Audi S4 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Audi S4 across 12 model years. The 2010 model year has the most (42). The words owners use most often: “gearbox malfunction” (30% of reports).
- 103power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $7,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 20%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Gearbox malfunction: mentioned in 31 of 103 complaints (30%)
- Dsg transmission: mentioned in 16 of 103 complaints (16%)
- Mechatronics unit: mentioned in 15 of 103 complaints (15%)
- You continue: mentioned in 6 of 103 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Audi S4 at $7,300, and half of them between $6,700 and $14,100.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2018), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 95 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 103 complaints, 1 a fire.
Audi S4 power train complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the Audi S4. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Transmission fail while driving and stationary at traffic light. Main DTC: P179F00 - Drive sensor position: malfunction Additional DTC: P179E00 - Drive sensor position: electrical malfunction ABS: 00473 Parking brake: U111300 TCM: 01315 This situation occurred 3 times in the past 3 weeks while…
Unknown
At times Vehicle suddenly loses power and displays âtransmission malfunction:you may continue drivingâ but then fails to accelerate to or maintain highway speeds. Other times when vehicle is stopped in traffic the transmission delays engaging when pressing in the accelerator and thus causes an…
Car has developed a transmission problem in the mechatronic unit. Car gives a gearbox malfunction display in the car. Reverse will not working and the car will repeatedly go into neutral at any speed. Sometimes then it will jerk back into gear very violently.
My 2014 audi s4 has a epc light that keeps turning on while driving that car. The epc light will put the car into limp mode and will have a rough idle and can barley drive. When that light turns on you have to pull over immediately and restart the car to continue driving and is a complete safety…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Audi S4s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 103 owner complaints about power train for the Audi S4. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Audi S4 power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Audi S4?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,300 (half paid between $6,700 and $14,100), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Audi S4?
The most frequent phrase is “gearbox malfunction”, in 31 of 103 complaints, followed by “dsg transmission” (16).
Other Audi S4 problems
See all Audi S4 problems.