2000 Audi S4 complaints

AFTER HAVING MY FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED ON MY 2000 AUDI S4 AT 92,671 MILES, MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUED TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, BUT EACH TIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER HAVING THE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM SCANNED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACED WITH PARTS AND LABOR COSTING $742.58. I'VE DONE RESEARCH TO FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH AUDI. I CONTACTED AUDI, BUT THEY DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY.

2000 AUDI S4 WITH GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEMS**NAR**CC THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED IN 2003 JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AUDI HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AUDI UK CHOSE TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT AUDI REPLACED THE CLUSTER IN HIS VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. *NM

2000 AUDI S4 HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE GAUGE CLUSTER .**NAR*CC THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. *NM

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK IN LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK AND WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH A BEEP/CHIME TO LET ME KNOW IT WAS ON AND ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. THERE WAS NO COLLISION INVOLVED. I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT TO CUTS ON MY ARM AND SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THEN. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CAR HAS NOT RETURNED ANY OF MY CALLS, THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID IT IS A DEFECT SO THEY DO NOT COVER THE REPAIR. SINCE THEN I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A PRIVATE LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE AIRBAG HARNESS RUNS IN THE SEAT AND THROUGH WEAR OF GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE HARNESS WORE AWAY AND SHORTED IT' S SELF OUT AND CAUSED IT TO DEPLOY. WITH NO WARNING THIS HAPPENED AND NOW AS A STUDENT AND FULL TIME EMPLOYEE (MY SCHOOL IS 17 MILES AND MY JOB IS 45 MILES AWAY) I REALLY NEED THIS FIXED ASAP. *JB

DRIVE BY WIRE (DBW) THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM FAILURE. ECU THROWS EPC CODE AND ENGINE POWER IS COMPROMISED. CAR MAY BE UNABLE TO EXCEED 40 MPH AND CAR MAY BUCK UNCONTROLLABLY. RESTARTING CAR MAY CLEAR CONDITION FOR A SHORT TIME. TRAFFIC NEGOTIATION WAS QUITE DANGEROUS, AS DBW SYSTEM MAY ERROR AT ANY TIME. DBW THROTTLE BODY SEEMS TO BE AN ANSWER TO A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT EXIST. *JB

I OWN A MODEL YEAR 2000 AUDI S4. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 80K MILES AND THE ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS RECENTLY STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FAILURES OF ABS UNITS ON AUDI A4 & S4S. THESE FAILURES OCCUR AS EARLY AS 30K MILES. UPON CONTACTING AN AUDI DEALERSHIP IN MY LOCAL AREA, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY SEE THESE FAILURES AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. WITH THIS KIND OF FAILURE RATE & AT SUCH EARLY MILEAGE, I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. I'M AWARE OF OTHER AUDI OWNERS ALSO HAVING FILED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL OF THE AFFECTED AUDI MODELS. *NM

ABS WARNING LIGHT ON DASH, ACCOMPANIED WITH A FLASHING BRAKE WARNING AND THREE BEEPS. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. BASED ON SOME INVCESTIGATIONG, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROLLER MODULES ON VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI VEHICLES. WHEN THE MODULE FAILS, IT RENDERS THE ABS SYSTEM INOPERATIVE AND CAN LEAD TO REAR WHEEL LOCKUP IN EMERGENCY STOPPING MANOUVERS OR IN SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. I HAVE REMOVED THE MODULE AND HAD IT REPAIRED. THIS SERVICE AT AN AUDI DEALER WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $1000.

THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE REQUIRING ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IN 2000 AUDI S4'S PRIMARILY, ALONG WITH SIMILAR MAKES. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. FAILURES ARE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE CONTROL UNIT PORTION OF THE ABS MODULE. THE FOLLOWING LINK INDICATES HOW MANY FAILURES ARE OCCURRING: HTTP://WWW.USEDPARTSLIVE.COM/LIVE/2/YEAR/AUDI/MODEL/ABS_CONTROL_MODULE/ THERE IS A MASS MARKET FOR THIS ITEM PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR OWNERS TO REPLACE AT THE DEALER. RECENTLY, DEALERS HAVE BEEN REPLACING THE CONTROL UNIT SEPARATELY FOR ~600-700, BUT THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE NEW UNIT IS NOT ALSO DEFECTIVE AND PRONE TO FAILURE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS BECOMES THE CAUSE OF MORE POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENTS.*JB

