Audi S4 check engine light comes on

Filed Sep 25, 2025 · Electrical · 31,000 miles · OR

The contact owns a 2021 Audi S4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The message "Drive System Malfunction - Please Contact Service" was displayed. In addition, the vehicle hesitated to restart and shift into gear as intended. The contact stated that the failure had progressed over time. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing a pending software service update; however, the repairs would not be available until the end of 2025. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

Filed Jan 3, 2018 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · AZ

"takata recall" I was driving my car when I got the 'gearbox malfunction" on my dash and a check engine light. It then said that reverse was not available. The car went limp and when shifting into 2nd gear from 1st gear would rev to very high rpms and then finally shift. I would not go above 40 MPH and was slow to move from a stop. I took it to the audi dealership and they told me it was the mechatronic unit. I was informed that it cost $5,400.00 dollars for them to replace the unit. I am just baffled as to why a car that is only 6 years in age and has only 86,000 miles on it has an electrical part that is going out so soon. Audi claims to make the best dsg transmission in the european platform, yet many have had this issue with the mechatronic unit and yet audi hasnt chosen to warrany it or even give the option to cover the drivetrain as a whole. A car that is $40,000.00 retail new should not have this kind of issue within its early lifetime. And if this is a mechanical item that is going to failure so soon then why not atleast cover it or assist with an alternative transmission extended warranty.

Filed Oct 24, 2017 · Engine · 102,000 miles · NJ

After engine cools down, timing chain rattle can be heard upon starting the car. Chain rattle means that plastic guides or adjusters are worn, and might go any second. Spoke with audi rep online, which advises me that this is normal, and expected. Knowing basics of engines and transmission, I didn't believe that something is "life time" and is not serviceable, especially if it's plastic (which tends to shrink and expand depending on temperatures, and then has fractures which snaps). Two different independent licensed audi shops confirmed that the guides and adjusters has to be replaced in order to prevent catastrophic engine failure. Chain skipping a tooth might mean bent valves, scored cylinder walls and the list goes on. What is lifetime, should be covered by audi. If it's promised to be lifetime and needs no service, shouldn't break. If it breaks that only means design flaws, which are obvious in this engine. Yes, car isn't new, but the parts were lifetime, so I'm expecting them to last until engine is worn out, not the parts that are lifetime. If the federal safety agency will do full scale investigation. Will be obvious that large amount of s4's ranging from 2004 to 2007 are affected. Even 10% is large number, considered the costs of fixing what is "lifetime" according to audi, and when it fails they leave their designs flaws for you to figure out. Hopefully justice can be brought to light as to what audi tries to turn it's back to. Symptoms: chain rattle upon start. Chain rattle doesn't go away while driving. Check engine light, loss of power or catastrophic engine failure.

Filed Aug 21, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 73,428 miles · MI

The check engine light, epc light, and stability control system light illuminate on the dashboard. The engine goes into what could be described as safe mode. Regardless of how far down you push on the accelerator, the vehicle will be slow to accelerate and at speeds at or above 75 MPH may not accelerate or even maintain highway speed. I have taken my vehicle to two different audi dealerships. Audi sent one technical field manager to inspect my vehicle. I have completed numerous repairs at the recommendation of the dealerships. None of the repairs have solved the issue.

Filed Oct 5, 2014 · Transmission · 53,890 miles · CA

I was driving on a normal stretch of flat highway approximately 65mph and the dash lit up like a christmas tree out of the blue. Car indicated reverse gear not available, transmission warning lights, and tire pressure monitor system problem all at the same time. Car went in to a "limp mode" and it only shifted in even number gears, and felt like the car was dangerously unstable due to erratic missed shifting. The car had recently been in prior for a service check and had no codes or check engine light problems at all! After a little research it is a well documented problem that the mechatronics fails on this vehicle rather often. That was the problem. Cost of repair was near 3300$. I was approximately 4k miles out of warranty when this occurred, after numerous persistent exchanges with audi of america they finally decided to cover the failure as I was considering seeking legal action. ( I had the part in hand and could submit it to failure analysis engineering for cause). On an poll on a popular audi website, approximately 15% of these mechatronics have failed. The design issue is a circuit card embedded in hot transmission fluid that affects the hydraulic control of the transmission. If the transmission is damaged it can be over a +10k$ repair.

