IllustrationTHIRD FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL (WHILE CAR BEING DRIVEN) WITHIN 2 MONTHS. THIS PROBLEM LOOKS LIKE IT IS SIMILAR TO ODI ID 770040. DT
2001 Audi A4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Audi A4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 76.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
2025–50K
2250–75K
1875–100K
11100–150K
3150K+
86 reports with mileage · 45 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports9 fire reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
35 reportsMY COIL PACK HAS FAILED 5 TIMES, 1ST AT 12,000 MILES 2ND AT 2X,XXX 3RD AT 2X,XXX 4TH AT 38,XXX ABD 5TH AT 40,000. DT
THE PROBLEM FORTUNATELY HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IDLING. THERE WAS A FAULT TO ONE OF THE CYLINDERS, SO THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON ONLY THREE CYLINDERS. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WOULD HAVE SHUT OFF WITHOUT BRAKES OR ANY OTHER ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SYS…
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THE PROBLEM FORTUNATELY HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IDLING. THERE WAS A FAULT TO ONE OF THE CYLINDERS, SO THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON ONLY THREE CYLINDERS. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WOULD HAVE SHUT OFF WITHOUT BRAKES OR ANY OTHER ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SYSTEMS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED ON MANY OF THE 1.8 LITER TURBO A4'S. DT
THIS HAS HAPPENED TO COUNTLESS 1.8T VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI VEHICLES. AUDI HAS YET TO MAKE ANY OFFICIAL COMMENT ON THE PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE GET 1 COIL REPLACED WHILE OTHERS GET ALL COILS REPLACED. THEY ARE BEING VERY INCONSISTENT. MY DEALER DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME ABOUT THE HISTORY BEHIND THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO LOOK IT UP MYSELF. D…
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THIS HAS HAPPENED TO COUNTLESS 1.8T VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI VEHICLES. AUDI HAS YET TO MAKE ANY OFFICIAL COMMENT ON THE PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE GET 1 COIL REPLACED WHILE OTHERS GET ALL COILS REPLACED. THEY ARE BEING VERY INCONSISTENT. MY DEALER DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME ABOUT THE HISTORY BEHIND THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO LOOK IT UP MYSELF. DT
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVER NIGHT A FIRE IGNITED IN STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE DASH AREA, AND SPREAD TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT . PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Official recalls
121V470000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jun 23, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CJ.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE02008 · Brake And Clutch Pedal Bracket
Opened Jan 23, 2002 · Closed Jul 12, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
No summary supplied.