This TSB provides information when event memory entries cannot be deleted (Mode$0A error) on gearboxes: DL501, DL382/DL382E and DQ500.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Audi S4 powertrain problems
moderate 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 22 powertrain complaints filed for the 2011 Audi S4, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 15 mileage-bearing powertrain complaints filed against the 2011 Audi S4 by each odometer reading. Median failure: 65,000 mi.
10% have failed by31,000 mi
Half the fleet by65,000 mi
90% have failed by85,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Audi S4 in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Reported failure mileage clusters in the 50,000-75,000 mi band — 6 of 15 complaints with an odometer reading on file land there.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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 bulletin offers information about the basic information needed for technical requests for gaerbox complaints.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin offers information about the basic information needed for technical requests for gaerbox complaints.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information when there is a fault shown; Engine: start/stop system, and the start system is not working; mileage below 50 km/32 miles.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin contains instructions for diagnosing transmission leaks and repairing them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a consistent and recurring failure of the DSG transmission's mechatronic unit, beginning as early as 40,000 miles and escalating through 70,000 miles. The transmission enters limp mode without warning, dropping into neutral or single gears and refusing to shift. Gearbox malfunction warnings appear repeatedly, often flagging reverse as unavailable, while TPMS lights illuminate simultaneously—a sign owners have learned to recognize as serious trouble.
The failure manifests in multiple ways: sudden violent lurching during acceleration from stops, transmission slipping into neutral for 2–3 seconds before crashing hard into the next gear, loss of all drive power mid-highway, inability to move forward at traffic lights, and catastrophic power loss that forces unsafe maneuvers. Software updates and recalibrations at Audi dealerships provide temporary relief but the problem returns within days or weeks.
One owner was forced to shut off the ignition in moving traffic to regain control. Another's transmission quit entirely at 55 mph on a two-lane road. Several describe the car surging forward out of control while simultaneously losing throttle response—a dangerous combination in heavy traffic. Most critical: owners report this is a known, documented defect affecting 2010–2011 S4 models, yet Audi has not issued a recall. Repairs require full transmission replacement at $8,000–$12,000; extended warranties typically exclude this failure. One owner replaced the mechatronic unit under CPO warranty only to experience the same failure again.
Same Audi S4 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Mechatronic Unit Failure
The DSG transmission's mechatronic control unit fails intermittently or completely, causing loss of drive, limp mode, inability to find proper gears, and repeated drops to neutral at any speed. Owners report this is a known common defect in 2010–2011 S4 models.
When: 49,000 to 70,000 miles; some failures occur early post-delivery; failures become more frequent with time
Symptoms owners cite: Gearbox malfunction warning light with 'reverse not available' message; Vehicle enters limp mode and won't shift out of 1st or 2nd gear; Loss of all drive power on highway or city streets; Repeated drops to neutral at any speed with sudden violent re-engagement; Failure to move forward in drive at traffic stops; Engine continues running but no drivetrain connection; TPMS warning light appears simultaneously
Codes mentioned: P179E - Drive Range Sensor Electrical Error
Repairs/costs cited: Complete transmission replacement required; owners cite costs from $8,000 to $12,000; some covered partially by dealers or extended warranty; mechatronic unit and circuit board replacement attempted in some cases but unsuccessful
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB exists for this defect; AUDI CORAL SPRINGS and other dealerships unable to help when problem cannot be duplicated; software and adaptability updates attempted but did not resolve underlying failure; Audi USA claimed ignorance of the issue; extended warranties often do not cover the failure; one case mentions mechatronic replacement under CPO warranty but problem persisted
Transmission Shift Hesitation and Bucking
Transmission hesitates, bucks violently, or skips gears during acceleration from stops or during normal low-speed driving. Owners report the car slips into neutral momentarily before dropping hard into the next gear, creating dangerous loss of power during merging and traffic situations.
When: Intermittent; triggered by slow speeds, stop-and-go traffic, hot weather, or dynamic driving mode; some owners report happening within 6 months of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Violent bucking during acceleration from complete stop; Hesitation or delay in shifting from 1st to 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gears; Transmission slips into neutral for 2–3 seconds before dropping hard into next gear; Skipped gears (1st to 3rd, 2nd to 4th, 5th to 7th); Loss of power mid-acceleration; Clunking or noisy shifts, especially on downshift in stop-and-go traffic; Problem worsens in extreme heat and dynamic driving mode
Repairs/costs cited: Software updates and adaptability recalibration performed at dealerships with temporary improvement; problem returned in most cases; no permanent repair achieved short of full transmission replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi dealerships updated software and transmission adaptability; technicians often found no codes and could not duplicate problem during test drives; problem considered intermittent and difficult to diagnose
Transmission Surge and Power Loss Under Load
Vehicle surges forward uncontrollably or loses power entirely under acceleration, particularly in traffic or highway driving. The transmission cannot maintain speed, throttle becomes unresponsive, and the car may stall or limp severely.
