2014 Audi S4

The defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Audi A4 and S4 vehicles manufactured February 16, 2012, to October 21, 2014, and 2013-2015 Audi Allroad vehicles manufactured March 12, 2012, to October 21, 2014. Due to an improper algorithm in the air bag control module, if a crash necessitates deployment of the side air bags, a second impact to the front of the vehicle may not command the front air bags to also deploy.

The risk

If the front air bags do not deploy in the event of a secondary impact to the front of the vehicle, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

The remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and Audi dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on November 14, 2014. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69K5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 101,938 vehicles across all model years covered

61,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Audi S4. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, he observed multiple unknown warning lights illuminated. The EPC warning light was also illuminated. The contact stated that the “Do Not Drive" message was displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel was stiff and failed to steer as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electronic steering module and rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

NHTSA complaint 11583356. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

100,000 miles

MY 2014 AUDI S4 HAS A EPC LIGHT THAT KEEPS TURNING ON WHILE DRIVING THAT CAR. THE EPC LIGHT WILL PUT THE CAR INTO LIMP MODE AND WILL HAVE A ROUGH IDLE AND CAN BARLEY DRIVE. WHEN THAT LIGHT TURNS ON YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND RESTART THE CAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING AND IS A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY. THE LIGHT MAINLY TURNS ON WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEEDS OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND THEY KEEP SAYING THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE CAR WHAT'S SO EVER. I DECIDED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR MYSELF BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS NO HELP. WHEN I LOOK IT UP …

NHTSA complaint 11399328, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

90,000 miles

THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS "NOTCHY" STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IN COLD WEATHER. AT OR ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL TRIES TO "BOUNCE" LEFT AND RIGHT RATHER THAN MAINTAINING CENTER--EVEN WHEN TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT, FRESHLY-PAVED SECTION OF INTERSTATE. THE DRIVER HAS TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR TRAVELING STRAIGHT. THE STEERING FUNCTIONS NORMALLY OTHERWISE, AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT MANIFEST ITSELF AT LOW SPEEDS. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM AROUND AUGUST OF 2020. OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS:

NHTSA complaint 11376444. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

62,600 miles

I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM OF AIR BUBBLE FORMATION IN MY FUEL SYSTEM (CODE 16903) WHEN READING CODES IN MY CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FUEL PUMP ISSUE SO I REPLACED IT. I THEN REALIZED IT WASN'T JUST A PUMP ISSUE AS THE CAR KEPT READING THOSE CODES AND KEPT STOPPING. I TALKED TO A LOCAL AUDI DEALERSHIP AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE FUEL PUMP VAPOR EXTENSION. WHEN ASKED THEY SAID THAT IT'S ONLY A TSB NOT A RECALL DUE TO IT NOT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW YOU TELL ME, MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND STOPPED ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, AND 3 TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC 2 WEEKS LATER. I BELIEVE IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM AS ANYONE COULD'VE RAN INTO ME AND CAUSED BIGGER PROBLEMS. I …

NHTSA complaint 11328789, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

74,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING CAN BECOME NOTCHY. STEERING INPUTS ARE NOT ALWAYS 100% TRANSFERRED TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THERE CAN BE A "DEAD SPOT" IN THE STEERING. THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INTENDED PATH. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES, AND SEEMS TO BE EXACERBATED IN COLDER WEATHER.

NHTSA complaint 11315652. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

58,000 miles

WHILE TRAVELING AT 75MPH, UPHILL, IN 100F WEATHER THE FUEL LOW PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM DEVELOPED A VAPOR BUBBLE THAT STALLED THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND STARVED THE MOTOR FOR FUEL. THE CAR STALLED ON THE FREEWAY AND WOULD INTERMITTENTLY RESTART UNTIL THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE REPAIR REQUIRED ADDITIONAL VALVES AND HOSES HE ADDED TO THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM TO COMPENSATE FOR THE POOR VAPOR MANAGEMENT DESIGN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE APPROPRIATE FIX AND TSB WAS EXECUTED. TOTAL COST WAS ~$2200, $715 OF THAT TOTAL COST WERE THE NEW VALVES AND HOSES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE INITIAL DESIGN.

NHTSA complaint 11220686. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.