2005 Audi S4 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 12%of 43 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Audi S4, 12% of the 43 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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“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“Heated seat element burned or melted the seat while the car was off overnight. Passenger seat leather is now separated, shriveled (hard as a rock) and would have burned the passenger if they had been in the seat.”
NHTSA complaint #10806322, filed 2015-11, 111,300 miles“The contact owns a 2002 Audi S4. The instrumental panel does not display any information. The cluster symbols are broken. The dealer has not diagnosed the failure. The current mileage was 53,000 and the failure mileage was 35,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10204600, filed 2007-10, 35,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10190280Apr 1, 2021This technical service bulletin provides troubleshooting information for the vehicle locking system.
- 10176408Jun 9, 2020This informational bulletin contains instructions on how to use the QR code in a TSB.
- 10166284Sep 17, 201900 Software Version Management (SVM), operating instructions
- 10127949Aug 21, 2017This informational bulletin contains resource information for when the traffic feature is inoperative in the MMI navigation.
- 10123653Dec 10, 2015Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 17 number 14-49 dated April 3, 2014. When the vehicle is completely refueled, the vehicle range (?distance to empty?) that is…
- 10123775Sep 21, 2015Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 96 number 13-67 dated July 10, 2013. The customer may report that the handheld transmitter cannot be programmed to the garage door…
- 10120832Jun 29, 2015Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 91 number 14-50 dated July 10, 2014. Customer may report that cracking, grinding, rattling, humming, whining, or similar interference…
- 10120052May 29, 2015Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 97 number 10-15 dated October 20, 2010. Sporadic fault memory entries are stored in various control modules. Contacts may be widened…
- 10119956Mar 20, 2015Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 91 number 14-69 dated November 4, 2014. The following message appears on the MMI display: "Device or cable type not supported". The…
- 10224981Dec 10, 2014High 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.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 15 | 88% |
| 2014 | 1 | 6% |
| 2013 | 2 | 6% |
| 2012 | 3 | 14% |
| 2011 | 2 | 8% |
| 2010 | 6 | 10% |
| 2007 | 2 | 15% |
| 2006 | 4 | 13% |
| 2005 | 5 | 12% |
| 2004 | 2 | 7% |
| 2002 | 10 | 45% |
| 2001 | 47 | 54% |
| 2000 | 49 | 34% |
Other parts of the 2005 Audi S4
33 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Audi S4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology