Most common 2010 Audi S4 problems
Share of the 60 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 →
What 2010 Audi S4 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 42 →
Gearbox malfunction and TPMS malfunction while driving on the road within the city about 45mph I felt a slight jerk and immediately following the warnings came on in the dashboard "tire pressure! System malfunction" & "gearbox malfunction: no reverse gear (you can continue driving)" throttle response was off and forced me to immediately puller over! While stopped I re-started the vehicle and the warnings went away, I sat there for a couple minutes and then continued driving. Few miles down the road the vehicle jerked again and warnings came back on, I needed to get to work so I continued driving; the car would take very long to shift gears and it would jump from 1st to 3rd, from 3rd to 5th and 5th to 7th gear jerking kind of violently every-time and throttle response between shifts was very lethargic to the point that the vehicle would slow down severely and I felt unsafe due to cars …
It happened again today driving down the highway going up to speed, at about 50 MPH I got a "gearbox malfunction" error message in the cluster and it would not let me accelerate anymore, it was like the car was in neutral and pressing the accelerator pedal would just rev up the engine. The mechatronics unit on these vehicles are faulty, I know 2 other S4 owners with the years of 2011 and 2012 who also had their mechatronics fail on their S4. Along with the gearbox malfunction error also comes "parking brake error" who knows what in the world can happen when that message comes up. Is it going to suddenly apply the electronic parking brake going 50-70 MPH down the highway and cause a possibility of a very bad accident? The repair is very pricey for the mechatronic unit that goes bad, it is no coincidence many of these S4 models have these go bad.
Engine & cooling
Received "gearbox malfunction warning, okay to continue driving" warning on the dash while driving 45mph, three miles away from home. Arrived 20 feet from my residence and received another error, "parking brake malfunction." the car went into limp mode; with pressure being applied to gas pedal, no vehicle movement. Turned the vehicle off and then back on. The car corrected itself and was able to park in garage. Took the vehicle into Audi and the rude and unknowledgeable service advisor took my vehicle and applied a software update. Drove the vehicle home without error that night. My wife drove the vehicle next day and experienced the same malfunction errors but the car went into limp mode while driving on a major highway and almost ended up being rear ended. She now fears for her safety and will no longer drive or be a passenger in the vehicle. …
My Audi S4 2010 is having a mechatronic issue. While driving my vehicle down the street it dropped a gear and a error message popped up stating gearbox malfunction: no reverse gear. My vehicle was then unable to reverse and also kept dropping and jumping to different gears. It made a very unsafe and scary drive,I held up alot of traffic trying to drive back to my house. To get a new mechatronic cost betwenn 3-8 thousand dollars. Also there are thousands of Audi owners on the web who are having the same issue. I think Audi should recall this part that is causing so many issues with the vehicle.
Electrical system
Gearbox malfunction and TPMS malfunction while driving on the road within the city about 45mph I felt a slight jerk and immediately following the warnings came on in the dashboard "tire pressure! System malfunction" & "gearbox malfunction: no reverse gear (you can continue driving)" throttle response was off and forced me to immediately puller over! While stopped I re-started the vehicle and the warnings went away, I sat there for a couple minutes and then continued driving. Few miles down the road the vehicle jerked again and warnings came back on, I needed to get to work so I continued driving; the car would take very long to shift gears and it would jump from 1st to 3rd, from 3rd to 5th and 5th to 7th gear jerking kind of violently every-time and throttle response between shifts was very lethargic to the point that the vehicle would slow down severely and I felt unsafe due to cars …
It happened again today driving down the highway going up to speed, at about 50 MPH I got a "gearbox malfunction" error message in the cluster and it would not let me accelerate anymore, it was like the car was in neutral and pressing the accelerator pedal would just rev up the engine. The mechatronics unit on these vehicles are faulty, I know 2 other S4 owners with the years of 2011 and 2012 who also had their mechatronics fail on their S4. Along with the gearbox malfunction error also comes "parking brake error" who knows what in the world can happen when that message comes up. Is it going to suddenly apply the electronic parking brake going 50-70 MPH down the highway and cause a possibility of a very bad accident? The repair is very pricey for the mechatronic unit that goes bad, it is no coincidence many of these S4 models have these go bad.
2010 Audi S4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged | 7-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 28 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl supercharged | 6-speed manual | AWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Audi S4 a good car?
Based on 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 S4 rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the S4 at the same age. It is one of the S4 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2010 Audi S4?
The transmission & drivetrain — 42 complaints, 70% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (15) and electrical system (6).
How many recalls does the 2010 Audi S4 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2010 Audi S4. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2010 Audi S4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 37% 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.