How common are electrical problems in the 2005 Audi S4?

NHTSA lists 37 Electrical System complaints for the 2005 Audi S4, which is 86% of all 43 complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2005 Audi S4 electrical system?

No. NHTSA shows no related recall tied to this Electrical System complaint pattern.

What is the main electrical complaint on the 2005 Audi S4?

Most owners describe headlight condensation and intermittent headlight flickering or shutoff, with median mileage at failure of 56,000.

Did the electrical issues cause any crashes?

NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires among the Electrical System complaints for this model year, with 0 injuries reported.

Do later Audi S4 model years have the same electrical complaint pattern?

The share drops sharply after 2005: 2006 had 73% of complaints in this area, 2007 fell to 15%, and 2008-2009 had none.

2005 Audi S4 Electrical System Problems

Owners filed 37 Electrical System complaints for the 2005 Audi S4, 86% of all 43 complaints that year, mostly about headlight condensation and intermittent headlight failure. Median mileage at failure was 56,000. NHTSA lists no related recall for this issue.

Electrical System complaints: 37; 86% of 43 complaints
All complaints this year: 43
Crashes reported: 1
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 56,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

Headlight housings fill with condensation after rain or snow, cutting light output and making night driving harder.
Dealers reportedly told owners the condensation was normal and declined to repair it under warranty.
Headlights flicker or shut off intermittently, sometimes triggering a dashboard warning that a headlight is dipped.
The instrument cluster loses its display and cluster symbols stop working with no diagnosis found by the dealer.
One driver reported a sudden loss of engine power along with power steering and brakes, later traced to a blown fuse.

When 2005 Audi S4 electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 15, 2006, latest Apr 26, 2018.

37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2006 to Apr 2018; peak Jan 2010 (3).

Electrical System recalls for the 2005 Audi S4

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by S4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

200537 (86%)
200622 (73%)
20072 (15%)
20080 (0%)
20090 (0%)
20107 (12%)
20112 (8%)
20123 (14%)
20132 (6%)
20141 (6%)
20150 (0%)
20180 (0%)
20190 (0%)
202014 (88%)
20211 (50%)
20221 (100%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical problems in the 2005 Audi S4?: NHTSA lists 37 Electrical System complaints for the 2005 Audi S4, which is 86% of all 43 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2005 Audi S4 electrical system?: No. NHTSA shows no related recall tied to this Electrical System complaint pattern.
What is the main electrical complaint on the 2005 Audi S4?: Most owners describe headlight condensation and intermittent headlight flickering or shutoff, with median mileage at failure of 56,000.
Did the electrical issues cause any crashes?: NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires among the Electrical System complaints for this model year, with 0 injuries reported.
Do later Audi S4 model years have the same electrical complaint pattern?: The share drops sharply after 2005: 2006 had 73% of complaints in this area, 2007 fell to 15%, and 2008-2009 had none.