Audi S4 2013

Model S4 made in 2013 by Audi got 29 consumer complains as well as 2 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to engine and steering. Technical service bulletines regarding digital instrument panel and fuel system, gasoline.

Model 2013

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANEL
TSB-20-12-2511/08/201210050941Audi: when fuel tank is completely empty, instrument cluster display zero miles for fuel range and refueling shows fuel tank accepts less gallons than owner's manual indicates. models 2011-2013 a4, a5, a5 cabriolet, s4, s5, s5 cabriolet02/12/2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY
TSB-20-12-2511/08/201210050941Audi: when fuel tank is completely empty, instrument cluster display zero miles for fuel range and refueling shows fuel tank accepts less gallons than owner's manual indicates. models 2011-2013 a4, a5, a5 cabriolet, s4, s5, s5 cabriolet02/12/2013

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE
01/24/201315291
 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 their intercooling radiators by errant road debris which strikes the radiator at highway speeds and perforates it. since the engine and supercharger cooling systems share the same overflow container, but are seperate loops, it's only a matter of time before both systems have lost all coolant liquid, due to the one way valve system, the heating and cooling of the coolant and the shared overflow tank. this is not covered by audi warranty, and is considered wear and tear. it also removes the car from service until it parts are obtained and it can be repaired, not to mention the cost and frustration. http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2784308&highlight=nws4guy+mesh&page=22. *tr
STEERING
11/23/20127531
 The steering feels notchy when turning, it also feels like it is floating when centered at freeway speeds, causing the driver to over correct to keep the vehicle straight. when turning there is a slight slip of resistance similar turning a dial with grooves. i do not feel safe with the unknown steering response. *tr
10/12/20122001
 The steering has a notching just off center to the right and left. feels like the steering falls into a detent position. makes controlling the car awkward. the feel is not progressive. the steering cannot be held in the desired position. *tr
02/18/201351001
 While driving at a low speed on city roads, the steering became difficult to control. it felt as if the steering wheel was notching/ratcheting as i turned it. i was able to maintain control, but steering felt loose and inaccurate. *tr
02/01/201330001
 Audi's electronic assisted steering on my s4 exhibits unpredictable behavior which could result in an accident. it has a notch at 12 o'clock where the car usually does not respond to wheel inputs until you turn it more than an inch in either direction. when it does finally react, it often overcompensates. it does not always happen however. sometimes the notchiness is present, sometimes it's not even on the same steering settings/same speed. i can not keep the car going straight at times. the slightest movement to the right steps it over into what feels like the next groove and i start slightly heading off the road too the right, try to correct and it steps a notch over to the left and i start slowly changing lanes that direction. *tr
02/01/201335001
 My steering is unable to keep a straight line at times. the steering wheel feels like is in notched like a gear would be. my car will start moving towards the left lane like the alignment is off. when i try to correct this the steering makes a non fluid movement to next landing notch to the right, then the car starts moving off to the right lane. i have to move between these two landing notches every few seconds to remain within my lane. this is extremely unsafe and is very concerning! i today started researching this and it appears this is a well known issue with the newer audi's but not fix is being released. *tr
02/17/20133700
 Electric power steering (eps) randomly gets a notchy feeling and loses its true center. the wheel cannot be held at a perfect 12 o'clock. it is either at 11:57 or 12:03, so going straight down a road requires constant correction on the part of the driver. these notches persist throughout the entire steering wheel. in other words, by making a hard left, the wheel will pass through 8-10 different notches. at some point, the problem will then go away and disappear.
02/18/20135100
 While driving at a low speed on city roads, the steering became difficult to control. it felt as if the steering wheel was notching/ratcheting as i turned it. i was able to maintain control, but steering felt loose and inaccurate.
02/01/20133000
 Audi's electronic assisted steering on my s4 exhibits unpredictable behavior which could result in an accident. it has a notch at 12 o'clock where the car usually does not respond to wheel inputs until you turn it more than an inch in either direction. when it does finally react, it often overcompensates. it does not always happen however. sometimes the notchiness is present, sometimes it's not even on the same steering settings/same speed. i can not keep the car going straight at times. the slightest movement to the right steps it over into what feels like the next groove and i start slightly heading off the road too the right, try to correct and it steps a notch over to the left and i start slowly changing lanes that direction.
02/01/20133500
 My steering is unable to keep a straight line at times. the steering wheel feels like is in notched like a gear would be. my car will start moving towards the left lane like the alignment is off. when i try to correct this the steering makes a non fluid movement to next landing notch to the right, then the car starts moving off to the right lane. i have to move between these two landing notches every few seconds to remain within my lane. this is extremely unsafe and is very concerning! i today started researching this and it appears this is a well known issue with the newer audi's but not fix is being released.
02/02/201345001
 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 the wheels. large driver steering inputs resulted in only minor corrections. only when turning the steering wheel about two inches in either direction would the steering grab and feel normal again. this phenomenon has resulted in several near miss accidents where the car swerves into the adjacent lane. the second issue is a steering notchiness which occurs at any speed and most apparent during turns. i can best describe this as if the steering, which is electronic, changes from high to low to high boost while turning the steering wheel. although not as much a safety concern as the first issue, it requires vigilant attention to ensure car control. both of these issues have been reported by many audi drivers on several online forums. the following thread has over 850 posts from concerned audi drivers, many with these same issues. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/513862-steering-issues-2013. *tr
02/02/20134500
 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 the wheels. large driver steering inputs resulted in only minor corrections. only when turning the steering wheel about two inches in either direction would the steering grab and feel normal again. this phenomenon has resulted in several near miss accidents where the car swerves into the adjacent lane. the second issue is a steering notchiness which occurs at any speed and most apparent during turns. i can best describe this as if the steering, which is electronic, changes from high to low to high boost while turning the steering wheel. although not as much a safety concern as the first issue, it requires vigilant attention to ensure car control. both of these issues have been reported by many audi drivers on several online forums. the following thread has over 850 posts from concerned audi drivers, many with these same issues. http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/513862-steering-issues-2013
12/12/201215001
 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 occur at all speeds and steering vectors. audi dealership notes the problem and blames the new electric steering system but states it is a characteristic of the system and is not a defect. i disagree and feel any direction change in a vehicle without a driver input or a explainable external factor constitutes a potential safety issue. *tr
12/12/20121500
 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 occur at all speeds and steering vectors. audi dealership notes the problem and blames the new electric steering system but states it is a characteristic of the system and is not a defect. i disagree and feel any direction change in a vehicle without a driver input or a explainable external factor constitutes a potential safety issue.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10/12/2012200
 The steering has a notching just off center to the right and left. feels like the steering falls into a detent position. makes controlling the car awkward. the feel is not progressive. the steering cannot be held in the desired position.