2018 Audi S4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jun 6, 2025 · 7 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other S4 years
Not enough data 14th of 23 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Audi S4. That ranks 14th out of 23 S4 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (4 complaints, 57%), typically at around 1,300 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.

Audi S4
Audi_S4_(B9)_FL in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 2018 Audi S4 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine4 · ~1,300 mi
Power Train1 · ~1,300 mi
Service Brakes1 · ~4,000 mi
Structure1 · ~5,800 mi
Suspension1
Vehicle Speed Control1 · ~1,300 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine457%1,300——
Power Train114%1,300——
Service Brakes114%4,000——
Structure114%5,800——
Suspension114%———
Vehicle Speed Control114%1,300——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2018, with 2 complaints
2017: 1201712018: 2201822022: 1202212024: 1202412025: 220252

n = 7 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2018 Audi S4 recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger; seatsNov 10, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V874000 · 208,332 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the connecting cable and either the heating mat or entire seat cover, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 74E3. This recall is an expansion of Recall 19V-547 (74D9). Vehicles previously repaired under 19V-547 will need to return for the new remedy.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:sensor:occupant classificationJul 24, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V547000 · 145,337 vehicles

Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

Risk: A disabled passenger air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will install cable ties to the harness, free of charge. The recall began September 9, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi's number for this recall is 74D9.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Water pump defect for the 3.0L ea839 turbo engine found across many Porsche and Audi models. Defect causes damage to vacuum lines, thermostat, and can eventually lead to engine failure if not resolved. No way of knowing this is happening until you start to lose coolant (which will throw an engine…

Engine · received Jun 6, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11665383

My 2018 Audi S4 has a catastrophic engine failure issue and this is common with the EA839 engine. There is a knocking in the motor that is caused by internal engine parts (rocker arms needle bearings) becoming loose and dislodged. The metal shavings travel in the motor oil and destroy the engine…

Engine · received Mar 13, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11648098

PCV housing and lines failed. Caused pressure to build up thus shooting off the oil cap shooting oil everywhere! in addition to that it is a huge fire hazard considering the turbo is right next to it.

Engine · received Apr 7, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11581607

Audi Dealer inspection revealed Rear spring is broken and mounts are deteriorating. Dealer states not common and would result in accident if not repaired. Research indicates broken springs common with certain Audi vehicles (A4/S4, Q5 & Q7), especially 2018 model year. See Audi World forum website…

Suspension · received Dec 20, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11498324

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…

Service Brakes · received Apr 9, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11084045

Other Audi S4 years

← 2015 S4 · 2019 S4 →

See all Audi S4 problems by year, every Audi model, or the Audi VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Audi S4?

Owners most often report engine, power train, service brakes problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 4 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2018 Audi S4?

Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2018 Audi S4 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S4 model years, the 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.