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2013 Audi S4 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Audi S4 has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 33owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 0injuries reported
The most complained-about Audi S4 year on file: 33 complaints, against an average of 9 for the other 7 model years.
Every Audi S4 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Audi S4?
The components named most often in the 33 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2013 Audi S4 been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Audi A4 and S4 vehicles manufactured February 16, 2012, to October 21, 2014, and 2013-2015 Audi Allroad vehicles manufactured March 12, 2012, to October 21, 2014. Due to an improper algorithm in the air bag control module, if a crash necessitates deployment of the side air bags, a second impact to the front of the vehicle may not command the front air bags to also deploy.
Risk: If the front air bags do not deploy in the event of a secondary impact to the front of the vehicle, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on November 14, 2014. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69K5.
Is the 2013 Audi S4 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
EU Safety GateIn certain vehicles, fuel can leak onto the engine fuel rail.Fuel leakage close to a source of ignition may increase the risk of the vehicle catching fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
What do 2013 Audi S4 owners report?
12 of the 33 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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 driving or being stationary at a traffic light. Event triggers loud warning sounds, red flashing lights/icons in dashboard, total loss of power while engine still running. At this time, this problem creates highly dangerous driving conditions with random total loss of power. The situation is temporarily…
At times Vehicle suddenly loses power and displays “transmission malfunction:you may continue driving” 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 unexpected delay to movement or if on an incline will roll backwards.
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 to Dec 16 at 10:00am. I paid $179.11for them to inspect and locate the issue: according to leader automotive the 5f module is bad and needs replaced. In my print out it states it is no longer in production. This part # 8RI-035-746-C is my entire control module that controls all my safety sensors…
DSG ISSUES. CLUNKING WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO 1ST / 2ND WHEN STOPPING. SHIFT HESITATION ON UPSHIFT AS WELL .
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS STRANGE WHEN COLD. ACTS LIKE IT LOOSED POWER EVERY SHIFT. STRANGE CLUNKING AS WELL ON SLOW SPEEDS OR NUMBER TO NUMBER TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES IT SCARED ME THAT IT WILL JUMP FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR ON FRONT OF ME.
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.
SERIOUS STEERING ISSUE GOING ON. ENTERED HIGHWAY IN COMFORT MODE, ACCELERATED AND SWITCHED LANES TO PASSING LANE WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING HAD A TORMENTED MOMENT AND DECIDED TO STEER ITSELF FROM THE 12:00 O'CLOCK TO 3:00 O'CLOCK POSITION, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I HAD A CAR ON THE RIGHT OF ME AND MY CAR TRIED TO DRIVE ITSELF INTO THEIR LANE. THE STEERING ALSO HAS NOTCHINESS GOING ON, AND HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, BUT ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS ISSUE IS LIFE-THREATENING AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI.
VEHICLE WILL NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A "NOTCH" AT THE CENTER, REQUIRING CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT PATH AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS PERFORMED TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE DEALER HAS REPRODUCED THE ISSUE AND HAS STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL.
MY 2013 AUDI S4 IS EXPERIENCING A STEERING ISSUE WHERE IT HAS 'ON CENTER FLOATING'. BASICALLY THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NOTCHES TO THE STEERING WHEN THE WHEEL IS CENTERED. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE MANY TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OUT, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE AT AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. BASED ON THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THE 2013 AUDI S4 BUT AUDI IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE HAD BEEN SO BAD THAT IT POSED A SAFTEY RISK WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW. THE RESOLUTION SEEMS TO BE THE LATEST STEERING RACK THAT IS AVAILABLE, BUT…
STEERING WHEEL SLIPS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER RIGHT OR LEFT WITHOUT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS MUST BE MADE JUST TO KEEP THE CAR ALIGNED IN A STRAIGHT POSITION. GETS WORSE WHEN GOING AROUND LONG TURNS. VERY SCARY AND UNREALIABLE TO DRIVE. WOULD NEVER LET ANYONE I CARED ABOUT DRIVE THE CAR. WHAT A WASTE OF 70K. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM YET IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOME PEOPLE GETTING IT FIXED WHILE OTHERS CANT. SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR ABOVE 35MPH. TERRIBLE STEERING ISSUE.
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 VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND NOTHING IS AVAILABLE - ELECTRONICALLY OR MORE IMPORTANTLY MANUALLY. DON'T BE OUT LATE AT NIGHT OR YOU MIGHT BE A VICTIM TO MORE THAN A BROKEN DOWN VEHICLE. BY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN ONE MONTH OLD. *TR
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 HAD HOLES PUNCHED IN THEIR INTERCOOLING RADIATORS BY ERRANT ROAD DEBRIS WHICH STRIKES THE RADIATOR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PERFORATES IT. SINCE THE ENGINE AND SUPERCHARGER COOLING SYSTEMS SHARE THE SAME OVERFLOW CONTAINER, BUT ARE SEPERATE LOOPS, IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE BOTH SYSTEMS HAVE LOST…
2013 Audi S4: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Audi S4 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Audi S4; the most common categories were steering (19, 57.6%), power train (9, 27.3%), engine (4, 12.1%). There is 1 safety recall.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Audi S4?
Across 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are steering (57.6% of complaints), power train (27.3% of complaints), engine (12.1% of complaints), electrical system (6.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Audi S4 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2013 Audi S4; the most recent (campaign 14V667000, 2014-10-24) concerns Air Bags. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own S4
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only.