Filed Mar 17, 2009 · Engine · 67,641 miles · WA

I got in my car this past friday to leave for work and then my car starts rumbling and sounds like what can best be described as a muscle car. I only live a mile from my office so I drive my car in. While driving it seems like the car has lost low end power and is still idling with a rumble. When I get to work I pop the hood and notice the entire motor shifting back and forth and my buddy sees my exhaust is moving up and down. So I decide to get it to the local garage that has worked on my car before. He is only about 2 blocks down from my office. When I pull out from my parking lot the car throws a cel and about 500 ft from the garage it starts flashing. So I coast the car into the garage and get the codes read. They're coming up as cyl. 4, 5, 6, and 7 misfires and p0021 cam timing adjust bank 2 not reached. So the mechanic clears the codes and takes the car around the block and once again the cel comes on and this time it says cyl. 1,3,7, and 8 misfiring and the p0021 code for the cam timing and also a new code p1317 bank 2 cam/crank angle sensor wrong combo of ecu's....to make a long story short the car was towed over 100 miles away to the nearest audi dealer and was diagnosed as having a faulty cam tensioner. The whole motor needs to be removed and tore apart and the tensioner replaced. The bill is $6286.18. My car is a 2004 audi s4 with only 67,000 miles on it and I just purchased it about 5 months ago. It is not under warranty.

Filed Dec 13, 2007 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · IL

Dashboard/instrument cluster information screen has more then half of it pixels missing. I can not read any information form the car, for example( check engine, brake pads are low, temp warnings, door ajar. Push in clutch to start, etc. It started as just a couple of pixels missing a couple of years ago and just keeps getting worse to the point there will be nothing just a beep and I won't know why the car is beeping at me.

Filed Apr 22, 2007 · Brakes · FL

I was going down the street and my ABS light and brake light came on and beeped 3 times. I got over as soon as I could to make an appointment to go to audi. I went up there and they said that they have never seen that code before so they just erased the code. I left and was going about 10mph and lightly put my brakes on and my front brakes locked up, I came to a screeching halt. I immediately went back to audi and they said that my ABS module is not working. Imagine if I was on the highway and my brakes locked up. This product should be recalled. Since this is a safety product can you replace the part. It seems like every time I go to audi just for an oil change that I never leave without spending more money, because they find things that are wrong. I have talked to other audi owners and they say that they probably sabotage our cars just so they can make more money. As I just went in for a oil change and they said that my secondary water pump was not working. There was no cel (check engine light) I would imagine that it would come on if that failed. I hope that this ABS control module does not happen to anyone on the highway due to this non working safety part. The part number is: 8eo 614 111e or 8eo 614 111a since I could not find audi under manufacturer but I have a 2000 audi s4. Thank you and have a great day.

Filed Sep 23, 2005 · Engine · 29,477 miles · IL

Dt: there was a cam adjuster from where the oil leak was coming from. Noticed this on august 8, 2003. Then, on july 24, 2004 took the vehicle for an oil change a nd they confirmed there was another oil leak. The warranty expired in november 2005, and the consumer made arrangements for the gaskets to be replaced a month before the warranty ran out. In order to get to the gaskets the cam shafts had to be removed. The gaskets were replaced,, and cam shaft reinstalled, then gave it a tune up. Also, put in two different types of spark plugs; one set was platinum and conventional. A week later, it was ready for pick up. The exhaust sounded different when vehicle picked up. On january 31, 2005 took vehicle to another mechanic because the check engine was on. At that point mechanic determined o2 sensors caused the light to come on, and the exhaust sounded differently. Then, three months later, the exhaust cam shaft that broke it bent valves in cylinder head and caused it to crack.

Filed May 10, 2004 · Electrical · FL

Had a check engine light come on when diagonal, found fault 16985 aesis advised to replace ECM. Ecm was replaced, since then have been losing power during acceleration to the point where the car does not have any power then kicks back in. Taking to the dealer several times and they say they can not find anything wrong.