Total Complaints
23 filings
AUDI S4 · model year
23 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
New Car Assessment Program
The 2014AUDIS4 carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2014 S4 is steering with 6 filings, followed by unknown or other (3) and power train (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2014 S4. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
23 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 6 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 3 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 |
| ENGINE | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
AIR BAGS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Audi A4 and S4 vehicles manufactured February 16, 2012, to October 21, 2014, and 2013-2015 Audi Allroad vehicles manufactured March 12, 2012, to October 21, 2014. Due to an improper algorithm in the air bag con
The contact owns a 2014 Audi S4. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, he observed multiple unknown warning lights illuminated. The EPC warning light was also illuminated. The contact stated that the âDo Not Drive" message was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel was stiff and failed to steer as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic steering module and rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
Mileage: 61,000
MY 2014 AUDI S4 HAS A EPC LIGHT THAT KEEPS TURNING ON WHILE DRIVING THAT CAR. THE EPC LIGHT WILL PUT THE CAR INTO LIMP MODE AND WILL HAVE A ROUGH IDLE AND CAN BARLEY DRIVE. WHEN THAT LIGHT TURNS ON YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND RESTART THE CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND IS A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY. THE LIGHT MAINLY TURNS ON WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEEDS OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND THEY KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE CAR WHAT'S SO EVER. I DECIDED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR MYSELF BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS NO HELP. WHEN I LOOK IT UP HUNDREDS OF FORUMS SHOW UP TALKING ABOUT IT AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CAR AND EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND HOW THE DEALER IS NO HELP AT ALL. ONE PERSON SAID THEY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THERE WAS A FAULTY WIRE ON THE ECU. I THINK ITS THE ECU FAILING AND DOESN'T KN
Mileage: 100,000
MY 2014 AUDI S4 HAS A EPC LIGHT THAT KEEPS TURNING ON WHILE DRIVING THAT CAR. THE EPC LIGHT WILL PUT THE CAR INTO LIMP MODE AND WILL HAVE A ROUGH IDLE AND CAN BARLEY DRIVE. WHEN THAT LIGHT TURNS ON YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND RESTART THE CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND IS A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY. THE LIGHT MAINLY TURNS ON WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEEDS OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND THEY KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE CAR WHAT'S SO EVER. I DECIDED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR MYSELF BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS NO HELP. WHEN I LOOK IT UP HUNDREDS OF FORUMS SHOW UP TALKING ABOUT IT AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CAR AND EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND HOW THE DEALER IS NO HELP AT ALL. ONE PERSON SAID THEY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THERE WAS A FAULTY WIRE ON THE ECU. I THINK ITS THE ECU FAILING AND DOESN'T KN
Mileage: 100,000
MY 2014 AUDI S4 HAS A EPC LIGHT THAT KEEPS TURNING ON WHILE DRIVING THAT CAR. THE EPC LIGHT WILL PUT THE CAR INTO LIMP MODE AND WILL HAVE A ROUGH IDLE AND CAN BARLEY DRIVE. WHEN THAT LIGHT TURNS ON YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND RESTART THE CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND IS A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY. THE LIGHT MAINLY TURNS ON WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEEDS OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND THEY KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE CAR WHAT'S SO EVER. I DECIDED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR MYSELF BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS NO HELP. WHEN I LOOK IT UP HUNDREDS OF FORUMS SHOW UP TALKING ABOUT IT AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CAR AND EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND HOW THE DEALER IS NO HELP AT ALL. ONE PERSON SAID THEY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THERE WAS A FAULTY WIRE ON THE ECU. I THINK ITS THE ECU FAILING AND DOESN'T KN
Mileage: 100,000
THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS "NOTCHY" STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IN COLD WEATHER. AT OR ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL TRIES TO "BOUNCE" LEFT AND RIGHT RATHER THAN MAINTAINING CENTER--EVEN WHEN TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT, FRESHLY-PAVED SECTION OF INTERSTATE. THE DRIVER HAS TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR TRAVELING STRAIGHT. THE STEERING FUNCTIONS NORMALLY OTHERWISE, AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT MANIFEST ITSELF AT LOW SPEEDS. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM AROUND AUGUST OF 2020. OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS: HTTPS://WWW.AUDIZINE.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/690756-NOTCHY-STEERING.
