YearToAvoid

2010 Audi S4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 16 S4 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2010 Audi S4 ranks worst among the 11 model years covered, with a complaint index of 100 and 60 complaints, 70% tied to transmission and powertrain issues. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other S4 years, with no recalls on file.

Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 27.5 hwy

Top 2010 Audi S4 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain42 (70%)
  2. Engine16 (27%)
  3. Electrical System7 (12%)
  4. Brakes2 (3%)
  5. Other2 (3%)
  6. Fuel System1 (2%)
  7. Steering1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Transmission jerks and slams, sometimes lurching forward, right before coming to a stop in stop-and-go traffic.
  • Mechatronics unit failures leave the DSG transmission stuck in 1st gear with no reverse and trigger a transmission failure message on the dashboard.
  • Hard, abrupt shifts between 1st and 2nd gear produce a loud drivetrain bang and shaking as the car slows down.
  • Water pump failures occur early in ownership, sometimes leaking coolant that splatters across the engine and causes steam and towing.
  • One report links a water pump failure to a near-total loss of steering at the same time.
  • The electronic parking brake reportedly disengaged on its own while parked on a slope, letting the car roll into another vehicle.
2010 Audi S4 complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2010Aug 2011Oct 2014Jan 2016Nov 2016Oct 2017Jul 2019
71 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2010 to Sep 2025; peak May 2019 (4).

2010 Audi S4 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2010 Audi S4 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
27.5 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other S4 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008No verdict274215.5
2009No verdict00215.5
2010Avoid10060021
2011Avoid8726121
2012Caution7322121

All Audi S4 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Audi S4 reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2010 S4 has the highest complaint index (100) of the 11 model years tracked, with 60 complaints and no recalls, making it an Avoid year relative to other S4 model years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Audi S4?
Transmission and powertrain issues dominate, accounting for 70% of complaints (42 of 60), with a median failure mileage of 63,000 miles.
Does the 2010 Audi S4 have any recalls?
No, NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2010 Audi S4.
Are there engine problems in the 2010 Audi S4?
Engine complaints make up 27% of reports (16 of 60), with a median failure mileage of 11,000 miles, and owner reports describe water pump failures.
How does the 2010 S4 compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 100 it ranks worst of all 11 years tracked; by comparison the 2018 model has an index of 40 and a Good verdict.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.