I wanted more up-to-date car reliability information that included actual repair rates. So in late 2005 I started getting people together to make this possible. TrueDelta now updates actual repair frequencies, not just dots, four times a year, to track cars closely as they age.

We've had excellent participation by Audi owners, with over 2,000 signed up, including nearly 1,200 for the A4. Recently I started posting separate results for the S4, but need more participants to provide full results for every model year. (In general, the B6 and B7 S4 appear to be at least as reliable as the related A4.) If enough owners also participated for other S models, I'd post separate results for them as well.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, participants receive full access to all results, not just those for Audis, for free.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Car reliability research

 

We've updated the results for the A4, A5, S4, and S5 to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. So far we're posting separate stats for the B6 and B7 S4. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008 A4: 63, about average

2008 S4: not enough participants

2007 A4: 54, about average

2007 S4: 36, better than average

2005.5-
2006 A4: 88, about average

2005.5-
2006 S4: 43, better than average

2005 A4: 174, worse than average -- rush to get things done before warranty ends?

2005 S4: 167, worse than average

2004 A4: 125, worse than average

2004 S4: 141, worse than average

There continues to be a major improvement from the B6 to the B7. Note that the B7 S4s tend to be driven about 80% as many miles as the same-year A4s.

A big thank you to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in August and November. If enough S4 owners join and participate we have stats for the B5 and B8 as well.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help make these stats possible:

Audi S4 reliability comparisons

 

Updated results in about two weeks.

Better participation by S4 owners, but more remain needed to provide full results for each year.

Help get your year fully included:

Car reliability research

 

We've updated the results for the A4, A5, S4, and S5 to include owner experiences through March 31, 2010. So far we're posting separate stats for the B6 and up S4. In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2010 A4, A5, and S5 4.2: 36, better than average

2010 S4 and S5 3.0T: 27, better than average

2007 A4: 56, about average

2007 S4: 41, better than average

2005.5-
2006 A4: 85, about average

2005.5-
2006 S4: 44, better than average

2005 A4: 145, worse than average

2005 S4: 166, worse than average

2004 A4: 152, worse than average

2004 S4: 126, worse than average

As before, there's a big improvement from the B6 to the B7.

The average odometer reading tends to be much lower for the S4 than the A4.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

Audi S4 reliability comparisons

 

Updated reliability stats next month.

As always, the more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

Car reliability research

 

We've updated the results for the A4 and S4 to include owner experiences through September 30, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since April until the summer or even fall of next year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2010 A4: 39, about average

2010 S4: 39, about average

2009: 71, about average though drifting higher

2008 A4: 62

2007 A4: 61

2007 S4: 102, very small sample size

2005.5-
2006 A4: 80

2005.5-
2006 S4: 66, small sample size

2005 A4: 146, worse than average -- rush to get things done before warranty ends?

2005 S4: 229, worse than average

2004 A4: 153, worse than average

2004 S4: 137, worse than average

There continues to be a major improvement from the B6 to the B7. Note that the B7 S4s tend to be driven about 80% as many miles as the same-year A4s.

A big thank you to this forum and everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

Audi S4 reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We have some new pages that display all reported repairs by problem area:

2010 Audi S4 problem reports

From this page it's possible to select a different model year or specify a problem area.

 

We've updated the results for the B7 A4 and S4 to include owner experiences through December 31, 2010. Other sources of car reliability information won't cover the months since last April until the summer or even fall of this year.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008 A4: 65

2007 A4: 69

2007 S4: 120, small sample size

2005.5-
2006 A4: 102

2005.5-
2006 S4: 95, small sample size

All are about average except the 2007 S4, which could be inaccurate--small sample size for it.

And for the B6:

2005 A4: 123

2005 S4: 202, but small sample size; result for 2004 likely more accurate

2004 A4: 144

2004 S4: 113

All but the 2004 S4 are worse than average. Note that the average odometer reading is lower for the S4s.

We'll have further updates in May and August. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help provide this information:

Audi A4 reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We've updated the results for the B6 and B7 Audi S4 to include owner experiences through March 31, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008 A4: 78, about average

2008 S4: 17, better than average, average odometer only 18k, very small sample size

2007 A4: 89, about average

2007 S4: 110, worse than average small sample size

2005.5-
2006 A4: 95, about average

2005.5-
2006 S4: 116, worse than average, small sample size

2005 A4: 118, worse thn average

2005 S4: 177, worse than average, small sample size

2004 A4: 155, worse than average

2004 S4: 107, about average

We'll have further updates in August and November. The more owners participate, the better the information we can provide to everyone.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Audi S4 reliability ratings and comparisons

 

We've updated the results for the A4 and S4 to include owner experiences through September 30, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2011 A4: 36, better than average

2011 S4: 42, about average

2010 A4: 32, better than average

2010 S4: 72, about average

2008 A4: 83, about average

2008 S4: 76, about average, average odometer only 25k, very small sample size

2007 A4: 101, about average

2007 S4: 78, about average, small sample size

2005.5-
2006 A4: 92, about average

2005.5-
2006 S4: 81, about average, small sample size

2005 A4: 109, about average

2005 S4: 128, about average, small sample size

2004 A4: 126, about average

2004 S4: 106, about average

The average odometer reading is much lower for the S4s.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants we could provide more precise results.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Audi S4 reliability ratings and comparisons