2000 Audi S4

Typical pattern

17.9% of complaints about the 2000 Audi S4 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2000 vehicle — around the middle of the 213 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (46 complaints), typically at 7.8 yr or about 65,000 miles.

Complaints: 162
Median age at failure: 5.3 yr
Median mileage: 64,800 n=78
Crash / fire / tow: 6.2% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V470000 2021-06-23

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.

In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

In owners’ own words

Tires mileage not reported 2 mo in service

I HAVE HAD TWO TIRE BLOWOUTS, AND NOW HAVE A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL OF ANOTHER. THIS IS BRAND NEW ORGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2000 VEHICLE. MANY OTHER S4 AUDI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45 R17 )

Tires mileage not reported 9 mo in service

2 INCH BUBBLE IN EXTERIOR SIDEWALL OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE NOTICED WHILE CLEANING WHEELS. BRIDGESTONE DEALER SAID BUBBLE WAS DUE TO "ROAD HAZZARD DAMAGE" BUT NONE HAD OCCURRED. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON "AUDI WORLD" WEBSITE AND FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR LOW*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45R17 )

Tires mileage not reported 5 mo in service

TIRES WERE OEM FITMENT. AFTER THE 2ND FAILURE I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45-17 )

Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 4.8 yr in service

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WILL MAKE APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. *AK CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST REPAIR OF VEHICLE. *LA

Other S4 model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2000 Audi S4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other S4 model years

How to read this