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EnginePart report

2011 Audi S4 Engine Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
19%of 26 total for the year
Median mileage
79,366miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the engine of the 2011 Audi S4, 19% of the 26 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 79,366 miles.

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.

“I was accelerating, after leaving a restaurant, into traffic. I received the dsg malfunction light and suddenly at about 20mph my lurched forward and failed to respond to the throttle and shut off in traffic. Car restarted after about 30 seconds but definitely not something that should go without notice. If I was on the interstate and throttle went out situation could have been much worse.”

NHTSA complaint #10670583, filed 2015-01, 87,453 miles

“I was exiting off of the interstate and the car began to sputter. I had to cut 3 cars off to pull onto to the shoulder, where the car continued to lose power and eventually died. A gearbox malfunction warning light came on, but said it was still safe to drive. I was able to get me car into park and start . After sitting for a few minutes I went on my way, however, the car sputtered again out of 1st gear but smoothed out once I got going. The light remained on the remainder of the trip but didnt come back on the next morning. …”

NHTSA complaint #11065848, filed 2018-01, 80,000 miles

“There is a well known issue with the Audi 3.ot engine's plastic thermostat failing! I was driving and the thermostat failed causing the engine temp to skyrocket to h ! I drove home because I was close enough with the heater on high. They flatbeded my car on 9/29/14 from my driveway to the Audi dealership. Dealership determined it was a failed thermostat and replaced it with another plastic themostat. The second thermostat failed 2 days later. I just took the car to the Audi dealership again this morning 10/3/14 to have it replaced again! …”

NHTSA complaint #10641193, filed 2014-10, 48,500 miles

“Audi recently replaced my 2nd thermostat (1st was 11/2012 and the 2nd was 11/24/2014), not under warranty, and returned my car to me after holding onto my car for two weeks. I was told that my vehicle checked out okay via a diagnostic and mechanics review. I drove my S4 for two days and while driving, I received an indicator warning that read, gearbox malfunction reverse not available, you can still drive. I then noticed that the car began to violently buck when I accelerated. The car surged forward while driving in traffic which was alarming to both my 10yr old daughter and I. …”

NHTSA complaint #10661438, filed 2014-12, 79,366 miles

“Engine - excessive oil consumption (1qt refill is require for every 750miles). Dsg transmission ' getting gearbox malfunction, you can continue to drive on dashboard. This is due to p179e - drive range sensor electrical error.”

NHTSA complaint #10785293, filed 2015-10, 76,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2018457%
2014318%
2013412%
2011519%
201047%
2007215%
200512%
2004310%

Other parts of the 2011 Audi S4

Transmission and drivetrain
22 complaints
Electrical system
2 complaints
Other or unknown
2 complaints
Electronic stability control
1 complaints
Suspension
1 complaints
Vehicle speed control
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 Audi S4

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology