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#BS-2018-AUDS4-7F6B

2018 Audi S4

Based on reports from 9 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recalls

TSBs

738

✅

Preliminary Verdict

Green Light

Based on 9 complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

4 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 1K miles.

!Inspect the BrakesMED

Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure

+ 4 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (4 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine4 (44%)

Brakes1 (11%)

Drivetrain1 (11%)

Speed Control1 (11%)

Structure:body1 (11%)

Suspension1 (11%)

2018 Audi S4: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 44% of all reports filed for the 2018 Audi S4, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 1,300 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 1K-mile mark.

Brakes Issues

Brakes complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2018 Audi S4, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to brakes-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2018 Audi S4, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2018 Audi S4, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2018 Audi S4. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

19V547000Sep 2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Audi RS5 Sportback, 2018 S5 Cabriolet, S5 Sportback, S5 Coupe, S4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Sportback, A5 Coupe, and 2017-2018 A4 Sedan and A4 Allroad vehicles. Oxidation on the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) connecting cable may cause the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

21V874000Jan 2022

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2017-2020 A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, 2018-2019 RS5 Coupe, 2019 RS5 Sportback, 2018-2020 A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, and Audi S5 Sportback vehicles. The cable connecting the seat heater to the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) may have a contact fault, causing the software to misdiagnose a malfunction and disable the passenger air bag.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Audi S4 is the 2010 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2018 Audi S4 vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

Class avg

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical compact cars vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 9 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Audi S4 Model Years

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989

View all Audi S4 years →

2018 Audi S4: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Audi S4?

The most commonly reported issue with the 2018 Audi S4 is related to the engine, with 4 complaints filed with NHTSA.

Is the 2018 Audi S4 reliable?

The 2018 Audi S4 has 9 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.

How much does it cost to fix 2018 Audi S4 problems?

Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.

Does the 2018 Audi S4 have any recalls?

Yes, the 2018 Audi S4 has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

What mileage do Audi S4 problems start?

Based on 5 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 1,300 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.

What’s in the full report?

10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.

How is this different from free NHTSA data?

NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.

How is this different from Carfax?

Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.

What if the report isn’t useful?

100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.