Most Audi S4 VINs open with WAU (Germany, 1992–2021). Position 11, the plant, shows 3 codes, most often A (93%); a 2026 S4 carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 16 recall campaigns and 468 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Audi S4 VIN
Here is a real 2024 Audi S4 VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN WAUB4AF46RA083256 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Audi S4 VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Audi S4 VINs on record carry 2 different prefixes. The main one is WAU (Germany, 1992–2021), then WUA (Germany, 2004–2008):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAU | 1992–2021 | Germany | Passenger Car | |
| WUA | 2004–2008 | Germany | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Audi S4 it is not one number either — assembly moved between 3 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2000–2021 | 433 | |
| N | 1992–1994 | 23 | |
| K | 2004–2008 | 11 |
Counted from 467 dated Audi S4 VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Audi S4
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which for the Audi S4 has already happened — 1994 and 2024 share the character R. All 28 model years of the Audi S4, 1992 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | 1994 |
| 2023 | P | 1993 |
| 2022 | N | 1992 |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1994 | R | 2024 |
| 1993 | P | 2023 |
| 1992 | N | 2022 |
To tell the two apart on a car or light truck, look at position 7: a number for 1980–2009 models, a letter from 2010 on.
Body and engine characters we see on Audi S4 VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 50 VINs the Audi S4 uses 16 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | B (52%) · C (14%) · D (10%) · F (8%) · K (6%) · G (4%) | 6 distinct |
| 5 — series | G (48%) · 4 (44%) · L (4%) · P (2%) · D (2%) | 5 distinct |
| 8 — engine | L (48%) · 4 (44%) · E (4%) · A (2%) · D (2%) | 5 distinct |
What a decoded Audi S4 VIN gets you
Behind a Audi S4 VIN: 468 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 16 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 468 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 20 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Crash-test ratings | 6 rated model years | NHTSA |
| Model years covered | 28 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Audi S4
A Audi S4 VIN normally opens with WAU; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Audi S4 VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 16 recall campaigns and 468 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Audi S4.
Why does my S4 VIN start differently from another S4?
Because the Audi S4 was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Audi S4 VINs on record we see 2 of them: WAU (1992–2021), WUA (2004–2008). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my S4 by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 S4 carries T, a 2025 S4 carries S, a 2024 S4 carries R. A 1994 and a 2024 share R; position 7 tells them apart, a number for 1980–2009 and a letter from 2010 on.
Where was my S4 built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 468 dated Audi S4 VINs it reads A 93%, N 5%, K 2%.
What does position 4 mean on a Audi S4 VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 50 Audi S4 VINs here, B is the most common character in position 4, on 52% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Audi S4 check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with WAU. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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