KnownCarProblems2005 Audi S4 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Audi S4, most often about the lights (77% of complaints, typically around 56,000 miles). It is 4th of 20 S4 model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2005 Audi S4 problems
Lights
33 complaints · 77%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
Audi: headlight vibration, 2005.5 S4. Under certain operating conditions, such as at idle, vibrations or resonances in the front of the vehicle can cause the headlights to vibrate and turn off. Happens most frequently when car is starting up or cold. Can spontaneously flicker or turn off while driving at night. Occurs…
I own a 2005.5 Audi S4 b7. The headlights go out. While driving the car, one of the headlights begins to flicker on and off. Then all of a sudden, it just shuts off completely. I have to turn the lights completely off and then turn them back on to make the light that just shut off go back on again. Sometimes I have to…
Electrical
5 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument cluster/panel.
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.
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…
Air bags
4 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: frontal.
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…
Failure of the driver's side airbag during a front end collision while the passenger side airbag deployed-no one was occupying the passenger seat. The point of impact was center between the two headlights.
Engine
4 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: engine.
Front headlights (both sides) flicker(blink) but not all the time. When they flicker I turn them off and then turn on again, then they are fine. But I am worried that it may go bad during driving causing safety issues. Its not the bulb issues as on-board diagnostics wouldn't detect the problem. It has happened several…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Audi S4 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began june 29, 2018. Owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69r7. Note: this recall supersedes recalls 16v382, 17v032 and 18v004 and includes vehicles that may have had their air bag previously replaced under one of those campaigns.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 audi a4 sedan, a4 avant, s4 avant and s4 sedan, 2007-2008 rs4 sedan, 2004 rs4 cabriolet, 2007-2009 a4 cabriolet and s4 cabriolet, 2005-2011 a6 sedan, 2006-2011 a6 avant, and 2007-2011 s6 sedan vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 30, 2018. Owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: this recall has been superseded by recall number 18v427.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 audi a4 cabriolet, s4 cabriolet, a6 avant, a6 sedan and s6 sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and west virginia, or "zone b." additionally, unless included in "zone b" above, volkswagen is recalling certain 2005-2008 audi a4 avant, a4 sedan, a6 sedan, s4 avant and s4 sedan vehicles, 2007-2008 a4 cabriolet, rs4 sedan, s4 cabriolet and s6 sedan vehicles, and 2006-2008 a6 avant and 2008 rs4 cabriolet vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alaska, colorado, connecticut, idaho, iowa, maine, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, montana, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, o
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2005 Audi S4
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Audi S4?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (33 complaints, typically around 56,000 miles); electrical (5 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles); air bags (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Audi S4 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 22, 2018 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Audi S4?
- It is 4th of 20 S4 model years by number of complaints, with 43 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.