Used Audi S4 B5 Buying Guide (2000-2002): Recalls and Checks

A used Audi S4 on the B5 platform is worth buying after you clear the driver air bag recall and prove the twin-turbo 2.7T has been serviced on time. U.S. cars landed for the 2000-2002 model years. When I queried NHTSA on Nov. 5, 2026, campaign 21V470000 covered those S4 years for a Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflator that can absorb moisture and deploy wrong in a crash.

Which S4 are you looking at?

The B5 S4 is the first A4-based S4, with a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, quattro all-wheel drive, and sedan or Avant wagon bodies. Later S4 generations share the badge and little else. Decode the VIN before you trust a listing that just says "S4." Our Audi VIN decoder and Audi recall check by VIN guides help.

Manual six-speed cars and Tiptronic automatics both exist. Stock cars and modified cars both exist. Treat them as different products when you compare asking prices. A Tiptronic that flares on the 2-3 shift is not "just how they drive."

NHTSA recalls by campaign

From the NHTSA recalls API on Nov. 5, 2026 for model years 2000-2002:

• 21V470000 (2000-2002 S4, also some A4 and TT): Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that can absorb moisture. In a crash the air bag may not protect the driver as designed. Ask for proof the inflator was replaced.

That was the only campaign the year-by-year S4 query returned on Nov. 5, 2026. No other open recall does not mean a clean car. Run the actual VIN at NHTSA, then read NHTSA versus CARFAX. Keep the recall receipt with the title packet so the next buyer can see the work.

Mechanical checks that matter

The 2.7T wants timely timing-belt service, healthy turbos and clean coil packs. Ask when the belt, water pump and tensioners were last done, and keep the invoice. Look for oil in the intercooler pipes, cracked vacuum lines and a tiptronic that flares on shifts. Quattro cars need even tire sizes across all four corners. Pay a shop that knows these engines for a pre-purchase inspection; our pre-purchase inspection cost guide shows what a fair visit costs.

Also check the camshaft position sensor wiring, the vacuum tree under the intake, and the rear differential for leaks. A car that "just needs a boost gauge" often needs more than that.

Reading the history report

These cars are old enough for thin PDFs and common for modifications. Look for salvage or rebuilt brands, odometer gaps, and insurance entries with no repair follow-up. A seller PDF that looks edited is a reason to pull your own report. If the mileage story feels off, use our odometer rollback guide. Watch for title washing when the car hopped states right after a branded event.

When to walk away

• Open 21V470000 work and no appointment to fix it.
• The VIN on the car and title do not match.
• No timing-belt paperwork on a high-mile 2.7T priced like a sorted example.
• The seller blocks a compression or leak-down test.

Questions to ask the seller

• Has the NADI driver air bag inflator been replaced, and do you have the dealer invoice?
• When were the timing belt, water pump and turbos last serviced?
• Is the car stock, and if not, what was changed?
• Any accidents, flood history or paint work?

How to price a B5 S4

A stock six-speed with records sits in a different bracket from a stage-2 car with a vague turbo story. Compare cars with the same transmission and mileage band, then subtract deferred timing-belt work, suspension bushings and any open air bag campaign. Modified cars can be honest, but the asking price has to reflect the risk that the next owner inherits.

Quattro cars hide rust in the rear arches and the spare-well. Cars from the snow belt need an underbody look before you talk about fancy wheels. A wagon (Avant) with a clean roof and working rear hatch seals is rarer than a sedan in most markets, and that rarity should show up in the price only when the mechanicals match.

On the day you buy

Match every VIN location to the title and the history report. Confirm the seller ID matches the title name. Drive the car from cold, watch boost behavior, and listen for timing-belt tick or turbo whistle that does not match the seller story. Keep photos of the air bag recall paperwork with the bill of sale.

What the report costs

As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

Sources

• NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
• NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder
• NMVTIS title history (U.S. DOJ)
• Audi S4 model history
• IIHS vehicle ratings