2011 AUDI S4 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehi...
CAR HAS DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN THE MECHATRONIC UNIT. CAR GIVES A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION DISPLAY IN THE CAR. REVERSE WILL NOT WORKING AND THE CAR WILL REPEATEDLY GO INTO NEUTRAL AT ANY SPEED. SOMETIMES THEN IT WILL JERK BACK INTO GEAR VERY VIOLENTLY.
Mileage: 70,177
THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT TIMES DUE TO THE VEHICLE MAKING SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED MOVEMENTS.
Mileage: 20
TRANSMISSION BLEW UP ON THE HIGHWAY AT CRUISING SPEED. HAS TO GET A TOW AND PAY 12000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION
Mileage: 85,000
MY CAR IS HAVING JERKY SHIFTING WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVER, ESPECIALLY ONCE THE ENGINE GETS HOT. I HAVE HAD FELT THE CAR JERK FORWARD A COUNTLESS AMOUNT OF TIMES AND HAVE GOTTEN WHIPLASH A COUPLE TIMES WHERE I'VE BEEN IN PAIN. TRANSMISSION ON MY AUDI S4 IS GIVING THE SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHERS H...
Mileage: 110,000
MY 2011 S4 STARTED GETTING THE "TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION CONTINUE DRIVING" LIGHT AT ABOUT 40,612 MILES. AT THE SAME TIME MY VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN STOPPING AND ACCELERATION. WHEN SHIFTING DOWN THE GEARS MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE SPECIALLY FROM 3RD AND 2ND GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO USE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TH...
Mileage: 40,612
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 25 MPH, CAR RANDOMLY SHOWS 'GEARBOX MALFUNCTION' AND 'TPMS' SIMULTANEOUSLY. CAR DROVE IN LIMP MODE FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STANDSTILL AND PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN IT BACK ON TO DRIVE. 'TMPS' SIGN IS STILL SHOWING. POSSIBILITY OF BEING A MECHATRONIC IS...
Mileage: 110,000
I WAS EXITING OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER. I HAD TO CUT 3 CARS OFF TO PULL ONTO TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE THE CAR CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND EVENTUALLY DIED. A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, BUT SAID IT WAS STILL SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS ABLE TO GET ME CAR INTO PARK AND ...
Mileage: 80,000
I WAS EXITING OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER. I HAD TO CUT 3 CARS OFF TO PULL ONTO TO THE SHOULDER, WHERE THE CAR CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND EVENTUALLY DIED. A GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, BUT SAID IT WAS STILL SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS ABLE TO GET ME CAR INTO PARK AND ...
Mileage: 80,000
DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS (~30 MPH, CITY STREET) AND THE DSG AUTO TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM GEAR AND GAVE A WARNING THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION, NO REVERSE GEAR AVAILABLE. AFTER DRIVING TO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT TO STOP AND TRY TO DIAGNOSE, FOUND RESEARCH THAT STATED THE MECHATRONIC UNIT IN...
Mileage: 120,000
GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING AND THE TPMS MALFUNCTION CAME ON AT SAME TIME. CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN LIMP MODE FOR ABOUT 1 MILE AND THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. START THE CAR BACK UP AND STILL SHOWING WARNINGS. GET IT HOME AND ATTEMPT TO PUT INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR WON'T ENGAGE. I JUST HAPPENED TO STAR...
Mileage: 10
GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING AND THE TPMS MALFUNCTION CAME ON AT SAME TIME. CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN LIMP MODE FOR ABOUT 1 MILE AND THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. START THE CAR BACK UP AND STILL SHOWING WARNINGS. GET IT HOME AND ATTEMPT TO PUT INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR WON'T ENGAGE. I JUST HAPPENED TO STAR...
Mileage: 10
GEARBOX MALFUNCTION WARNING AND THE TPMS MALFUNCTION CAME ON AT SAME TIME. CONTINUED TO DRIVE IN LIMP MODE FOR ABOUT 1 MILE AND THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. START THE CAR BACK UP AND STILL SHOWING WARNINGS. GET IT HOME AND ATTEMPT TO PUT INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR WON'T ENGAGE. I JUST HAPPENED TO STAR...