WHILE DRIVING ALONG CA-35 (SKYLINE BOULEVARD) AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2005 DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE BRAKING AROUND A CURVE, BOTH THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ON MY 2000 AUDI S4 CAME ON, ALONG WITH 3 WARNING TONES. SIMULTANEOUSLY, A SUDDEN CHANGE IN BRAKE FEEL WAS DETECTED ALONG WITH A "THUNK" NOISE FROM THE FRONT REGION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY TWO INDEPENDENT SERVICE AND REPAIR ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH OF WHICH CONFIRMED AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRONIC FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE'S ABS CONTROL MODULE (A $1000+ PART). SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES 3-4 OF THESE INTERMITTENT FAILURES DURING THE COURSE OF A DRIVING DAY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT BRAKING, IT'S ANNOYING BUT SOMEWHAT INCONSEQUENTIAL. HOWEVER, WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS DURING BRAKING, THERE IS DEFINITELY A MARKED CHANGE IN BRAKING BEHAVIOR AS THE ABS CONTROLLER GOES OFFLINE. UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATIONS, I IMAGINE SUCH A FAILURE COULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL SAFETY AND RISK ISSUE. SOMEWHAT TAKEN ABACK BY THE TOTAL ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS OF $1600+, I DECIDED TO DO SOME INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM AT SITES SUCH AS THIS (NHTSA ODI), AUDIWORLD.COM AND THE WEB AT LARGE. WHAT I FOUND IS A CONSISTENT PATTERN OF THIS SORT OF FAILURE ACROSS A WIDE SWATH OF AUDI MODELS DURING 1999 TO 2000. FURTHER, I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE ORIGINAL PART INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WAS REV. A AND REPLACEMENT PARTS BEING INSTALLED ARE REV. E. CONVEYING THIS INFORMATI

ABS COMPUTER MODULE FAILURE. ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHLE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND BEEPING. TOOK IT OT THE DEALER AND THE ABS PUMP WITH CONTROLLER WAS/IS BAD. THE PART WITH LABOR IS $1600.00. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, THIS PART GOES BAD ALOT AND IS A MAJOR SAFTY ISSUE. IF YOU BRAKE HARD THE REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK UP AND THE CAR COULD SPIN OUT OF CONTROL.

ABS FAILURE ON 2000 S4 WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. THE ABS FAILURE LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAD THIS PROBLEM CHECKED OUT WITH A CERTIFIED AUDI MECHANIC. HE STATES THE ACTUAL PUMP IS NOT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CIRCUITRY THAT CONTROLS THE PUMP IS DEFECTIVE, AND ALSO STATES THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON IN MY MODEL VEHICLE. ABS FAILURES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS DANGEROUS AS A BROKEN SEAT BELT, AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURER (AUDI)

MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

POSTED COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT BATTERY ACID LEAKING ONTO CLUTCH LINE AND BRAKE LINE CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO BOTH LINES... SPOKE WITH AUDI AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REMOVED FOR THE BRAKE LINE TO BE FIXED... THE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT OF THIS LEAK IS DUE AN OVERCHARGED BATTERY DUE TO A JUMP OR MANUAL RE-CHARGE (NOTE: ACCORDING TO AUDI, NEVER REPLACE THE S4 BATTERY WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN WITH AN AUDI BATTERY... OF COURSE THEY WOULD SAY THIS, BUT HE WAS PRETTY CONVINCING... 2ND NOTE: I DO HAVE AN AUDI BATTERY IN MY S4, AND I'M STILL HAVING THE ISSUE... AUDI MAY HELP PAY FOR THIS B/C OF THAT FACT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COMMITTED TO IT UNTIL FURTHER INVESTIGATION). THE TOTAL, ACCORDING TO OVER-THE-PHONE DIAGNOSING, WAS GOING TO BE B/N 1 AND 2 THOUSAND BUCKS AT THE DEALER.*AK

LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN AN AUDI S4 WITH 50,000 MILES, I AM HAVING BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES. ONLY MINE ARE MUCH MORE SEVERE THAT WHAT I HAVE READ THUS FAR. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR IT'S 60000, AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE BRAKE LIGHT. LEADING UP TO THE REPAIR, I HAD BEEN *LOSING BRAKE FLUID* ALMOST MONTHLY. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN, FOR ANY REASON. BUT, MY MECHANIC TOOK THREE HOURS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING SULFURIC ACID ONTO MY BRAKE LINE, MY POWER STEERING LINE, AND MY CLUTCH LINE. HE STATED, "ONLY A MECHANICAL MORON WOULD HOUSE THE METAL AND STEAL CABLES UNDERNEATH SULFURIC ACID." CONSEQUENTLY, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR ANY MORE AND THE REPAIRS INLCUDE THE TAKING OUT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO GET TO THE SOURCE, WHICH MAY/MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE FIXED. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE, AND THAT THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS TYPE OF DESIGN-FLAW IS OBVIOUS AND CERTAIN. I EXPECT AUDI WILL NOT COVER THIS DEFECT, CAUSING ME TO SHELL OUT, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS, 2-3,000 BUCKS TO GET IT REPLACED. [XXX] THE MAN. I'LL POST MORE WHEN I KNOW MORE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

JUST DRIVING ONE EVENING AND THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ABS CONTROLLER WAS AT FAULT. DID SOME RESEARCH ,AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE W/ THE SAME CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ON THE CONSUMER'S 2000 AUDI S4 BEGAN TO FLASH. *NM THE CONSUMER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WHICH INDICATED THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. *NM THE CONSUMER FOUND MANY REPORTS OF THIS FAILURE. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW PART FROM AUDI (8E0 614 111 E). *SC *JB

2000 AUDI S4 ABS COMPUTER MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. CODE 01203. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASH AND BEEP ALL OF THE TIME FOR NO REASON. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ABS UNITS. AOA HAS NOT FILLED A SAFETY RECALL FOR HTIS ITEM YET. WE NEED TO HAVE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE ABS COMPUTER/MODULE DUE TO POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS WHEN WHEELS LOCK UP AND CAR SKIDS OUT OF CONTROL. NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT ABS PROBLEMS AND ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED DUE TO ABS FAILURE. IT IS A SIMPLE FIX BUT PART COSTS $1K ALONE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. LOOKED ON FORUMS, IT SEEMS TO BE A SIMPLE WIRING FIX INSIDE OF MODULE (APPARENTLY THERE IS A POOR STANDARD OF CRAFTSMANSHIP IN THE SOLDERING). *AK

ABS FAILURE: BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODULE FOUND IN VW, AUDI & PORSCHE FAIL WITHIN THE FIRST 60K MILES. ABS MODULES TYPICALLY LAST FOR WELL OVER 100K & GENERALLY FOR THE LIFE OF A CAR. AUDI CHARGES ~$1300 TO REPLACE. 3RD PARTY REPAIR IS ~$300. ABS BECOMES DISABLED & CAN CREATE UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY DURING INCLIMATE WEATHER. REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF THE MODULE RESOLVES THE ISSUE & ABS FUNCTIONS AS EXPECTED.*AK

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON IRRACTLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE CHECKED THE AND FILLED THE BRAKE FLUID RESIVOR LIKE THE MANUAL STATES. BUT STILL GET THE LIGHTS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FROM AUDI. *AK THE SAFTEY OF MANY PEOPLE ARE AT STAKE HERE. I WILL NOT AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY CAR SINCE THE LIGHTS CAME ON, AND MY LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP WANT $1,400. TO REPLACE! THAS RIDICULOUS FOR A CAR THAT HAS BARELY 54K MILES. YOU WOULD THINK SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AND LIFE SAVING AS THE BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE A BETTER DESIGN AND LOWER FAILURE RATE. IM POSITIVE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY AUDI OWNER THAT HAS FILED A COMPLAINT AND POSTIVE I WILL NOT BE THE LAST. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME LUIS CASTELLANOS

