GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN I SUDDENLY I HAD TO BRAKE HARD AND AS SOON I HIT THE BRAKES MY REAR BRAKES LOCKED IN AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I HAD TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AND CHANGE THE LANE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME I WENT HOME DID SOME RESEARCH ON-LINE AND I FOUND OUT FROM ON-LINE FORUMS AND OTHER WEBSITES THAT EVERYBODY WHO OWNS AUDI S4 2000 HAVE SAME PROBLEM THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE NOT JUST A RECALL BUT AUDI SHOULD BEE SUED FOR MAKING A CAR THAT WOULD AND WILL KILL PEOPLE.
NHTSA complaint #10243101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
MY 2007 AUDI RS-4 QUATTRO SEDAN HAD A BRAKE MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT THAT CAUSED THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK EVEN WHILE THE ESP SYSTEM WAS ACTIVE AND ABS WAS IN PROPER WORKING ORDER AND THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED NO WARNINGS ON THE INFO DISPLAY. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL WHILE WE WERE DOING 40MPH BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T TURN IN THE CURVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WE WERE DESCENDING, A FEW TIMES THAT DAY THE CAR HAD A VIBRATION GO THROUGH IT ALMOST AS THOUGH A TIRE WAS BAD OR A BRAKE WAS DRAGGING, WITH A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL TO ACCOMPANY IT. BUT STILL NO LIGHTS OR WARNING DISPLAYS CAME ON, ON OUR WAY TO DINNER MY FRIEND AND I WERE DESCENDING THE HILL NEAR TO THE RESTAURANT WE WERE GONG TO AND THE BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO GRAB AT FIRST THEN SEEM TO HAVE LOCKED UP.. WE CRASHED DOING A FULL 40MPH. THE ANGLE WE HIT THE RAIL AT AND THE ANGLE OF THE RAIL ITSELF DEFLECTED US SLIGHTLY CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF THE CAR TO ALSO HIT IT. THEN AS THE REAR HIT THE RAIL IT BOUNCED THE REAR OUT TO THE LEFT CAUSING US TO HIT THE RAIL WITH THE RIGHT FRONT AGAIN THEN DEFLECTED US OFF OF THE SMALL CLIFF ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHERE THE CAR WAS LAYING ON ITS DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE DITCH AND HAD RUN DOWN 3 SMALLER TREES, ALL THIS ENERGY AND DAMAGE, YET NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED NOT EVEN THE HEAD CURTAINS, AS A RESULT I SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES A FRACTURED T3 VERTEBRAE ALOT OF MUSCLE STRAINS AND A SPRAIN PLUS NERVE DAMAGE THAT DISABLED ME FROM FEELING MY LOWER EXTREMITIES AND FEET FOR A FEW DAYS, MY FRIEND WHOM WAS DRIVING SUFFERED A CONTUSION ON HIS BRAIN THAT BLED FOR A WHILE AND COULD HAVE CAUSED HIM TO BECOME PARAPLEGIC. HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE B-PILLAR AND STEERING WHEEL, EVEN THOUGH WE BOTH WORE OUR SEAT BELTS, WHICH MY BELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF AS IT WOULDN'T UNLATCH. I HAVE LOOKED ON A FEW AUDI FORUMS AND HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RS4 OWNERS. I HOPE THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED, THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10220525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DRIVING ON THE ON-RAMP, ABOUT 40 MPH. I WAS CUT OFF FAIRLY AGGRESSIVELY AND HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD. MY BRAKE LIGHT LIT-UP AND BEEPED A FEW TIMES. MY CAR THEN BEGAN TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE FREEWAY (I-40, A MAJOR TRUCKING ARTERY). LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYONE AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPIN. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT MY ABS CONTROL UNIT (WHAT A SURPRISE) FAILED, OF COURSE AT THE MOST CRITICAL TIME OF NEED FOR IT. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE WAS $800. AUDI , IN SPITE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART ON THIS CAR, WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECALLING OR REIMBURSING.