When: At various speeds: 20 mph, 30–40 mph city streets, 55–70 mph highway; can occur shortly after dealership service and diagnostics
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden uncontrolled surging forward while accelerating in traffic; Vehicle loses speed and won't respond to throttle input; Engine stalls at low speed after surging; Car sputters and loses power on highway exit ramps; Repeated cycles of surge and power loss before coming to a stop; Loss of power forcing unsafe merges or traffic maneuvers; Engine still running but no connection to drivetrain
Repairs/costs cited: Owners forced to limp vehicles to dealerships; temporary restart clears issue briefly but recurs within hours or days; no successful repair method reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi USA claimed no knowledge of such failures; dealerships unable to diagnose when warning lights clear; one owner reported Audi USA said it was safe to drive after the third failure
Inability to Engage Reverse Gear
Transmission loses reverse capability or fails to engage reverse smoothly. In some cases, car lurches backward unexpectedly when in reverse or transitioning from reverse to park; in others, reverse is completely unavailable with no ability to move backward.
When: Starting at 49,000 miles; also reported at 40,000+ miles and coinciding with other transmission malfunctions
Symptoms owners cite: Gearbox malfunction warning specifies 'reverse not available'; Car won't engage reverse at all; Lurching backward unexpectedly when in reverse; Inability to get out of parking space in reverse; Warning light states 'you may continue to drive' despite reverse being unavailable
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had to tow vehicle to dealership because car could not reverse out of underground parking garage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Audi advised towing vehicle to service center when reverse failed completely
Excessive Oil Consumption
Engine consumes oil at an abnormally high rate, requiring refills every 750 miles. One owner reported this concurrently with transmission malfunction.
When: Reported at unknown mileage; owner had to refill approximately every 750 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops rapidly requiring frequent top-ups; One quart required for every 750 miles of driving
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 17 most recent
Dec 5 2016, while pulling out of my driveway in route to a scheduled service appointment at Audi of asheville, my 2011 Audi s4 lurched and several warnings came up including "dsg failure, no reverse, TPMS warning", followed by "you may continue to drive". Within 5 miles and at a speed of approx 35 MPH the vehicle suffered a catastrophic loss of drive and came to a stop in a two lane road, the…
Transmission shifts clunk when coming to a stop from 3, 2, to 1, and shifts noisily and abruptly particularly in stop and go traffic, or in extreme temperatures ie middle of summer on a hot day. *tr
Audi recently replaced my 2nd thermostat (1st was 11/2012 and the 2nd was 11/24/2014), not under warranty, and returned my car to me after holding onto my car for two weeks. I was told that my vehicle checked out okay via a diagnostic and mechanics review. I drove my s4 for two days and while driving, I received an indicator warning that read, gearbox malfunction reverse not available, you can…
This issue concerns my Audi 2011 s4, a car that I took delivery on in april, 2011. I have had numerous problems with the car since the delivery, however, it is a safety concern that has caused this specific filing. The problem seems to be with the dsg transmission. On occasion, the car will struggle and "buck" in low gears at a very slow speed (or froma complete stop) upon acceleration.…
Engine - excessive oil consumption (1qt refill is require for every 750miles). Dsg transmission ' getting gearbox malfunction, you can continue to drive on dashboard. This is due to p179e - drive range sensor electrical error.
This vehicle is known for the transmission issues that can be extremely dangerous at times due to the vehicle making sudden and unexpected movements.
After turning my car on a gearbox malfunction warning appeared but said I could continue driving. After driving the message and service light eventually went off with everything going back to normal. The car appears to have a very common mechatronic unit issue that is part of the faulty dsg that Audi has put in the b8 s4 model.
Vehicle would exhibit strange shifting behavior in low gears. When upshifting or downshifting from 1-2-3 and vice versa the transmission would sometimes hesitate or shift inappropriately. Audi dealership updated software and checked the problem numerous times. They could not find any problems not any error codes. Problem would come and go usually when it was hot outside. A little over a year…
Rough/clunking shifting in stop and go traffic. Car will lurch forward, or lack power when accelerating.
At about 49k miles the car would sometimes lurch backwards when in reverse or going from reverse to park. Took into mechanic. No diagnostic codes showed up. Around 60k miles the car overheated. Audi stated it needed a new thermostat which was around $1000. Drove the car across country from ca to co. Around 62k miles car went into limp mode and would not get out of 1st or 2nd gear. "gearbox…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2011 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 powertrain problem on the 2011 Audi S4?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 22 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 48,000 and 79,366 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 48,000; a quarter make it past 79,366. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2011/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.