PURCHASED MY 2000 AUDI S4 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER- THE CAR HAD 10K MILES ON IT AND YES, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AT ABOUT 13.5K MILES I NOTICED THAT I HAD TROUBLE STOPPING ONE EVENING- ALMOST REAR ENDING SOMEONE IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. PARKED THE CAR THAT NIGHT-AND THEN ABOUT 4 HOURS LATER, ON MY WAY HOME...SAME SYMPTOMS AS MENTIONED BEFORE, EXCEPT NOW MY ABS LIGHT WAS ON. EXT MOURNING...MOVED CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED A OIL PUDDLE FROM THE LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE ENGINE AREA. I BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR THE LEAK WITH THE HELP FROM A LOCAL FRIEND AND HE SUGGESTED-LAST RESORT-TO CHECK THE ABS CONTROL UNIT...I DID, AND SURE ENOUGH, MY WHOLE HAND WAS COVERED IN OIL WHEN I REACHED UNDERNEATH THE ABS UNIT. CALLED LOCAL AUDI DEALER...AND ALSO CALLED AUDI OF AMERICA...DROPPED CAR OFF AT DEALER...THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE UNIT (ABS) HAD INDEED FAILED. AUDI OF AMERICA DENIED ANY HELP AT ALL WITH A UNIT THAT FAILED AT 13.5K MILES!!!!!!! I ENDED UP PAYING $1,500.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. *AK

A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 50 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR THE ONE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. BOTH PARTIES WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS.*AK *AK

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL." I PURCHASED A 2000 AUDI S4 QUATTRO WITH 39K MILES ON IT FROM A NON-AUDI DEALER IN MARCH OF 2002. AT APPROXIMATELY 50,600 MILES MY ABS CONTROLLER FAILED. THIS IS INDICATED BY A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) IN THE VEHICLE'S ECU (COMPUTER) AS WELL AS 3 LOUD BEEPS WHEN YOU START THE CAR AND THE ABS LIGHT STAYING LIT AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING CONSTANTLY. THIS PART HAS FAILED ON MULTIPLE AUDI S4'S OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR THAT I KNOW OF. AUDI WOULD NOT WARRANTY MY PART AS MY FACTORY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT 50,000 MILES. THE PARTS ALONE COST APPROXIMATELY $1200 PLUS THE ADDITIONAL COST OF THE LABOR TO INSTALL THE PART. THE RESULTS OF THE ABS CONTROLLER'S MALFUNCTION IS THAT ESSENTIALLY, I DO NOT HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING IN THE CAR, CAUSING UNDER HARD BRAKING THE POSSIBILITY OF LOCKING THE BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. AUDI OF AMERICA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS OF THIS PARTICULARLY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2000 S4S, HOWEVER, TO DATE, NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE." *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE THE OTHER CONTROLLERS TO DO DAMAGE AND EFFECT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. IT CAN ALSO EFFECT THE ENGINE CONTROLLER. THE OWNER ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO DID NOT THINK THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS OF NEEDED INTEREST. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

MY ABS CONTROLLER APPEARS TO BE FAILING. ABS WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON AND GO OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. I HAVE 48,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. SINCE THE ABS SYSTEM ACTS AS A PROPORTIONING VALVE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS, THE REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK UP UNDER MODERATE BRAKING WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON. I CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM PROPERLY DUE TO THE RANDOM NATURE OF THE WARNING LIGHT. MANY SIMILAR REPORTS ON AUDIWORLD.COM ON THIS FAILURE. *JB

ABS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS ABS CONTROLLER UNIT; PRICE TO FIX $1287. HAVE NOT FIXED YET.*AK

FAILED ABS CONTROLLER UNIT. ABS IS NONFUNCTIONAL. IN POOR WEATHER, MY BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. *JB

THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD INITIALLY FLASHED AND BEEPED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOW ARE ON CONSTANTLY. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED MY MANY OTHER MY2000 S4 OWNERS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, AS THERE IS THE RISK THAT BRAKES MAY LOCK UP (EVEN WHEN RELEASING THE PEDAL) UNDER BRAKING WHEN EXPERIENCING THESE SYMPTOMS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE. I KNOW MANY OWNERS WHO HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HOLD OFF ON THE REPAIR DUE TO THE AMOUNT BEING CHARGED BY DEALERS TO REPLACE THE PART (~$1700.00), EVEN THOUGH THE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT OF THE PROBLEM IS WIRING BETWEEN THE CONTROLLER AND THE ECU (<$1.00). *JB

