Most common 2008 Audi S4 problems
Share of the 4 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi S4 complaints by model year
Best S4 years: 2009, 2008, 2007. Years to avoid: 2010, 2000, 2001, 2005. Compare all years →
2008 Audi S4 recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles.
Remedy: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey,…
Remedy: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
What 2008 Audi S4 owners say
Air bags
Takata recall. Have received latest notice (nhsta 17V032) indicating that my vehicle needs interim remedy as soon as possible. Have called dealership (Audi burlington ma) 3-4 times to have repair scheduled over last 2 months. Was on the repair schedule for today at 10:15 am but they cancelled saying part was not available (have email). According to notice parts are available. Dealer refuses to give me a order number for the part for my vehicle (claiming they are ordered in bulk not by VIN), refuses to give me an estimate to when part will be in. My vehicle is approaching 10 years old, I believe due to being in ma in group 5. Dealership claims they will call me when part is available but will give no time estimate, claims I am on a "short list" for the repair. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Audi S4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V382000 (air bags) and 16V079000 (air bags). The parts to do the recall repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
2008 Audi S4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 21 / 16 |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Audi S4 a good car?
Based on 4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 S4 rates better than average: 84% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S4 at the same age. It is one of the best S4 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Audi S4?
The air bags — 3 complaints, 75% of all complaints for this model year. Next is the steering (1).
How many recalls does the 2008 Audi S4 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2008 Audi S4, the most recent from June 22, 2018 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi S4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2008 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2000, 2001 and 2005. See the full Audi S4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Audi S4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 33,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.