Audi S4 problems
60 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 2 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Mechatronics unit failed in the vehicle automatic transmission. Transmission failure message listed on car dashboard. Car would not shift out of 1st gear and there was no reverse gear. Car had to be towed to the dealership for repair. Multiple web forum posts stated the…
On dec 8, my Audi s4, model year 2010, built end 2009, 11,000 miles, stranded with a leaking coolant system "out of the blue", during moderate highway driving. Warning system indicated to turn off engine and check coolant. Not necessarily safe in the middle of the night on a 8…
2010 Audi s4 with v-6 3.0t engine. Returning home after a 7 minute drive, I was 300 ft. From my house when I received an engine message coolant low, turn off engine and check coolant. I stopped in driveway to find my water pump had burst, as with several complaints here. I…
My s4 lunges at stops, or it feels like I've been hit from behind. Takeoff from a stop is bouncy, bouncy reversing, especially uphill. If I take my foot off the breaks and hesitate before accelerating, sometimes it's smooth. The tac bounces while coasting to a stop, or going…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2010 Audi S4 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Audi S4 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2010 Audi S4?
On the NHTSA data, the 2010 Audi S4 does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.0/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2010 Audi S4?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 42 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 65,946 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 65,946 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Audi S4 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Audi S4?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 60 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.