Audi S4
3.0-litre TDI V6 with 347 hp for the S variant, EA897 Evo. Camshaft fracture from material defect affects early serial numbers (before 073951) — check service history and TPI-2043172 documentation before purchase. Maintenance-intensive: four-chain timing and rubber belt to the high-pressure pump need regular inspection.
S4 TDI — Autobahn express with diesel torque
Diesel in an S-model: controversial, but brutally effective on the highway. 700 Nm from 1,750 rpm, consumption under 8 L/100km possible. Sounds like nothing, feels like a fast company car — because that's exactly what it is. Anyone wanting sound and emotion is in the wrong place.
Engine Weaknesses 6
The V6 3.0 TDI has four timing chains that wear prematurely with poor maintenance. Rattling on cold start is the typical warning. Complete chain drive replacement costs approx. €3,000.
Symptoms: Rattling or clattering noises on cold start, timing chain warning in instrument cluster
On EA897 EVO engines with certain serial numbers (CRT 000001–073951), camshafts can break due to material defects. A break inevitably causes severe engine damage.
Symptoms: Sudden loss of power, rough running, engine stall without prior warning
Faulty plastic coolant control valves cause coolant loss. The plastic welded joint becomes porous and leaks. Repair costs are around €1,200–1,400.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level, rising temperature, coolant loss without visible external leak
The AdBlue dosing valve and AdBlue tank are prone to failure. Warning messages in the instrument cluster often appear early. Replacement costs over €1,000, sometimes covered by goodwill.
Symptoms: AdBlue fault message in instrument cluster, power reduction as limp programme
Soot deposits on injectors cause scattered symptoms and rough running. Particularly common with short-trip use. Cleaning or replacement can cost several hundred euros.
Symptoms: Rough idle, increased fuel consumption, soot clouds from exhaust
The NOx sensor upstream or downstream of the SCR catalyst fails prematurely, triggering the engine warning light. Often repaired under goodwill; outside warranty approx. €300–600 replacement.
Symptoms: Engine warning light (MIL), OBD fault code P20EE or similar, exhaust after-treatment warning
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
Defective coolant valves cause coolant loss that can silently lead to overheating. Temperature sensors and thermostat housing are a weak point from 60,000–100,000 km.
The rubber bushings in the upper control arms wear prematurely, in some cases from as early as 60,000–80,000 km. The issue is said to have been fixed only with the 2019 facelift.
Certain 19-inch tyre combinations on the B9 lead to premature wear on the inner flanks. The cause is a suspension setup not optimally tuned for larger wheels. Regular wheel alignment recommended.
The S tronic dual-clutch gearbox judders when pulling away and at low speeds. The mechatronics unit can become defective.
Water pump and thermostat housing typically fail between 60,000 and 170,000 km. A well-known weak point on the 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI.
The S tronic dual-clutch gearbox exhibits a known juddering in D and R at idle that Audi classes as within the state of the art. Diesel variants may additionally creep.
The MMI infotainment system frequently exhibits Bluetooth connectivity problems in facelift models: choppy music playback, missed ringtones. Software updates do not always provide a permanent fix.