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 lane highway. Audi service diagnosed and replaced a defect water pump with an "updated model" (metal body, replacing…
2010 Audi S4 engine problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 12 engine complaints filed for the 2010 Audi S4, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Reported failure mileage clusters in the 0-25,000 mi band — 5 of 6 complaints with an odometer reading on file land there.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
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 knew about this problem, as more than 50 other Audi s4 owners have experienced it and it is well documented on Audi…
While driving home from newark airport on nj turnpike at 1 a.m., the water pump failed on my 2010 Audi s4. The coolant warning indicated a problem. I made it to a service area within a few miles. I did not want to stop on the side of the road. I opened the hood and found coolant splattered all over the engine with steam rising up. The car was unsafe to drive and had to be towed to the dealer…
My car leaked a large amount of coolant noticed after it had been parked. I managed to drive it to dealer where the water pump was replaced under warranty. I was told that the plastic seal on the pump has failed with other customers and was replaced with a new metal seal. *tr
2010 Audi s4 water pump failure. *tr
Without warning my 2010 Audi s4 over heated while driving home from the store on wednesday night. Luckily my children were not with me because I had to pull off on the side of a busy road until the engine cooled down. From what I gathered on the internet several hundred Audi's had the same issue but no recall was issued. Only a tsb (technical service bulletin) was issued. Audi makes the customer…
Had engine trouble with your 2010 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 engine problem on the 2010 Audi S4?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 9,800 and 13,000 miles, with the median around 11,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 9,800; a quarter make it past 13,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2010/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.