NHTSA complaint #10217806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2000 AUDI S4 WITH UNREADABLE GAUGE AND WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND THEY ARE NOT READABLE AT ALL. HIS BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS UNREADABLE. *KB WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD BEEP FOLLOWED BY A CONSTANT FLASHING OF A BLURRY DISPLAY WHICH THE CONSUMER COULD NOT READ. THE CONSUMER LATER DISCOVERED THE FLASHING LIGHT WAS SUPPOSE TO SHOW THE BRAKE LEVEL SIGNAL/PAD SIGNAL LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS PUMP HAD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10206108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE FAILS CAUSING VAC HOSE FEEDING TO BOOSTER UNIT TO BECOME TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM VALVE. RESULT IS NO BRAKE ASSIST. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN MY 2001 AUDI S4!!!! AT HIGHWAY SPEED!
NHTSA complaint #10199724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN AUGUST 2006 WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 AUDI S4 CONVERTIBLE ON A BUSY STREET IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA AT 45-50 MPH, MY CAR DIED WITHOUT WARNING...I.E. NO POWER STEERING, BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE IT OFF-ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO ROYAL AUDI IN BLOOMINGTON, IN. THEY KEPT THE CAR OVER A MONTH THINKING MAYBE I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. HOWEVER, EVENTUALLY THEY SAID IT WAS A FUSE WHICH WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR DROVE FINE. HOWEVER, DRIVING CROSS-COUNTRY IN JANUARY 2007 WHILE ON I40 IN WEST OKLAHOMA, TRYING TO PASS AN ENORMOUS TRUCK, I FOUND I HAD NO BRAKES AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER SIMILAR LARGE TRUCK ,TOTALING MY CAR. DESPITE A SEVERE ACCIDENT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EITHER ON THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGER'S SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10191844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
I WAS GOING DOWN THE STREET AND MY ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEEPED 3 TIMES. I GOT OVER AS SOON AS I COULD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO GO TO AUDI. I WENT UP THERE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT CODE BEFORE SO THEY JUST ERASED THE CODE. I LEFT AND WAS GOING ABOUT 10MPH AND LIGHTLY PUT MY BRAKES ON AND MY FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP, I CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. I IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK TO AUDI AND THEY SAID THAT MY ABS MODULE IS NOT WORKING. IMAGINE IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP. THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE RECALLED. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY PRODUCT CAN YOU REPLACE THE PART. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I GO TO AUDI JUST FOR AN OIL CHANGE THAT I NEVER LEAVE WITHOUT SPENDING MORE MONEY, BECAUSE THEY FIND THINGS THAT ARE WRONG. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER AUDI OWNERS AND THEY SAY THAT THEY PROBABLY SABOTAGE OUR CARS JUST SO THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY. AS I JUST WENT IN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND THEY SAID THAT MY SECONDARY WATER PUMP WAS NOT WORKING. THERE WAS NO CEL (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD COME ON IF THAT FAILED. I HOPE THAT THIS ABS CONTROL MODULE DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THIS NON WORKING SAFETY PART. THE PART NUMBER IS: 8EO 614 111E OR 8EO 614 111A SINCE I COULD NOT FIND AUDI UNDER MANUFACTURER BUT I HAVE A 2000 AUDI S4. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
NHTSA complaint #10188528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
AFTER HAVING MY FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED ON MY 2000 AUDI S4 AT 92,671 MILES, MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, BUT EACH TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER HAVING THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM SCANNED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACED WITH PARTS AND LABOR COSTING $742.58. I'VE DONE RESEARCH TO FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI. I CONTACTED AUDI, BUT THEY DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10185595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE BRAKES BOOST/VACUUM ASSIST LINE CHECK VALVE CRACKS APART INTO TWO PIECES. THIS CAUSES THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE POWER ASSISTED BRAKE SYSTEM IN THE CAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARNING ABOUT THE PENDING LOSS OF BRAKES. ONE SECOND YOU HAVE BRAKES THE NEXT IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO PUSH A BRICK THRU THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE TRYING TO GET IT TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10165685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.