Audi S4 Recalls

The Audi S4 has 15 recalls spanning 1992 through 2022, with the most serious being a Takata-related passenger airbag inflator defect on 2005-2009 models where the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.

The most recent model years carry a cluster of safety-related issues. On 2021 models, a rear axle lock nut can break and misalign the rear axle, causing loss of vehicle control. A separate 2020-2021 recall covers the same rear axle assembly, where misalignment can instead cause premature or uneven tire wear. Also on 2021 models, the rear seatbelt retractor can fail to properly secure a child restraint system in a crash, and the rearview camera display can go blank while reversing. The 2022 model year has a software issue that can cause the infotainment screen to stop displaying the rearview camera image.

Stepping back to the 2018-2020 range, the passenger seat occupant detection sensor can malfunction and disable the front passenger airbag, leaving that occupant without protection in a crash. A similar airbag suppression issue affects 2018 models specifically, where oxidation on the passenger occupant detection cable can cause the system to disable the passenger airbag. On 2013-2015 models, the front airbags can fail to deploy in a secondary frontal impact.

On the fuel system side, 2011-2012 models have a fuel injection rail that can leak near an ignition source, raising the risk of an engine fire. Going back to 2000-2002 models, the driver airbag inflator can fail to deploy properly in a crash, reducing occupant protection.

Earlier production has a handful of issues. The 2003 model year has xenon headlamp lenses that can degrade over time, reducing light output and forward visibility at night. The 1992 model year has a fuel feed line that can shrink from heat exposure near the turbocharger and seep fuel at its connection point.