2011 Audi S4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
80/100
#3 most-complained of 11 S4 years
The 2011 Audi S4 ranks 3rd worst out of 11 model years, with a complaint index of 80 and 26 NHTSA complaints, 85% tied to the transmission and powertrain. It carries a Fuel System recall and is rated Avoid relative to other S4 years.
- Complaints
- 26
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21
- 18 city / 27.5 hwy
Top 2011 Audi S4 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain22 (85%)
- Engine6 (23%)
- Electrical System2 (8%)
- Other2 (8%)
- Brakes1 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)
What owners report
- Cars buck or lurch at low speeds in low gears, especially from a stop or in slow traffic.
- Dashboard warnings for gearbox malfunction and reverse gear unavailable appear while driving, sometimes paired with a loss of throttle response.
- DSG transmission surges forward then loses speed repeatedly, occasionally leaving the car unresponsive in traffic.
- Plastic engine thermostats fail, causing engine temperature to spike suddenly.
- Engine burns excessive oil, requiring frequent refills, alongside a drive range sensor electrical error triggering gearbox warnings.
- A front tire blew out on the highway due to a reported suspension or alignment defect.
2011 Audi S4 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V019000Jan 20, 2015Fuel System26,008 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Audi S4, S5, Q7, 2012 Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, and 2012-2013 Audi A7 vehicles. In the affected vehicles the fuel injection system may experience a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the injection system in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails and corresponding seals, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 24AP for Audi customers and 24BK for Volkswagen customers.
2011 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.
2011 compared with other S4 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Audi S4 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 S4 has a complaint index of 80 and ranks 3rd worst among 11 model years covered, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other S4 years.
- What is the most common problem with the 2011 Audi S4?
- Transmission and powertrain issues dominate, accounting for 22 of 26 complaints (85%), with a median mileage at failure of 61,897 miles.
- Does the 2011 Audi S4 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 15V019000) covering the fuel system, involving replacement of fuel rails and seals; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2011 Audi S4 compare to other years?
- The 2011 model's complaint index of 80 is lower than the 2010 model's 100 but higher than 2012 (70), 2014 (50), and later years like 2018 (40), making 2011 one of the worse years for the S4.