Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Audi S4, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Exterior lighting33
- Electrical system5
- Air bags4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Steering1
- Power train1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Visibility/wiper1
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 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 2005 Audi S4 failed the safety check 1.92% of the time — 17% less often than the average 2005 passenger car (2.30%). Median odometer at inspection: 113,794 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
82 first registered in 2005 are on Dutch roads; 99% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €81,532.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen34
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde28
- Band onvoldoende profiel24
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld19
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect15
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm15
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm14
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af13
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
275 cars built in 2005 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 218 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, 129 of these cars first registered in 2005 took their annual MOT test. 79% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2005 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 8.5% | 17.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.8% | 21.5% |
| Tyres | 7.8% | 7.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.9% | 8.9% |
| Brakes | 3.9% | 13.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.1% | 3.0% |
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
6 of these cars first registered in 2005 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 294,000 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
99 2005 cars are on the New Zealand register; 66% arrived as used imports, 28% 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
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone B" above, Volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Avant, A4 Sedan, A6 Sedan, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 A4 Cabriolet, RS4 Sedan, S4 Cabriolet and S6 Sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 A6 Avant and 2008 RS4 Cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
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 2005 Audi S4: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10251027 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250950 | Tightening wheel bolts |
| 10250949 | Steering wheel leather damage, all vehicles |
| 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. |
| 10243930 | This bulletin provides information on the additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries. |
| 10243791 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243790 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243787 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243780 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243775 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243761 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243756 | Audi Elsa Newsletter |
| 10235531 | Inside the Rings | Volume 12, Spring 2023 |
| 10233620 | In conjunction with the Massachusetts DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,907 Audi owners in the State of Massachusetts on March 13, 2023. |
| 10233612 | In conjunction with the New Mexico DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 389 Audi owners in the State of New Mexico on March 13, 2023. |
| 10232111 | In conjunction with the Colorado DMV, Audi will be sending Takata airbag recall reminder notices to approximately 2,174 Audi owners in the State of Colorado on February 13, 2023. |
| 10232062 | Takata recall and 3G turndown |
| 10231144 | Technical bulletins and updates |
| 10231140 | Technical bulletins and updates |
| 10231135 | Technical bulletins and updates |
| 10231132 | Technical bulletins and updates |
| 10231130 | Idenifying and mixing factory fill engine coolants |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)