Audi S4 loss of power problems

Filed Aug 26, 2026 · Transmission · CA

Transmission fail while driving and stationary at traffic light. Main DTC: P179F00 - Drive sensor position: malfunction Additional DTC: P179E00 - Drive sensor position: electrical malfunction ABS: 00473 Parking brake: U111300 TCM: 01315 This situation occurred 3 times in the past 3 weeks while driving or being stationary at a traffic light. Event triggers loud warning sounds, red flashing lights/icons in dashboard, total loss of power while engine still running. At this time, this problem creates highly dangerous driving conditions with random total loss of power. The situation is temporarily remedied if engine is shut off and restarted.

Filed Jan 30, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 80,000 miles · IN

I was exiting off of the interstate and the car began to sputter. I had to cut 3 cars off to pull onto to the shoulder, where the car continued to lose power and eventually died. A gearbox malfunction warning light came on, but said it was still safe to drive. I was able to get me car into park and start . After sitting for a few minutes I went on my way, however, the car sputtered again out of 1st gear but smoothed out once I got going. The light remained on the remainder of the trip but didnt come back on the next morning. I called audi USA to explain what happened and they acted like they never heard of such a thing happening and said it was okay to drive. I have only had this car for 6 months and that gearbox malfunction has now happened 3 times, the latest of which almost caused an accident. I have called a couple mechanics, including a local audi dealership, and have been informed that its a bad mechatronics unit and that it is extremely common for my particular year, model and type (there is a tsb for it). Worst of all, it will cost me $5000 + to repair. I bought this car 6 months ago from a large, well respect dealership as a certified pre-owned, with 75,000 miles. I also purchased an extended warranty that will not cover it. Im not sure what to do.

Filed Nov 29, 2017 · Electrical · 71,000 miles · CA

Vehicle flashes a gearbox malfunction warning and most electronics went dead. Vehicle would not accelerate causing me to nearly be rear ended. After turning off car and restarting the vehicle continues to lose power randomly every mile or so. This created very unsafe conditions on a busy freeway. The problem turned out to be a faulty sensor in the transmission. Audi has issued a technical service bulletin on this issue but will not acknowledge the huge safety issue with this defective transmission.

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 Apr 17, 2017 · Transmission · 78,000 miles · CA

A gearbox malfunction (with codes p179e and p179f) may cause the car enter one of the "limp mode" states, which can cut engine power from the transmission. A message on the dash may say "gearbox malfunction" with a message if the car is driveable or must be brought to the repair shop. In some cases, this loss of power can make things difficult to pull over safely, as the stall can happen in an intersection, or in stop and go traffic on the freeway. Audi has recognized this problem in the form of a tsb (2032211), however, all cars with this particular transmission may experience a similar issue, at any time, despite following manufacturer service intervals. The issue may appear to be intermittent and may not enter full limp mode until many miles later. My initial encounter with questionable transmission behavior was about 10-15k miles prior. This particular case documented was the worst scenario, but similar scenarios (coming off the freeway and stalling shortly after stopping, or not being able to engine brake properly due to transmission refusing to shift) have also been experienced.

Filed Aug 6, 2015 · 12,200 miles · NJ

Stepped in my car to go out, started car as I pushed the clutch down. Clutch pedal snapped to the floor. Car was towed to dealer. Part that failed was slave cylinder. Car only has 12,200 miles. Car is used to commute to work and back, no unusual strain of any kind on the car. I was lucky that I was not driving the car when the cylinder failed. I would been unable to change gears to safely stop the car. Perhaps I could have pulled it out of gear but I am not sure how I would have reacted. My commute to work has me take a higher with lots of fast moving cars (rte 17, norther nj). I could have hit the brakes and force the engine to stall. In that scenario, I would lost power assisted functions. That would have also been a very unsafe situation. Car is now at the dealer and is expected to be there for another week or so. Replacement slave cylinder is on back order from germany. Again, in my case I was lucky but if this problem is a recurring one in this model, that would present a safety problem. I am submitted this note out of concern for any other driver that may run into this issue with this model . I have owned manual cars my whole life and I have never experienced this type of failure.

Filed Apr 5, 2015 · Transmission · 54,000 miles · CA

I was driving and came up to stop light. Car flashed up warning saying gearbox malfunction limited functionality. Car would not change up or down smoothly or quickly. Loss of power on every shift for over a second. Had audi of stevens creek change dsg fluid a couple of week prior.

Filed Aug 30, 2010 · Engine · KS

This has been a known issue to many 2010 audi s4 owners. Many of them reported a waterpump failure basically under any circumstances, I.e., highway driving, cornering, and low speed driving. 2010 audi s4 produced in 2009 clearly have a defective water pump, which tend to mostly fail prior to 10k miles on the car. Many s4 owners and forum members reported many kinds of hazard that this failure can bring, including coolant spilling that can potentially harm the surrounding motorists (slippery surface caused by oily coolant) and the loss of power steering which can be extremely dangerous on highway. My water pump has not failed yet, but from the failure ratio shown on a audi s4 owner forum, it can be clearly seen that most of these water pumps will eventually fail at any mileage. I am seriously worried about endangering others, myself, or my family members because of this potential failure on the water pump of 2009-produced 2010 s4. I would appreciate your concern over this issue.

Filed Aug 29, 2010 · Engine · 5,000 miles · TX

I am writing to complain about a design flaw that has been identified in the waterpump used in the 2010 audi s4 3.0t. Several owners have experienced a waterpump failure which results in the vehicle overheating and partial or full loss of power steering. Owners who have experienced failure have had their 'black plastic' waterpumps replaced with a revised 'aluminum waterpump'. Several owners have complained about this issue on various enthusiast forums, but the manufacturer has failed to acknowledge the problem and issue a recall. It is evident that the waterpump is a ticking time bomb that needs to be replaced so individuals are not 1) left stranded on the side of the road, 2) subject to an automobile accident due to lack of power steering, or 3) at risk due to an overheating vehicle. I personally have not experienced the failure on my vehicle, but I am submitting this complaint in hopes that the federal safety agency will work with audi to issue a prompt recall for all affected owners. I do have the old revision of the waterpump ('black plastic') on my vehicle and I am worried that I may eventually experience a failure. The following are some posts on various enthusiast boards that highlight the issue: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/382525-another-waterpump-bites-it...?highlight=waterpump http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/317505-b8-s4-water-pump-failure?highlight=waterpump http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/352343-problems-so-far...-today-the-water-pump-blew?highlight=waterpump http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/349318-my-coolant-broke!!?highlight=waterpump http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2789310&highlight=waterpump http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2789742&highlight=waterpump http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2774524&highlight=waterpump http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=2773666&highlight=waterpump.

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.