FAILURE OF ABS?ECU CONTROL MODULE...NO ABS BRAKES,POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CAR HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES. *AK

IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AMONG B5 PLATFORM AUDI A4 VEHICLES, WHERE EITHER THE ABS CONTROLLER IS APT TO FAIL PREMATURELY, OR THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CONTROLLER AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS. DUE TO THE HIGH FREQUENCY OF FAILURES, IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THE ABS CONTROLLER IS AT FAULT AND PRONE TO SUCH A HIGH FAILURE RATE. WIRING TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SEEM TO BE THE MORE LIKELY CAUSE, YET DEALERS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY DECIDE TO POINT TO THE CONTROLLER, WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF $1200. THIS CONDITION IS UNDOUBTEDLY RISKY AND DANGEROUS. A MALFUNCTIONING ABS CONTROLLER CAN CAUSE THE REAR WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE TO LOCK UP UNDER HARD BRAKING, EVEN WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE. *JB

ABS CONTROLLER ON A 2000 AUDI S4 FAILED AFTER 58K MILES. THE BRAKE FLUID PUMP AND ABS CONTROLLER UNIT ARE ALL IN ONE, AND THE COST FOR REPAIRS IS ABOUT $1700. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS UNIT SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE CAR IS UNDER FULL WARRANTY UP TO 50K MILES OR 4 YEARS, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST, BUT THESE UNITS ARE KNOWN TO FAIL WITHIN THE FIRST 60K MILES, AND IN OTHER VEHICLES THEY LAST MUCH LONGER.

OUT OF THE BLUE, WITH 64,000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COME ON, FOLLOWED BY 3 LOUD BEEPS. WHEN THE BEEPS STOP, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BLINKS CONTINUALLY. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT, THIS NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT AND STAY OUT FOR 5-10 MINUTES, FOR THE WHOLE THING TO START OVER AGAIN. WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON, THE ABS DOES NOT WORK. I HAD A PANIC STOP TO AVOID A DEER AND THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE CAR SKIDDED BUT I DID NOT CRASH. DEALER SAYS THAT THE ABS CONTROLLER COMPUTER MUST BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $1300. THIS IS APPARENTLY VERY COMMON ON 2000 S4 AND A4 AUDI'S. I CONTACTED AUDI OF AMERICA, THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, DENYING THAT IT IS A SAFEY ISSUE AND SAYING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

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

THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING IS ANALOGOUS TO A RECALL ALREADY ANNOUNCED FOR THE AUDI A6: NHTSA RECALL NO. 00V-147, VW RECALL NO. UR **LA I HAVE A 2000 AUDI S4 WITH 64,000 MILES. I RECENTLY RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM A 64,000 MILE SERVICE. MY GAS GAUGE HAD INDICATED I HAD AT LEAST A QUARTER TANK OF GAS LEFT, AND MY TRIP COMPUTER INDICATED I HAD MORE THAN 60 MILES UNTIL EMPTY. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING. AT FIRST, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THROUGH 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER AND GET INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. I CHECKED MY CAR, AND THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF THE PROBLEM. I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT MY TRIP COMPUTER MILES COUNTER (WHICH I RESET ON EVERY FILL-UP), WAS READING HIGHER THAN WOULD BE TYPICAL. IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT I SUSPECTED I HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. I CALLED AAA, REQUESTING A GALLON OF GAS. INDEED, THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE IN MY SITUATION. I DOUBT OTHERS WHO ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE AS LUCKY. I'VE ALREADY HEARD MANY STORIES ON CAR FORUMS, ETC. OF OWNERS HAVING 'CLOSE CALLS' BECAUSE THEY'VE RUN OUT OF GAS WHEN THEY DON'T EXPECT TO. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN LINKED TO THE SENDING UNIT AUDI USES IN THESE MODELS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FAILURES, AND IT IS ALL TOO COMMON A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL TO THE SENDING UNIT FAILURES ON THE 2000 A6, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULDN'T BE ADDRESSED ON THE 2000 A4/S4 (B5 PLATFORM) OR ANY OTHER MODEL T

