This technical service bulletin provides troubleshooting information for the vehicle locking system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Audi S4 electrical problems
moderate 3 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
When does it fail?
Of the 3 electrical complaints filed for the 2005 Audi S4, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This informational bulletin contains instructions on how to use the QR code in a TSB.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗00 Software Version Management (SVM), operating instructions
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin contains resource information for when the traffic feature is inoperative in the MMI navigation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 17 number 14-49 dated April 3, 2014. When the vehicle is completely refueled, the vehicle range (?distance to empty?) that is displayed is different than the vehicle range that was displayed the last time the vehicle was completely refueled. The displayed vehicle range drops inconsistently. After the vehicle is refueled, the displayed vehicle range does not change for a long period of time. When the vehicle is driven on hilly roads for a long period of time, the displayed vehicle range suddenly changes by a significant amount. There are no DTCs related to fuel senders stored in the instrument cluster control module, J285 (address word 17). This con
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Heated seat element burned or melted the seat while the car was off overnight. Passenger seat leather is now separated, shriveled (hard as a rock) and would have burned the passenger if they had been in the seat.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 Audi s4. The instrumental panel does not display any information. The cluster symbols are broken. The dealer has not diagnosed the failure. The current mileage was 53,000 and the failure mileage was 35,000.
As I was driving on the freeway my headlight went out with and the message, "right dipped headlight" came on. When this happen I stopped to fill up with gas and when I started the car the message was gone and the headlight was back on. This has happened a several more times since then. *tr
Had electrical trouble with your 2005 Audi S4?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2005 Audi S4?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 3 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 3 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 70,433 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Audi/S4.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.