2010 Audi S4 problems & reliability
60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Audi S4. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2010 Audi S4 vehicles were involved in 1 fatal crash with 2 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train → | 42 | 70% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling → | 11 | 18% |
| Electrical System | 6 | 10% |
| Engine | 4 | 7% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 3% |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 3% |
| Unknown OR Other | 2 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 54 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 58,950 miles (middle 50% between 38,250 and 73,875 miles).
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Once car is put into reverse it launches back ? Also in first one put in cost it wants to move practically forward .”
Power Train · filed Apr 4, 2020
“Car slammed into different gear, wasn't able to shift into 2nd and threw gearbox malfunction and tpms errors. Thankfully I was near home and able to make it there without an accident or being stranded, but my car is now immobile. I spoke with audi and they said it will likely be a $4k repair (mechatronics unit). After…”
Power Train · filed Apr 3, 2020
“My car flashed gearbox malfunction while driving down interstate I-264 in louisville ky. Car seamed fine for about 2 miles and then suddenly went limp and I had no gears. Had to hit flashers and coast into median. Was almost hit by semi truck. Repair shop could not find anything wrong. Happened again 1 day after…”
Power Train · filed Oct 23, 2019
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
678 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2010 Audi S4. The 10 most recent:
This bulletin provides information when there is a film/visible rings on the clear glass cover of the headlight when the dipped beam is switched on.
TSB_2073282_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 9, 2026
This bulletin provides information when, after replacing the mechatronic unit/gearbox, the engine only starts when the button has been pressed twice.
TSB_2041242_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 22, 2026
This bulletin provides information about professional noise analysis with the VAS 611 015 PICO-NVH tool
TSB_2070568_6 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 22, 2026
This bulletin provides information when the parking assistance gives false warnings.
TSB_2024323_13 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 17, 2026
This bulletin provides information when the parking assistance gives false warnings.
TSB_2024323_12 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 2, 2026
This bulletin provides informaiotn when there are noises from the headliner.
TSB_2080329_1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 22, 2026
This bulletin provides information regarding UV leak additive for finding oil leaks.
TSB_2060750_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 14, 2026
This bulletin provides information about vibrations and rotational steering vibrations.
TSB_2074846_4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 13, 2026
This bulletin provides information when there are speaker rattles, vibrations, or audio interference.
TSB_2018187_18 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 9, 2025
This bulletin provides information for all models regarding brake sounds.
TSB_2069904_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 22, 2025
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 2010 Audi S4 in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2010 Audi S4?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 58,950 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.