IllustrationSCREEN ON THE RADIO FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING YOU TO LOOK AWAY FROM THE ROAD EXPECIALLY AT NIGHT. IT COULD BE SOME SORT OF SHORT WHICH I BELIVE COULD LEAD TO FIRE.*AK
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
Equipment complaints
2 reportsI AM PRESENTLY LEASING THE AUDI A4 1.8T. THE CAR HAS DIED ON THREE OCCASSIONS AND AUDI TELLS ME THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE COIL SPRING PROBLEMS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING. ON THE FIRST TWO OCCASSIONS THERE WAS NO "WARNING INDICATOR" OR "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT." THEY SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF WARNING BEFORE THIS PROBLEM…
Read full complaint
I AM PRESENTLY LEASING THE AUDI A4 1.8T. THE CAR HAS DIED ON THREE OCCASSIONS AND AUDI TELLS ME THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE COIL SPRING PROBLEMS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING. ON THE FIRST TWO OCCASSIONS THERE WAS NO "WARNING INDICATOR" OR "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT." THEY SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF WARNING BEFORE THIS PROBLEMS HAPPENS, BUT IN MY CASE THERE WAS NOT. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THIS HAPPENED TO ME THE CAR JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OR LIGHT TO TELL ME SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED I DID HAVE THE LIGHT FLASH AND THE CAR RIDE ROUGH. THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTLY DEADLY. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH THE FIRST TWO TIMES TO BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DO NOT LET AUDI AND VW FOOL YOU INTO THINKING THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A WARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. THE CAR IS DEADLY AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN IT IS GOING TO DIE. FOR INCIDENT DATE I PUT THE FIRST INCIDENT ONLY.
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.