Mileage: 90,000
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM OF AIR BUBBLE FORMATION IN MY FUEL SYSTEM (CODE 16903) WHEN READING CODES IN MY CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FUEL PUMP ISSUE SO I REPLACED IT. I THEN REALIZED IT WASN'T JUST A PUMP ISSUE AS THE CAR KEPT READING THOSE CODES AND KEPT STOPPING. I TALKED TO A LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE FUEL PUMP VAPOR EXTENSION. WHEN ASKED THEY SAID THAT IT'S ONLY A TSB NOT A RECALL DUE TO IT NOT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW YOU TELL ME, MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND STOPPED ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND 3 TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC 2 WEEKS LATER. I BELIEVE IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM AS ANYONE COULD'VE RAN INTO ME AND CAUSED BIGGER PROBLEMS. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PAY 800 DOLLARS FOR MY SAFETY. THAT PIECE SHOULD'VE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FROM THE BEGINNING. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND THE EVENTS THAT UNFOLDED, THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND MY CAR NEEDS TO BE FIXED ACCORDINGLY.
Mileage: 62,600
WHILE DRIVING, STEERING CAN BECOME NOTCHY. STEERING INPUTS ARE NOT ALWAYS 100% TRANSFERRED TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THERE CAN BE A "DEAD SPOT" IN THE STEERING. THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INTENDED PATH. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES, AND SEEMS TO BE EXACERBATED IN COLDER WEATHER.
Mileage: 74,000
WHILE TRAVELING AT 75MPH, UPHILL, IN 100F WEATHER THE FUEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM DEVELOPED A VAPOR BUBBLE THAT STALLED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND STARVED THE MOTOR FOR FUEL. THE CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY RESTART UNTIL THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE REPAIR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL VALVES AND HOSES HE ADDED TO THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM TO COMPENSATE FOR THE POOR VAPOR MANAGEMENT DESIGN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE APPROPRIATE FIX AND TSB WAS EXECUTED. TOTAL COST WAS ~$2200, $715 OF THAT TOTAL COST WERE THE NEW VALVES AND HOSES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE INITIAL DESIGN.
Mileage: 58,000
WHILE TRAVELING AT 75MPH, UPHILL, IN 100F WEATHER THE FUEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM DEVELOPED A VAPOR BUBBLE THAT STALLED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND STARVED THE MOTOR FOR FUEL. THE CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY RESTART UNTIL THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE REPAIR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL VALVES AND HOSES HE ADDED TO THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM TO COMPENSATE FOR THE POOR VAPOR MANAGEMENT DESIGN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE APPROPRIATE FIX AND TSB WAS EXECUTED. TOTAL COST WAS ~$2200, $715 OF THAT TOTAL COST WERE THE NEW VALVES AND HOSES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE INITIAL DESIGN.
Mileage: 58,000
WHILE TRAVELING AT 75MPH, UPHILL, IN 100F WEATHER THE FUEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM DEVELOPED A VAPOR BUBBLE THAT STALLED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND STARVED THE MOTOR FOR FUEL. THE CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY RESTART UNTIL THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE REPAIR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL VALVES AND HOSES HE ADDED TO THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM TO COMPENSATE FOR THE POOR VAPOR MANAGEMENT DESIGN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE APPROPRIATE FIX AND TSB WAS EXECUTED. TOTAL COST WAS ~$2200, $715 OF THAT TOTAL COST WERE THE NEW VALVES AND HOSES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE INITIAL DESIGN.
