-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RD5kYumfmeOmRraLI6qgN3PopzLSzPP837WBO9MR3OXuU1PU5odr8vaKZyP8UkWf
 Gq/SBWeuiUB/tDesTeMoEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001289982-04-000004.txt : 20040930
<SEC-HEADER>0001289982-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040930
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040930193142
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001289982-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040928
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040930
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040930

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAMPERT EDWARD S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183200

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10714
		FILM NUMBER:		041056375

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 GREENWICH AVENUE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9014956500

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AUTOZONE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000866787
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO & HOME SUPPLY STORES [5531]
		IRS NUMBER:				621482048
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0828

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		123 SOUTH FRONT ST
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9014956500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 2198
		STREET 2:		DEPT 8074
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38101-2198

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESL INVESTMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001126396
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10714
		FILM NUMBER:		041056378

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 GREENWICH AVENUE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038614600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 GREENWICH AVENUE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RBS PARTNERS L P /CT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000860585
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10714
		FILM NUMBER:		041056376

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038614606

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LAMPERT L P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940207

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RBS PARTNERS L P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESL PARTNERS LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000923727
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10714
		FILM NUMBER:		041056377

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038614600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE LAFAYETTE PLAC
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866787</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUTOZONE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AZO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001126396</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ESL INVESTMENTS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 GREENWICH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000923727</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ESL PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 GREENWICH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000860585</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RBS PARTNERS L P /CT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 GREENWICH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183200</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAMPERT EDWARD S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>43000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>75.215</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10576625</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>340000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>76.975</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10916625</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9653460</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities are owned by ESL Partners, L.P. (&quot;Partners&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (i) 3,683,037 shares held by ESL Investors, L.L.C. (&quot;Investors&quot;), (ii) 71,771 shares held by ESL Institutional Partners, L.P. (&quot;Institutional&quot;), (iii) 5,875,557 shares held by Acres Partners, L.P. (&quot;Acres&quot;), (iv) 19,310 shares held by ESL Investment Management, LLC (&quot;ESLIM&quot;) and (v) 3,785 shares held by Edward S. Lampert.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This Form 4 is filed on behalf of Partners, ESL Investments, Inc. (&quot;Investments&quot;), RBS Partners, L.P. (&quot;RBS&quot;) and Edward S. Lampert. RBS is the general partner of Partners and the manager of Investors. Investments is the general partner of RBS and Acres. RBS Investment Management, LLC (&quot;RBSIM&quot;) is the general partner of Institutional. Mr. Lampert is a controlling stockholder of Investments and the managing member of ESLIM and RBSIM.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each of Partners, Institutional, Investors, Acres, ESLIM, Investments, RBS, RBSIM and Mr. Lampert may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities reported herein. The total amount of securities reported as beneficially owned by Partners, Institutional, Investors, Acres and ESLIM is greater than Investments' or Mr. Lampert's indirect pecuniary interest in such securities. The total amount of securities reported as beneficially owned by Partners and Investors is greater than RBS' indirect pecuniary interest in such securities. The total amount of securities reported as beneficially owned by Institutional is greater than RBSIM's indirect pecuniary interest in such securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William C. Crowley, for ESL Investments, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William C. Crowley, for ESL Partners, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William C. Crowley, for RBS Partners, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Edward S. Lampert</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----