2011 Audi S4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Audi S4 has 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (65% of all complaints), specifically: this issue concerns my audi 2011 s4, a car that i took delivery on in april, 2011. i have had numerous problems with the car since the delivery, however, it is a safety concern that has caused this specific filing. the problem seems to be with the dsg transmission. on occasion, the car will st.

1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

22 complaints

65%

• THIS ISSUE CONCERNS MY AUDI 2011 S4, A CAR THAT I TOOK DELIVERY ON IN APRIL, 2011. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE THE DELIVERY, HOWEVER, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SPECIFIC FILING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. ON OCCASION, THE CAR WILL ST
• WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP DO THE DASHBOARD SAYING "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION, REVERSE GEAR NOT AVAILABLE, YOU CAN STILL DRIVE". AT THE SAME TIME, THE TPMS WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON. THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE, AFTER A FEW SE
• I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2011 AUDI S4 DSG AUTOMATIC VEHICLE. THE CAR BUCKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN GOING FROM STOP TO 1ST-2ND-3RD GEAR OR VICE VERSA. IT USUALLY OCCURS IN SLOW TRAFFIC AND WHEN THE CAR/TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ON FOR AWHILE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AUDI FOR REPAIR AND THE SOFTWARE AND ADAPTABILITY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THIS ISSUE CONCERNS MY AUDI 2011 S4, A CAR THAT I TOOK DELIVERY ON IN APRIL, 2011. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE THE DELIVERY, HOWEVER, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SPECIFIC FILING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. ON OCCASION, THE CAR WILL ST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

5 complaints

15%

• THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI 3.OT ENGINE'S PLASTIC THERMOSTAT FAILING! I WAS DRIVING AND THE THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TEMP TO SKYROCKET TO "H"! I DROVE HOME BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH WITH THE HEATER ON HIGH. THEY FLATBEDED MY CAR ON 9/29/14 FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO THE AUDI DEAL
• AUDI RECENTLY REPLACED MY 2ND THERMOSTAT (1ST WAS 11/2012 AND THE 2ND WAS 11/24/2014), NOT UNDER WARRANTY, AND RETURNED MY CAR TO ME AFTER HOLDING ONTO MY CAR FOR TWO WEEKS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE CHECKED OUT OKAY VIA A DIAGNOSTIC AND MECHANICS REVIEW. I DROVE MY S4 FOR TWO DAYS AND WHILE DRIVIN
• I WAS ACCELERATING, AFTER LEAVING A RESTAURANT, INTO TRAFFIC. I RECEIVED THE "DSG MALFUNCTION LIGHT" AND SUDDENLY AT ABOUT 20MPH MY LURCHED FORWARD AND FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE AND SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. CAR RESTARTED AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS BUT DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO WITHOUT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI 3.OT ENGINE'S PLASTIC THERMOSTAT FAILING! I WAS DRIVING AND THE THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TEMP TO SKYROCKET TO "H"! I DROVE HOME BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH WITH THE HEATER ON HIGH. THEY FLATBEDED MY CAR ON 9/29/14 FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO THE AUDI DEAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

• AFTER TURNING MY CAR ON A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING APPEARED BUT SAID I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING THE MESSAGE AND SERVICE LIGHT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF WITH EVERYTHING GOING BACK TO NORMAL. THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE A VERY COMMON MECHATRONIC UNIT ISSUE THAT IS PART OF THE FAULTY DSG THAT AUD
• DSG MECHATRONIC FAILURE. WAS REPLACED UNDER CPO WARRANTY. HOWEVER PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHILE DRIVING CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL WITH TPMS + GEARBOX MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH AUDI S4 2010 AND 2011.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AFTER TURNING MY CAR ON A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING APPEARED BUT SAID I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING THE MESSAGE AND SERVICE LIGHT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF WITH EVERYTHING GOING BACK TO NORMAL. THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE A VERY COMMON MECHATRONIC UNIT ISSUE THAT IS PART OF THE FAULTY DSG THAT AUD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

• DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 25 MPH, CAR RANDOMLY SHOWS 'GEARBOX MALFUNCTION' AND 'TPMS' SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR DROVE IN LIMP MODE FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STANDSTILL AND PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN IT BACK ON TO DRIVE. 'TMPS' SIGN IS STILL SHOWING. POSSIBILITY OF BEING A MECHATRONIC IS
• MY CAR IS HAVING JERKY SHIFTING WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVER, ESPECIALLY ONCE THE ENGINE GETS HOT. I HAVE HAD FELT THE CAR JERK FORWARD A COUNTLESS AMOUNT OF TIMES AND HAVE GOTTEN WHIPLASH A COUPLE TIMES WHERE I'VE BEEN IN PAIN. TRANSMISSION ON MY AUDI S4 IS GIVING THE SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHERS H

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 25 MPH, CAR RANDOMLY SHOWS 'GEARBOX MALFUNCTION' AND 'TPMS' SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR DROVE IN LIMP MODE FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STANDSTILL AND PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN IT BACK ON TO DRIVE. 'TMPS' SIGN IS STILL SHOWING. POSSIBILITY OF BEING A MECHATRONIC IS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

1 complaints

• I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 AUDI S4 SEDAN AND HAD A SUSPENSION AND/OR ALIGNMENT ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. I GOT THREE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS (INCLUDING THAT OF A CERTIFIED AUDI TECHNICIAN) AND ALL AGREED TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 AUDI S4 SEDAN AND HAD A SUSPENSION AND/OR ALIGNMENT ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. I GOT THREE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS (INCLUDING THAT OF A CERTIFIED AUDI TECHNICIAN) AND ALL AGREED TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 34 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: THIS ISSUE CONCERNS MY AUDI 2011 S4, A CAR THAT I TOOK DELIVERY ON IN APRIL, 2011. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE THE DELIVERY, HOWEVER, IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT HAS CAUSED THIS SPECIFIC FILING. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION. ON OCCASION, THE CAR WILL ST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI 3.OT ENGINE'S PLASTIC THERMOSTAT FAILING! I WAS DRIVING AND THE THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TEMP TO SKYROCKET TO "H"! I DROVE HOME BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH WITH THE HEATER ON HIGH. THEY FLATBEDED MY CAR ON 9/29/14 FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO THE AUDI DEAL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: AFTER TURNING MY CAR ON A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING APPEARED BUT SAID I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING THE MESSAGE AND SERVICE LIGHT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF WITH EVERYTHING GOING BACK TO NORMAL. THE CAR APPEARS TO HAVE A VERY COMMON MECHATRONIC UNIT ISSUE THAT IS PART OF THE FAULTY DSG THAT AUD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 25 MPH, CAR RANDOMLY SHOWS 'GEARBOX MALFUNCTION' AND 'TPMS' SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR DROVE IN LIMP MODE FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STANDSTILL AND PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN IT BACK ON TO DRIVE. 'TMPS' SIGN IS STILL SHOWING. POSSIBILITY OF BEING A MECHATRONIC IS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)