10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 0 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The alarm system on the 1999-2002 Audi S$ is defective and useless when the door lock is simply punched out with a screwdriver.
- Berkely, CA, USA
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.
- Hingham, MA, USA
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.
- Scotch Plains, NJ, USA
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.
- Naples, FL, USA
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.
- Abingdon, MD, USA
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-- 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 human life.
- North Wales, PA, USA
- New York , NY, USA