Mileage: 58,000
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. CHECKED WITH AUDI AND THEY ARE SAYING THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. EAXCT SAME ISSUE AS THE AUDI RECALL 74D5
THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE GONE BAD. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE LEAKING AND THUS HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND SEVERAL OTHER MODELS. THE ENGINE MOUNTS FAIL AT AROUND 50000 MILES. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ENGINE MOUNTS GOING BAD THIS EARLY IN A CARS LIFE. MAYBE AFTER 100000 MILES I WOULD EXPECT FOR THE ENGINE MOUNTS TO FAIL BUT NOT AT 50000 MILES. MANY AUDI OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON FORUMS AND AUDI GROUPS ONLINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AUDI IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THEY ARE LEAVING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO FIX A PROBLEM WHICH SHOULD NOT EXIST.
CARBON BUILD UP
Mileage: 90,010
WHILE DRIVING MY 2014 AUDI S4 ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN TURNS, THE STEERING GOES FROM FEELING TIGHT TO VERY LIGHT AND BACK TO TIGHT AGAIN WITHIN A MATTER OF SPLIT SECONDS. THIS CAUSES DRIFTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN CORNERING BECAUSE YOU'RE COMPENSATING FOR THE LACK OF FEELING FOR AN INSTANT AND USING MORE INPUT THAN YOU SHOULD, THEN THE STEERING GETS TIGHT AGAIN AND YOUR CAR STEERS MORE THAN IT SHOULD HAVE. NOTE THAT THE CAR GOES STRAIGHT WHEN HANDS ARE NOT ON THE WHEEL. THIS IS MOST PREVALENT AT TIMES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE STRAIGHT POSITION. THIS SEEMS TO BE DUE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAT HAPPENS UNDER THE FORCE OF THE DRIVERS HANDS AS THE STEERING ASSIST LEVEL FLUCTUATES. THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO STAY CENTERED WHEN GOING STRAIGHT AND HANDS ARE RESTING ON THE WHEEL. THERE SEEMS TO BE EXCESSIVE ASSIST AT OR NEAR THE TOP DEAD CENTER. NOTE THAT THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE. IT MIGHT BE DRIVING FINE, THEN I TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO FILL UP WITH GAS FOR
Mileage: 42,430
WHILE DRIVING, A SUDDEN BRAKE FOLLOWED BY A QUICK ACCELERATION LEADS TO BUCKING WITH ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE REMAINING REVVED UP. WITH BRAKING, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE IT IS BY SHUTTING THE CAR OFF ENTIRELY. HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 7 TIMES IN PASSED 2.5 YEARS. RESEARCH INDICATES A FAULTY MECHATRONICS UNIT, BUT 2 NY DEALERSHIPS CONTINUE TO STATE NO ISSUE.
Mileage: 10,000
FOR THE PASSED 2.5 YEARS, THE HEATING SYSTEM SMELLS, BURNS MY EYES, GIVES ME A HEADACHE, AND MAKES ME NAUSEATED. REPEATED VISITS TO DIFFERENT AUDI DEALERSHIPS WITH NO CHANGE. ISSUE REMAINS, DEALERSHIPS STATE NO ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT EXHAUST IS PROBABLY ENTERING VIA THE AIR SYSTEM.
Mileage: 5,000
AFTER 2 ENGINE OIL LEAKS, IN 2.5 YEARS, I SMELLED GAS FUMES IN THE CABIN NUMEROUS TIMES, SCHEDULED AN APPT FOR A CHECK WITH THE WEST ISLIP NY AUDI DEALERSHIP. PICKED UP CAR FROM DEALERSHIP, WITH WORK ORDER AND SERVICE REP. SIMPLY STATING "NO PROBLEM FOUND" UNDER EACH OF MY 5 CONCERNS, WHICH TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE ISSUES. WITH EVERY WORK ORDER, WHICH ARE NUMEROUS ON THIS CAR, IT IS STATED WHAT WAS DONE, BUT NOT THIS "SERVICE". TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP MY VEHICLE, AUDI REPORTED A RECALL DUE TO GAS LEAKS IN THEIR VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER LEASE AND WARRANTY, YET THIS DEALERSHIP TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO IGNORE MY CONCERNS, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY BE FATAL.? ABSOLUTELY NO INTEGRITY, AND LACKING ANY SENSE OF MORALS.