Mileage: 10
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 ...
Mileage: 71,000
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 T...
Mileage: 69,000
DSG MECHATRONIC FAILURE. WAS REPLACED UNDER CPO WARRANTY. HOWEVER PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHILE DRIVING CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL WITH TPMS + GEARBOX MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH AUDI S4 2010 AND 2011.
Mileage: 62,000
DSG MECHATRONIC FAILURE. WAS REPLACED UNDER CPO WARRANTY. HOWEVER PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHILE DRIVING CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL WITH TPMS + GEARBOX MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH AUDI S4 2010 AND 2011.
Mileage: 62,000
THIS VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT, CAUSING THE CAR TO MIS-SHIFT AND SURGE WHILE DRIVING, OR FAIL TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC IN "D" DRIVE, DUE TO PARKING BRAKE DRIVE-SELECT MALFUNCTIONS. IN THESE CASES THE CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF, IN TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD AGA...
Mileage: 48,000
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.
Mileage: 76,000
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.
Mileage: 76,000
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 AUD...
Mileage: 50,000
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 AUD...
Mileage: 50,000
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 AN...
Mileage: 45,000
ROUGH/CLUNKING SHIFTING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD, OR LACK POWER WHEN ACCELERATING.
Mileage: 65,000
I WAS ACCELERATING, AFTER LEAVING A RESTAURANT, INTO TRAFFIC. I RECEIVED THE "DSG MALFUNCTION LIGHT" AND SUDDENLY AT ABOUT 20MPH MY LURCHED FORWARD AND FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE AND SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. CAR RESTARTED AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS BUT DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO WITHOUT...
Mileage: 87,453
I WAS ACCELERATING, AFTER LEAVING A RESTAURANT, INTO TRAFFIC. I RECEIVED THE "DSG MALFUNCTION LIGHT" AND SUDDENLY AT ABOUT 20MPH MY LURCHED FORWARD AND FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE AND SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. CAR RESTARTED AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS BUT DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD GO WITHOUT...
Mileage: 87,453
I WAS CRUISING AT APPROX. 55MPH ON MY WAY TO WORK. I HAD NO SYMPTOMS OF ANYTHING PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING AND DECELERATING AS IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I MADE AN EMERGENCY MERGE INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN AND WAS LUCKILY NOBODY REAR ENDED ME. AFTER INSPECTION OF...
Mileage: 61,794
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
Mileage: 31,000
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 DRIVIN...
Mileage: 79,366
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 DRIVIN...
Mileage: 79,366
THERE IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE AUDI 3.OT ENGINE'S PLASTIC THERMOSTAT FAILING! I WAS DRIVING AND THE THERMOSTAT FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TEMP TO SKYROCKET TO "H"! I DROVE HOME BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH WITH THE HEATER ON HIGH. THEY FLATBEDED MY CAR ON 9/29/14 FROM MY DRIVEWAY TO THE AUDI DEAL...
Mileage: 48,500
I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2011 AUDI S4 DSG AUTOMATIC VEHICLE. THE CAR BUCKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN GOING FROM STOP TO 1ST-2ND-3RD GEAR OR VICE VERSA. IT USUALLY OCCURS IN SLOW TRAFFIC AND WHEN THE CAR/TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ON FOR AWHILE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO AUDI FOR REPAIR AND THE SOFTWARE AND ADAPTABILITY ...
Mileage: 49,000
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP DO THE DASHBOARD SAYING "GEARBOX MALFUNCTION, REVERSE GEAR NOT AVAILABLE, YOU CAN STILL DRIVE". AT THE SAME TIME, THE TPMS WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON. THE CAR BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO THE THROTTLE, AFTER A FEW SE...
Mileage: 37,500
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 ST...
Mileage: 8,860
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 AUDI S4 SEDAN AND HAD A SUSPENSION AND/OR ALIGNMENT ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. I GOT THREE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS (INCLUDING THAT OF A CERTIFIED AUDI TECHNICIAN) AND ALL AGREED TH...
Mileage: 27,000