2013 Audi S4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Audi S4 has 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (56% of all complaints), specifically: my 2013 audi s4 exhibits an alarming tendency to weave from side to side without a steering input. this occurs without a change in steering wheel position, vehicle speed, or change in road surface or prevailing wind direction. it is more pronounced at highway speeds and when wheel is centered at 1.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

19 complaints

56%

• MY 2013 AUDI S4 EXHIBITS AN ALARMING TENDENCY TO WEAVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT A STEERING INPUT. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT A CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL POSITION, VEHICLE SPEED, OR CHANGE IN ROAD SURFACE OR PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN WHEEL IS CENTERED AT 1
• STARTING AROUND FEBRUARY 2, 2013 MY VEHICLE STARTED DISPLAYING INTERMITTENT BIZARRE STEERING BEHAVIOR. THE ISSUES WERE TWO FOLD. FIRST, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BUT MOST COMMONLY OVER 50 MPH THE STEERING EXHIBITED A "SLIP AND CONNECT FEELING" WHERE THE STEERING WOULD FEEL DISCONNECTED (OR VERY LOO
• ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) RANDOMLY GETS A "NOTCHY" FEELING AND LOSES ITS TRUE CENTER. THE WHEEL CANNOT BE HELD AT A PERFECT "12 O'CLOCK." IT IS EITHER AT 11:57 OR 12:03, SO GOING STRAIGHT DOWN A ROAD REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER. THESE NOTCHES PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE

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

“MY 2013 AUDI S4 EXHIBITS AN ALARMING TENDENCY TO WEAVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT A STEERING INPUT. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT A CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL POSITION, VEHICLE SPEED, OR CHANGE IN ROAD SURFACE OR PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN WHEEL IS CENTERED AT 1”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

8 complaints

24%

• THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR HAVING A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT. THE MECHATRONICS UNIT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY, AND CAUSES JERKING AND INSTABILITY TO THE DSG TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED OTHER VEHICLES AT RED LIGHTS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND LUNGE ME FORWARD
• THE PROBLEMS STARTED BY A WARNING ON MY DISPLAY SAYING TO PULL OVER GEAR BOX OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. YOU HAVE SECONDS TO PULL OVER BEFORE THE CAR NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE IN GEAR ALL THAT HAPPENS IS THE ENGINE REVS AND YOU GO NO WHERE. MY CAR HAS ONLY 38,500 MILES ON IT AND IS OUT O
• TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ON, SHIFT HARD

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

“THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR HAVING A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT. THE MECHATRONICS UNIT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY, AND CAUSES JERKING AND INSTABILITY TO THE DSG TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED OTHER VEHICLES AT RED LIGHTS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND LUNGE ME FORWARD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

12%

• LOST ALL COOLANT DUE TO RADIATOR LEAK FROM ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE CAUSED BY BAD DESIGN OF FRONT LOWER GRILL. IT HAS NO PROTECTIVE MESH AND CLEAR OPENINGS FOR ROCKS TO PROTRUDE. I FOUND THIS ON AUDI FORUM TWO PEOPLE NOW ON THE VAIRIOUS BOARDS HAVE THOUGHT THEY LOST THEIR WATER PUMP, BUT IN FACT HAVE
• THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. NOT WITH THE "KEY" OR THE BUTTON STARTER. AUDI SERVICE CLAIMS ITS THE BATTERY BUT WHEN THE ROADSIDE SERVICE SHOWS UP ITS NOT THE BATTERY, SO NOW A TOW TRUCK HAS TO BE CALLED. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME AND ANY PLACE. AUDI DENIES IT IS A COMPUTER ISSUE BUT YET THE VEHI
• TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARSHLY AND MAKES NOISE DURING SHIFTS. WAS TOLD THE MECHATRONICS NEED REPLACEMENT. SOMETIMES WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR WILL JOLT AS IF IT IT LOSES POWER MOMENTARILY. WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC IN COULD BE DANGEROUS.

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

“LOST ALL COOLANT DUE TO RADIATOR LEAK FROM ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE CAUSED BY BAD DESIGN OF FRONT LOWER GRILL. IT HAS NO PROTECTIVE MESH AND CLEAR OPENINGS FOR ROCKS TO PROTRUDE. I FOUND THIS ON AUDI FORUM TWO PEOPLE NOW ON THE VAIRIOUS BOARDS HAVE THOUGHT THEY LOST THEIR WATER PUMP, BUT IN FACT HAVE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

• THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. NOT WITH THE "KEY" OR THE BUTTON STARTER. AUDI SERVICE CLAIMS ITS THE BATTERY BUT WHEN THE ROADSIDE SERVICE SHOWS UP ITS NOT THE BATTERY, SO NOW A TOW TRUCK HAS TO BE CALLED. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME AND ANY PLACE. AUDI DENIES IT IS A COMPUTER ISSUE BUT YET THE VEHI
• My MMI 5F module went out right after an oil change service on Nov 12, 2022 I called them as soon as I got home to inform Leader automotive in Normal Il. I was told I would not be able to be seen until January 5 2023 at 1:pm. I then called back a few days later and was able to move that appointment

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

“THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. NOT WITH THE "KEY" OR THE BUTTON STARTER. AUDI SERVICE CLAIMS ITS THE BATTERY BUT WHEN THE ROADSIDE SERVICE SHOWS UP ITS NOT THE BATTERY, SO NOW A TOW TRUCK HAS TO BE CALLED. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME AND ANY PLACE. AUDI DENIES IT IS A COMPUTER ISSUE BUT YET THE VEHI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

1 complaints

• FOUND VEHICLE LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. RADIATOR INTERCOOLER WAS AT FAULT. IF ALL OR MOST COOLANT LOST WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE MAY HAVE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO OCCUR WITH POSSIBLE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. VW AUDI HAS KNOWN OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE INTERCOOLER AND HAS

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

“FOUND VEHICLE LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. RADIATOR INTERCOOLER WAS AT FAULT. IF ALL OR MOST COOLANT LOST WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ENGINE MAY HAVE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO OCCUR WITH POSSIBLE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. VW AUDI HAS KNOWN OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE INTERCOOLER AND HAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~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:

☐
STEERING: MY 2013 AUDI S4 EXHIBITS AN ALARMING TENDENCY TO WEAVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT A STEERING INPUT. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT A CHANGE IN STEERING WHEEL POSITION, VEHICLE SPEED, OR CHANGE IN ROAD SURFACE OR PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN WHEEL IS CENTERED AT 1
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR HAVING A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT. THE MECHATRONICS UNIT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY, AND CAUSES JERKING AND INSTABILITY TO THE DSG TRANSMISSION. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED OTHER VEHICLES AT RED LIGHTS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND LUNGE ME FORWARD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: LOST ALL COOLANT DUE TO RADIATOR LEAK FROM ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE CAUSED BY BAD DESIGN OF FRONT LOWER GRILL. IT HAS NO PROTECTIVE MESH AND CLEAR OPENINGS FOR ROCKS TO PROTRUDE. I FOUND THIS ON AUDI FORUM TWO PEOPLE NOW ON THE VAIRIOUS BOARDS HAVE THOUGHT THEY LOST THEIR WATER PUMP, BUT IN FACT HAVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. NOT WITH THE "KEY" OR THE BUTTON STARTER. AUDI SERVICE CLAIMS ITS THE BATTERY BUT WHEN THE ROADSIDE SERVICE SHOWS UP ITS NOT THE BATTERY, SO NOW A TOW TRUCK HAS TO BE CALLED. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME AND ANY PLACE. AUDI DENIES IT IS A COMPUTER ISSUE BUT YET THE VEHI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)