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Audi S4Model year report

2005 Audi S4 Problems

Complaints
43filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
56,000miles, 34 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 4.2L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 13 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Audi S4 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2005 Audi S4. The part named most often is exterior lighting, with 33 complaints (77% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and air bags (4). 34 of the complaints include a mileage, and 41% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 56,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 212 technical service bulletins for this model year. Exterior lighting complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 36 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Exterior lighting: “Takata recall 1. The left headlight flickers. 2. It then turns itself off 3. The message left dipped headlight appears 4. This happens while my vehicle is parked and in motion so it is a very serious safety risk. I have had both headlights go out at night while driving with my 2 year old in the car!”

NHTSA complaint #11045079, filed 2017-11, 90,256 miles

Electrical system: “As I was driving on the freeway my headlight went out with and the message, right dipped headlight came on. When this happen I stopped to fill up with gas and when I started the car the message was gone and the headlight was back on. This has happened a several more times since then.”

NHTSA complaint #10604899, filed 2014-06, 65,000 miles

Air bags: “In august 2006 while driving my 2005 Audi S4 convertible on a busy street in bloomington, indiana at 45-50 MPH, my car died without warning...I.e. No power steering, brakes. I was able to navigate it off-road and then towed to royal Audi in bloomington, in. They kept the car over a month thinking maybe I needed a new engine. However, eventually they said it was a fuse which was replaced and the car drove fine. …”

NHTSA complaint #10191844, filed 2007-05, 10,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Car started misfiring and within less than 5 miles in the highway then started to build up smoke inside the cabin, car then stopped and towed to a mechanics who confirm the diagnosis of misfiring of 3 cylinders and found overheating of the passenger side catalytic converter that lead to a melting a connector of the transmission.”

NHTSA complaint #10345903, filed 2010-07, 70,600 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

41% of the 34 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 74,000 miles.

3%0–103%10–2535%25–5035%50–7512%75–10012%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (34 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 56,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’06’08’1011’12’14’16’18
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Audi S4. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
S4 · sedan not rated4 / 4——4 · 10.7% risk

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2005 Audi S4 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
S4 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed manual132016$5,150
S4 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic142116$5,150
S4 Avant 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed manual132016$5,150
S4 Avant 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic142116$5,150
S4 Cabriolet 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed manual132016$5,150
S4 Cabriolet 4WD/AWD4.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic142016$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2005 Audi S4 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 212 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 212 bulletins →

Other model years of the Audi S4

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202017—3—23—Rising
201874,0002—24—Not enough data
20141742,4301521—Falling
2013335,100152156 · TypicalStable
20122270,0001421—Stable
20112661,89714219 · FewerFalling
20106058,9500—2150 · TypicalFalling
20071373,4282—16—Not enough data
20063049,3252—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20054356,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20042955,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20022235,6271—18—Stable
20018760,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200014365,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19947165,0002—18—Not enough data
199316121,5002—18—Stable
19925—2—18—Not enough data

All Audi S4 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Audi S4 have?

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2005 Audi S4 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Audi S4 is reported most often?

Exterior lighting is named most often, in 33 complaints (77% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2005 Audi S4 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Audi S4 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Audi S4 (S4, 4.2L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 13 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Audi S4 reported?

Among the 34 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 56,000 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 74,000 miles; 41% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.