Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Audi S4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Power train5
- Exterior lighting3
- Visibility3
- Engine3
- Electrical system2
- Steering2
- Unknown or other1
- Tires1
- Structure1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Audi S4 failed the safety check 1.10% of the time — 50% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 111,992 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
108 first registered in 2004 are on Dutch roads; 77% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €85,149.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen42
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde36
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld21
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af20
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm16
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)15
- Richtingaanwijzers kleur wijkt af/niet toegestaan14
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt14
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
361 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 372 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 151 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 75% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.9% | 21.8% |
| Suspension | 11.3% | 17.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.9% | 9.1% |
| Tyres | 6.0% | 6.7% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.3% | 7.5% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.3% | 3.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
9 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 244,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
122 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 49% arrived as used imports, 46% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 13.1–15.1 L/100 km (about 16–18 mpg US), CO₂ 301–347 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 15.0 | 10.7 | 13.1 |
| S4 Avant · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 15.0 | 10.7 | 13.1 |
| S4 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 17.6 | 12.0 | 15.1 |
| S4 Avant · Station wagon: Small · Premium gasoline | 17.6 | 12.0 | 15.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2004 Audi S4.
| 2005062 14 Mar 2005 | Lights And Instruments On certain Audi A4 cabriolet and S4 cabriolet, the Xenon headlamp reflectors may experience coating degradation. The luminous transmittance of the headlamp may… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Audi told its dealers about the 2004 Audi S4: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250453 | TCM software update for downshift concerns |
| 10250430 | Oil consumption measurement - Repair Authorization (CA) |
| 10249085 | Google Maps Street View (NVLW)) |
| 10249054 | Due to new Minnesota state regulations regarding biofuels, biodiesel blends of B5 or less may not be available in the State of Minnesota. |
| 10244036 | 2004 Scheduled Maintenance Intervals |
| 10243930 | This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries. |
| 10243790 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243787 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243780 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243761 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243756 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10231144 | Technical bulletins and updates |
| 10231135 | Technical bulletins and updates |
| 10231130 | Idenifying and mixing factory fill engine coolants |
| 10231127 | ElsaPro Software update and technical bulletins |
| 10228314 | The use of contaminated gasoline or gasoline with a low content of deposit control additives may result in one or more conditions. |
| 10228302 | High quality media files (video and sound) are now integrated into technical service bulletins on a case-by-case basis. Media files can now be viewed on any smartphone or tablet. |
| 10228297 | This Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) details the general process for carrying out a Software Version Management (SVM) software update for any TSB or Update. |
| 10226530 | ATF pan leaks |
| 10226529 | Vehicle lacks power or will not move after stop due to simultaneous depressing of the brake and accelerator pedals |
| 10224993 | The use of contaminated gasoline or gasoline with a low content of deposit control additives may result in one or more conditions. |
| 10224981 | High quality media files (video and sound) are now integrated into technical service bulletins on a case-by-case basis. Media files can now be viewed on any smartphone or tablet. |
| 10221966 | The use of contaminated gasoline or gasoline with a low content of deposit control additives may result in one or more conditions. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)