Audi S4 2003-2004 (2003–2004)
Generation-specific owner insights from 170+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy a 2003–2004 S4?
65
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2003–2004
2
recall campaigns
engine and engine cooling
most-complained area
What owners say about this generation
Our take, from owner reports
Owners of the 2003-2004 S4 describe it as a genuinely thrilling car to drive, praising the 4.2L V8's sound, power, and the model's understated styling, with several calling it the zenith of Audi design.
19 problems reported (4 very frequent, 5 recurrent, 10 isolated) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequentTiming chain guide and tensioner failure, requiring engine-out service
- Very frequentTiming chain rattle on cold start as the primary warning sign
- Very frequentHigh cost of the timing chain service, quoted from roughly $4,000 to $8,000+
+ 16 more issuesShow fewer
- Very frequentMassive oil consumption
- RecurrentScored cylinder walls, with no fix other than engine replacement
- RecurrentCamshaft adjuster failure on the back of the camshafts
- RecurrentGeneral high maintenance and parts costs relative to purchase price
- RecurrentWindow regulator and window motor failure
- RecurrentClutch and slave cylinder issues
- IsolatedElectrical gremlins
- IsolatedRear turn signal failure traced to the bulb holder
- IsolatedPower steering reservoir replacement
- IsolatedTie rod wear
- IsolatedAccessory/serpentine belt failure
- IsolatedO-ring leak between the split block and crankshaft girdle
- IsolatedDual mass flywheel problems
- IsolatedSuspension components described as fragile
- IsolatedCamshaft position sensor codes
- IsolatedCarbon buildup requiring periodic cleaning
The version owners recommend
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus. Partial signal: owners favor the 6-speed manual over the automatic, saying the auto significantly decreases value, and several specifically praise the Avant with the 6-speed manual as a rare and desirable configuration. One owner notes that some true 2005 models had more success with chain guides than earlier build dates.
Competitors to consider
Owners compare it most often with the Audi B7 S4, Audi B5 S4, Audi B8 S4, Audi A4 1.8T and Audi A4 2.0T.
Is a 2003–2004 S4 right for you?
Get an answer for your year, mileage and budget.
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Overall sentiment
Owners of the 2003-2004 S4 describe it as a genuinely thrilling car to drive, praising the 4.2L V8's sound, power, and the model's understated styling, with several calling it the zenith of Audi design. That enthusiasm is almost always paired with a serious warning about running costs: the timing chain system, oil consumption, and scored cylinders dominate the conversation, and many owners say the car is only worth buying if the timing service is documented or you can do engine-out work yourself. Sentiment is sharply divided between those who call it the most reliable car they have owned and those who call it a ticking money bomb. Owners repeatedly note that the B6 generation (2003-2005) is worse for timing chain failures than later cars, and that the 2005.5 "bastard" model mixes a B6 engine with a B7 chassis.
Positioning vs competitors
Owners position the B6 S4 as the best-sounding and best-looking of the S4 generations, with several saying they prefer its styling to the B7, but they consistently concede that the B7 is the more attractive and better-sorted car overall and that the B5's 2.7T is more durable. Against the B8, owners say the newer car has far more tuning potential, better weight distribution, and better reliability. The G37 is raised as a comparison specifically because it lacks the engine-destroying failure modes of the S4. The A4 is described as gutless before turbo spool and less planted in corners, though the S4 transmits more road bumps.
Recommended configurations
Buy only a car with documented timing chain service, ideally performed with upgraded RS4 guides, which owners describe as a one-and-done fix. Prefer the 6-speed manual; the automatic is repeatedly called a value killer. Owners advise budgeting for a clutch job at the same time if the engine is out on a manual car. Several recommend a full pre-purchase inspection including a compression test, leakdown, and borescope of the cylinders, plus a cold start to listen for chain rattle. One owner suggests that very short-trip driving may worsen timing chain issues because of frequent cold starts.
General recommendations
This car suits enthusiasts who can turn their own wrenches, particularly those able to pull an engine, and who treat it as a hobby car rather than basic transportation. Owners strongly advise against buying one as a first car or on a tight budget, and one 18-year-old was told he would be financially overextended. Avoid any example without documentation of timing chain work, and walk away from cars with cold-start chain rattle, misfires, or blue smoke. Owners repeatedly say a well-sorted, documented car is worth paying a premium for, and that a cheap example is usually the most expensive path.
Remarks
Owners repeatedly note that timing chain problems can appear at any mileage, with reports of failures as early as 30K and as late as 150K+, and that proper maintenance does not prevent them. Several owners report the car has been rock solid for tens of thousands of miles, and one reported zero chain rattle at nearly 80K miles with careful warm-up and 3,000-mile oil changes. The stereo system has a speed-sensitive volume feature called GALA that owners discuss adjusting or disabling. Owners describe the 4.2 V8 as a very clicky-sounding engine, making it hard to distinguish normal operation from chain rattle. Analysis based on approximately 170 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 58 | 1 | engine and engine cooling |
| 2003 | 7 | 1 | power train |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices for this generation
2004 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 05V096000
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
2003 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 05V096000
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF XENON HEADLAMP COATING DEGRADATION OVER TIME. THE LUMINOUS TRANSMITTANCE OF THE HEADLAMP MAY DECREASE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.