ABS CONTROLLER MODULE FAILURE - BOSCH 5.3 SYSTEM - 2000 AUDI S4. *JB

PROBLEMS WITH ABS CONTROLLER ON 2000 AUDI S4.*MR ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY ON. *LA

I JUST HAD MY ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS OF MY 2000 AUDI S4. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT REPAIR, THE ABS COMPUTER FAILED. I DON'T KNOW IF THE TWO INCIDENTS ARE RELATED BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROLLER AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. COMPUTER PARTS DO NOT TAKE WEAR AND TEAR AND SHOULD BE DESIGNED FOR THE EXPECTED LIFE OF THE CAR- NOT FOUR YEARS LIKE FOR ME. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OF MANY OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES AND I AM CONCERNED OF A GENERAL SAFETY ISSUE, PARTICULARLY FOR SUCH A CRITICAL PART LIKE AN ABS CONTROLLER.*AK

DRIVERS SEAT IS ROCKING. WHEN YOU SHIFT GEARS OR BRAKE YOU WILL FEEL THE ROCKING MOTION. ITS CONTINUOSLY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE PAST YEAR. I'VE JUST TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY "COULD REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM & IT IS WITHIN SPECS." I FEEL THAT THIS IS GETTING WORSE AND IS EVEN UNSAFE. I HAVE SPOKE WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS ABOUT THIS AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERS.*AK

ABS ( ANITLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ) FAILURE, WILL CUASE BRAKE LOCK-UP AND WILL RESULT IN A ACCIDENT. ABS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO FIX ( $ 1200-1600 ). ABS PUMP MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVED RESEARCED THAN MANY OTHER AUDI OWNERS HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *AK

MY AUDI S4 WAS ALMOST STOLEN IN NJ RIGHT BY ROUTE 9 IN FORT LEE. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS DRILLED OUT TO TRY AND CIRCUMVENT THE ALARM. LUCKILY, SOMETHING SPPOKED THEM OR THE CLUB WAS A DETERRENT. STILL, IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS EASY TO STEAL THIS CAR LIKE THIS. I'VE HEARD OF MANY STOLEN THIS WAY. AUDI PUT IN A CRAPPY ALARM THAT DOES NOT WORK UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS...

THE ALARM SYSTEM ON THE 1999-2002 AUDI S$ IS DEFECTIVE AND USELESS WHEN THE DOOR LOCK IS SIMPLY PUNCHED OUT WITH A SCREWDRIVER.*AK

ALL AUDI S4'S PRODUCED FROM MID 1999 TO 2002 SUFFER FROM AN INEFFECTIVE ALARM SYSTEM. THE MODEL YEARS ARE 2000, 2001, AND 2002. DUE THIS DEFECT THESE VEHICLES ARE BEING STOLEN AT AN ALARMING RATE OFF OF EVERY STREET CORNER IN THE NYC METRO AREA. THE AUDI S4 WAS A LIMITED PRODUCTION RUN VEHICLE. LESS THEN 15000 WERE IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES FOR SALE BY AUDI OF NORTH AMERICA. FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE NUMBER 25 OF THE TOP 25 CARS STOLEN IN NEW JERSEY SHOWS COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF AUDI. (NICB-- HTTP://WWW.NICB.ORG/PUBLIC/NEWSROOM/WHEREISMYCAR/TOP25BYSTATE.CFM#NJ ) THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THAT LIST HAVE YEARLY PRODUCTION NUMBERS THAT GO WELL OVER 25000 UNITS PER YEAR. THE AUDI A8 RECEIVED AN IMMOBILIZER FOR 2000+ MODELS. TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS AUDI SKIPPED FITTING S4'S WITH IMMOBILIZERS. FOR THIS REASON I CANNOT PARK MY CAR ANYWHERE IN NEW JERSEY BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL NOT BE THERE WHEN I COME BACK. AUDI NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND ADD IMMOBILIZER SYSTEMS OR ELSE NONE WILL EXIST IN THE NYC METRO AREA. THEY ALSO NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE DOOR AREA AROUND THE DOORS LOCK CYLINDER. ALMOST ALL S4S THAT WERE STOLEN IN NEW JERSEY, HAD A SCREW DRIVER TAKEN TO THE DOOR NEAR THE HANDLE. THEY PUNCH AND HOLE LIFT/PUSH THE LOCK PLUNGER BAR UP AND THE ALARM IS DISABLED!!!!! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ANY CAR LET ALONE ONE THAT IS THIS EXPENSIVE. THIEVES WILL OFTEN DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 140 MPH ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS JOY RIDING, AND CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF

THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ON MY 2000 AUDI S4 HAS NO ENGINE IMMOBILIZER, THEREFORE MAKING IT NOT NEARLY AS EFFECTIVE AS IT COULD BE. THERE ARE MANY MANY THEFTS (ESPECIALLY IN THE NY,NJ AREA) OF S4S, AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT A LOT OF THESE THEFTS WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF AUDI HAD MADE THE ALARM IN THE S4 WORTHWHILE (AFTER ALL, WE DID PAY FOR AN ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN THE CAR). I KNOW THAT I WOULD WORRY A LOT LESS ABOUT MY INVESTMENT IF I HAD A PROPER FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM IN THE CAR. *JB

THE AUDI S4 FROM 2000-2002 LACKS AN ALARM CAPABLE OF PREVENTING EASY THEFT. THERE IS NO IMMOBILIZER AND THE CARS ALARM CAN BE EASILY BYPASSED AND STARTED WITH A SIMPLE SCREWDRIVER. S4 THEFTS ARE HIGH, COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF THESE CARS ACTUALLY MADE THE THEFTS ARE GROSSLY UNPROPORTIONAL. PERSONALLY I HAVE HAD TO GET AN AFTERMARKET ALARM OUT OF THE FEAR THAT MY HIGH-PERFORMANCE AUTOMOBILE CAN BE STOLEN BY SOME KID WITH A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER. *JB

AUDI S4 AUTO ALARM/IMMOBILIZER CAN BE EASILY DEACTIVATED. DEACTIVATION THROUGH PUNCHING A SCREWDRIVER THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR KEY LOCK, WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE THE BOTH THE CAR'S ALARM AND ITS IMMOBILIZER. SO FAR, I PERSONALLY KNOW OF MORE THAN 30 VEHICLES BEING STOLEN WHILST USING THIS METHOD IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ALONE IN THE PAST YEAR. I HAVE PERSONALLY HAD TO TAKE ACTION THROUGH INSTALLING ADDITIONAL SECURITY MODIFICATIONS, RISKING NULLIFICATION OF THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY, IN ORDER TO PREVENT AND AVOID VEHICLE THEFT. *JB

I OWN A 2000 AUDI S4, AND I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE INADEQUACY OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://WWW.NICB.ORG/PUBLIC/NEWSROOM/WHEREISMYCAR/TOP25BYSTATE.CFM#NJ THE AUDI S4 IS #25 ON THE MOST-STOLEN-CAR LIST IN NJ, BASED ON QUANTITY ALONE. TO SHOW THE SEVERITY OF THE SITUATION, LET ME PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE: TOTAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION QUANTITIES: AUDI S4: ~6000 TOYOTA CAMRY: ~300,000 HONDA ACCORD: ~250,000 FORD ESCORT: ~150,000 THERE ARE LESS THAN 4% THE NUMBER OF S4'S ON THE ROAD THAN CAMRYS, ACCORDS, AND ESCORTS! YET, BASED ON QUANTITY (NOT PERCENTAGE) OF STOLEN CARS, THE S4 IS #25. IF THE LIST PORTRAYED # OF STOLEN VEHICLES AS A PERCENTAGE OF # OF VEHICLES PRODUCED, THEN SURELY THE S4 WOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THIS LIST AND PROBABLY ATOP THE LIST OF SEVERAL OTHER STATES AS WELL! THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION THAT MUST BE DEALT WITH. KEEP IN MIND THAT AUDI/VW DECIDED TO NOT PLACE AN IMMOBILIZER IN THESE CARS DUE TO COST SAVINGS PURPOSES. THEY HAD THE TECHNOLOGY, AS IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE 99-UP VW JETTA. THIS CAR IS SIMPLY A HIGH RISK AUTOMOBILE TO OWN BECAUSE OF AUDI'S BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE INADEQUACY OF THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. IT LITERALLY ONLY REQUIRES TWO TOOLS AND 2 MINUTES TO BREAK INTO THE CAR, DISABLE THE ALARM, AND ENGAGE THE IGNITION SWITCH....DONE. SCARY! *JB

