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 TH…
2010 audi S4 engine problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$3,100
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 OWNER'S…
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 …
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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.