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2013 Audi S4 Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Audi S4, most often about the steering (58% of complaints, typically around 4,500 miles). It is 5th of 20 S4 model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.

Complaints33
Recalls1
Crashes reported0
Fires reported0
Injuries reported0

Most common 2013 Audi S4 problems

  1. Steering

    19 complaints · 58%

    Half of these problems showed up before 4,500 miles.

    Starting around february 2, 2013 my vehicle started displaying intermittent bizarre steering behavior. The issues were two fold. First, while driving at any speed but most commonly over 50 MPH the steering exhibited a "slip and connect feeling" where the steering would feel disconnected (or very loosely connected) to…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 4,500 miles
    My 2013 Audi S4 exhibits an alarming tendency to weave from side to side without a steering input. This occurs without a change in steering wheel position, vehicle speed, or change in road surface or prevailing wind direction. It is more pronounced at highway speeds and when wheel is centered at 12 o'clock but does…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 4,500 miles

  2. Transmission

    9 complaints · 27%

    Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles.

    Transmission error, at first says you can continue driving in limp mode but shortly after says put car into park. Got stuck on the road several times in a single 10 mile trip.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 38,000 miles
    The problems started by a warning on my display saying to pull over gear box or transmission failure. You have seconds to pull over before the car no longer functions. Even though you are in gear all that happens is the engine revs and you go no where. My car has only 38,500 miles on it and is out of warranty by a…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 38,500 miles

  3. Engine

    4 complaints · 12%

    Lost all coolant due to radiator leak from road hazard damage caused by bad design of front lower grill. It has no protective mesh and clear openings for rocks to protrude. I found this on Audi forum two people now on the vairious boards have thought they lost their water pump, but in fact have had holes punched in…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 1,529 miles
    The vehicle will not start. Not with the "key" or the button starter. Audi service claims its the battery but when the roadside service shows up its not the battery, so now a tow truck has to be called. This can happen at anytime and any place. Audi denies it is a computer issue but yet the vehicle completely shuts…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 1,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2013 Audi S4 recalls

  1. Air bags

    NHTSA 14V667000 · October 24, 2014 · 101,938 vehicles

    Risk: If the front air bags do not deploy in the event of a secondary impact to the front of the vehicle, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

    Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and audi dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on november 14, 2014. Owners may contact audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69k5.

    Full defect summary

    Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 audi a4 and s4 vehicles manufactured february 16, 2012, to october 21, 2014, and 2013-2015 audi allroad vehicles manufactured march 12, 2012, to october 21, 2014. Due to an improper algorithm in the air bag control module, if a crash necessitates deployment of the side air bags, a second impact to the front of the vehicle may not command the front air bags to also deploy.

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 2013 Audi S4

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Audi S4?
By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (19 complaints, typically around 4,500 miles); transmission (9 complaints, typically around 38,000 miles); engine (4 complaints).
How many recalls does the 2013 Audi S4 have?
1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 24, 2014 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2013 a bad year for the Audi S4?
It is 5th of 20 S4 model years by number of complaints, with 33 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.

Other Audi S4 years

Audi S4 problems by year