Mileage: 38,000
2014 AUDI S4 HAS DANGEROUS STEERING BEHAVIOR. THE STEERING SLIPS AT THE CENTER POSITION, WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING INPUT. THIS IS FURTHER EXACERBATED BY A CONSTANT NOTCHY FEELING AT ANY SPEED BETWEEN THE 10 AND 2 OCLOCK POSITION. IT IS PARTICULARLY BAD IN LONG SWEEPING TURNS WHERE YOU CAN DISTINCTLY FEEL A NOTCH. WHEN IN ONE OF THESE TURNS YOU WILL HAVE CONSTANT LINEAR STEERING FOLLOWED BY A NOTCH THAT WHEN SURPASSED RESULTS IN A LARGE STEERING INPUT WHICH IS UNEXPECTED AND DESTABILIZING TO THE VEHICLE IF AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. THIS IS INTERMITTENT BUT REPEATABLE AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON ALL 2013+ S4 & S5 MODELS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. AUDI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COME UP WITH A PERMANENT AND SAFE SOLUTION AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, AUDIS DRIVER STEERING RECOMMENDATION (DSR) MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE. DSR IS AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM THAT DETECTS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTING TO SKID AND THE S
Mileage: 20,000
2014 AUDI S4 HAS DANGEROUS STEERING BEHAVIOR. THE STEERING SLIPS AT THE CENTER POSITION, WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING INPUT. THIS IS FURTHER EXACERBATED BY A CONSTANT NOTCHY FEELING AT ANY SPEED BETWEEN THE 10 AND 2 OCLOCK POSITION. IT IS PARTICULARLY BAD IN LONG SWEEPING TURNS WHERE YOU CAN DISTINCTLY FEEL A NOTCH. WHEN IN ONE OF THESE TURNS YOU WILL HAVE CONSTANT LINEAR STEERING FOLLOWED BY A NOTCH THAT WHEN SURPASSED RESULTS IN A LARGE STEERING INPUT WHICH IS UNEXPECTED AND DESTABILIZING TO THE VEHICLE IF AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. THIS IS INTERMITTENT BUT REPEATABLE AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON ALL 2013+ S4 & S5 MODELS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. AUDI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COME UP WITH A PERMANENT AND SAFE SOLUTION AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, AUDIS DRIVER STEERING RECOMMENDATION (DSR) MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE. DSR IS AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM THAT DETECTS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTING TO SKID AND THE S
Mileage: 20,000
2014 AUDI S4 HAS DANGEROUS STEERING BEHAVIOR. THE STEERING SLIPS AT THE CENTER POSITION, WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING INPUT. THIS IS FURTHER EXACERBATED BY A CONSTANT NOTCHY FEELING AT ANY SPEED BETWEEN THE 10 AND 2 OCLOCK POSITION. IT IS PARTICULARLY BAD IN LONG SWEEPING TURNS WHERE YOU CAN DISTINCTLY FEEL A NOTCH. WHEN IN ONE OF THESE TURNS YOU WILL HAVE CONSTANT LINEAR STEERING FOLLOWED BY A NOTCH THAT WHEN SURPASSED RESULTS IN A LARGE STEERING INPUT WHICH IS UNEXPECTED AND DESTABILIZING TO THE VEHICLE IF AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. THIS IS INTERMITTENT BUT REPEATABLE AND IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON ALL 2013+ S4 & S5 MODELS WITH THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. AUDI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COME UP WITH A PERMANENT AND SAFE SOLUTION AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. ALSO, AUDIS DRIVER STEERING RECOMMENDATION (DSR) MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE. DSR IS AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM THAT DETECTS WHEN THE CAR IS STARTING TO SKID AND THE S
Mileage: 20,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.