TOO MANY AUDI S4S ARE BEING STOLEN AROUND THE BOSTON, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, PHILLY AREA. THERE WAS A SPECIAL ON THE NEWS IN BOSTON ABOUT JUST HOW EASY IT IS TO STEAL THE XENON HEADLIGHTS (1 MINUTE). NO IMMOBILIZER WAS ADDED TO THE S4 ALTHOUGH OTHER AUDI MODELS RECEIVED ONE AS WELL AS LOWER PRICED SISTER COMPANY VOLKSWAGEN'S JETTA STARTING IN 1999. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SECURITY FOR A 40,000 PLUS DOLLAR CAR. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVING THEIR S4S STOLEN OR BEING ROBBED OF THEIR ALMOST 1000 DOLLAR XENON HEADLIGHTS-NOT TO MENTION PEOPLE HURTING THE CAR (1000S OF DOLLARS DAMAGE) TRYING TO GET THE HEADLIGHTS. AUDI NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND RETROFIT THE VEHICLE WITH MORE SECURITY. *JB

ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN 2000 AUDI S4 AFTER NUMEROUS FALSE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT INDICATIONS WERE INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYED WILL DRIVING. *AK

THUNKING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION FOR LAST TWO YEARS WHEN I GET ON THE GAS OR ON THE BRAKES. TWO SEPARATE DEALERS TOOK THE CAR FOR A ROAD TEST AND SAID IT WAS FINE. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND MORE NOTICEABLE. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS COULD BE LEADING UP TO A FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION OR STEERING.*AK

I OWN A 2000 AUDI S4 WITH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES: PIRELLI P6000, SIZE 225/45-17. AT 3,000 MILES, THE FIRST TWO TIRES DEVELOPED SEVERE BUBBLING IN THE SIDEWALLS AND BOTH TIRES WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BY THE AUDI DEALER BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES. BY 15,000 MILES 2 MORE TIRES HAD SEVERE BUBBLING IN THE SIDEWALLS AND I HAD A FLAT TIRE WHEN THE TIRE PULLED AWAY FROM THE RIMS. THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRE. I HAVE NOW REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES IN UNDER 15,000 MILES. ONE OF THE TIRES THAT WAS REPLACED AT THE 3,000 MARK WAS THE SAME TIRE THAT HAD THE FLAT IN IT AT 15,000 MILES. IF THE AUDI DEALER IN LATHAM, NEW YORK KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SIDEWALLS ON THESE TIRES AND REPLACED THEM WITHOUT A FIGHT, THEN YOU KNOW THERE IS A VALID COMPLAINT HERE. PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY, LOOK INTO THESE TIRES AS I BELIEVE THEY HAVE SERIOUS DEFECTS. I HAVE THE PAPERWORK ON THE ABOVE REPLACEMENTS SHOULD YOU NEED VERIFICATION.*JB

I JUST DID AN OIL CHANGE MYSELF ON THE CAR AND I NOTICED. (BEFORE THE CHANGE) THAT THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE WAS COVERED BY OIL. SO THAT IS THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. I THINK IS IT FROM THE HEAD CYLINDER GASKET, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING IN THIS EARLY STAGE OF THE CAR SINCE MY LAST INSPECTION WAS ONLY 8000 MILES AGO. I JUST HOPE IT'S NOT WORSE SINCE THE CAR HAS LOST SOME POWER. THE TOTAL COST WAS AN INSANE $1500 BECAUSE THE HEAD CYLINDER AND BOTTOM WAS SEND TO BE RESURFACED, IF YOU NEED IT OR NOT. DT