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Audi S4Model year report

2018 Audi S4 Problems

Complaints
7filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
4,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl AWD · 21 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Audi S4 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2018 Audi S4. The part named most often is engine, with 4 complaints (57% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and body and structure (1). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 4,000 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 797 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 44 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 49 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Engine: “When driving in manual mode and transition from on the throttle to off-throttle, there is a 1-2 second delay before the engine stops accelerating and transitions to deceleration. Especially in first gear, this means that the vehicle continues to accelerate for that period of time. I drove another model of Audi with the same engine/transmission (2018 s5) and it exhibits the same behavior. Since the car does not have a physical throttle cable, this would seem to be caused by the throttle not closing as commanded by the ecu or there being a delay in the throttle being commanded to close. …”

NHTSA complaint #11051028, filed 2017-11, 1,300 miles

Brakes: “The vehicle's pre sense auto-braking and braking alert jolt has been activating erroneously and have almost caused accidents at speed. The system cannot be permanently disabled, it deactivates upon ignition restart. The system has erroneously and aggressively jolted the breaks on several occasions on curves, especially when cresting a hill with vehicles parked on the downward sloap. Clearly, it is mistaken the parked vehicles for a potential impact, either aggressively jolting the breakers and/or breaking. …”

NHTSA complaint #11084045, filed 2018-04, 4,000 miles

Body and structure: “There are two large underride guard panels on the underside of the vehicle that are fastened by small, loose-fitting plastic clips. There is also felt sound-deadening material on the exterior side of this panel. When the vehicle is driven in rain or snow, the panel collects snow or water under normal driving conditions and breaks free unexpectedly, causing the panel to contact the road and drag on the ground. This dragging causes a rudder effect, pulling the vehicle rapidly and unexpectedly in an unpredictable direction. …”

NHTSA complaint #11073046, filed 2018-02, 5,800 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,300 and 5,800 miles.

100%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 4,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2017201822022202420252
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 2018 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 AWDnot rated———5 · 9.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2018 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 AWD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic213024$3,400

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 2018 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. 797 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 797 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 2018 Audi S4 have?

NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2018 Audi S4 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Audi S4 is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 4 complaints (57% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.

Has the 2018 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 2018 Audi S4 get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Audi S4 (S4, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Audi S4 reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,000 miles and the middle half falls between 1,300 and 5,800 miles; 100% 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.