2000 Audi S4

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

65/100

Skip unless cheap

AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Audi S4, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Electrical system	42	28%
Tires	40	27%
Service brakes	22	15%
Service brakes	8	5%
Air bags	5	3%
Engine and engine cooling	4	3%
Service brakes	3	2%
Service brakes	2	1%
Service brakes	2	1%
Equipment	2	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact owns a 2000 Audi S4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V056000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and c
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Audi Corporate and Also Both Local Audi dealers refuse to repair my safety recall that is open on my car.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE LATCH SYSTEM AND THEREFORE WAS UNABLE TO INSTALL A CAR SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LATCH SYSTEM
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON ALL THE AUDI S4S AND ALSO ON VW LOOSE PIXELS ON THE DASH AND IT GOES OUT, IT IS A HAZARD BECAUSE THIS IS A GAUGE THAT DOES A SYSTEM CHECK EVERY TIME YOU START THE VEHICLE, THE CAR TELLS THE DRIV
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

COMMUNICATION FAILURE FROM THE ABS MODULE, IT CAUSES THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY LIT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ABS DOES NOT WORK ON THE CAR, IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE UNITS BUT AUDI HASN'T
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

ABS SENSOR FAILURE ON 2000 AUDI S4 QUATTRO. LIGHT CAME ON AT 114,213. LEADING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT TO FLASH ALONG SIDE OF IT AND BEEP EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHEN YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HAVEN'T CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BECAUS
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 AUDI S4 WITH BRIDGE STONE BLIZZARD WS- 60 TIRES 235/45/R17. HE STATED WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH THE TIRES DO NOT GRIP AND LOSE TRACTION. BRIDGESTONE WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COU
NHTSA complaint: Tires

BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK WS-60 TIRES ARE HIDEOUSLY DANGEROUS ON DRY ROADS, AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55MPH, WHEN THEY BEGIN TO LOSE TRACTION. ABOVE 65MPH, THEY ARE TERRIFYINGLY UNSTABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE. NOTE: THE PROBLEM IS NOT WIT
NHTSA complaint: Tires

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2000 Audi S4. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module 21V470000

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer servic

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	excellent
Longevity est.	75	good
Maintenance	41	below average
Depreciation	67	good
Performance	69	good
Efficiency	32	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 46% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 30% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 2% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 70% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 85: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 75: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2000 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 41: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2000 Audi S4?

Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 42 of them (28%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2000 Audi S4 reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2000 Audi S4 last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2000 Audi S4?

AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.