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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 →
131Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76.5

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
258
1998190
199996
2000131
2001181
2002210
2003189
2004
Compare all A4 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
35Engine And Engine Cooling
31Service Brakes, Hydraulic
28Air Bags
11Power Train
5
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
4Exterior Lighting
3Steering
3Suspension
3Visibility
3Engine
2Equipment
2Fuel System, Other
2Seats
2Service Brakes, Air
2Service Brakes, Electric
2Tires
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes
1Structure
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

3 reports
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60,014 miles · Jan 5, 2012
Exterior Lighting

IN 2007 XENON HEADLIGHTS DROPPED/DIPPED HEADLIGHT LEVEL SENSOR REPLACED AND LIGHTS APPEARED TO WORK CORRECTLY. IN 2011 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. APPEARS TO BE WORKING OK. DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AIMED INCORRECTLY IS A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. IT APPEARS…

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IN 2007 XENON HEADLIGHTS DROPPED/DIPPED HEADLIGHT LEVEL SENSOR REPLACED AND LIGHTS APPEARED TO WORK CORRECTLY. IN 2011 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. APPEARS TO BE WORKING OK. DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AIMED INCORRECTLY IS A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A COMMON DESIGN FLAW WITH THE XENON HEADLIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442519

130,000 miles · Nov 3, 2011
Exterior Lighting

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERING AND SHUTTING OFF DURING OPERATION AT NIGHT. THE LEFT LOW BEAM BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE HEAD LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY, LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND WERE WORKING NORMALLY NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON…

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WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERING AND SHUTTING OFF DURING OPERATION AT NIGHT. THE LEFT LOW BEAM BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE HEAD LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY, LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND WERE WORKING NORMALLY NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR AND IN MY OPINION A VERY DANGEROUS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI IN A RECALL FOR THE OBVIOUS BALLAST, BULB, WIRING, PROBLEM THAT EXISTS ON THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434129

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2001
Exterior Lighting

THE NEW BLUE-WHITE LIGHT HEADLIGHTS ON THE AUDI AND OTHER LUXURY AND IMPORTED CARS IS BLINDING WHEN APPROACHING FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE ABILITY TO SEE AND POSING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE EFFECT SEEMS EVEN WORSE THAN A CAR APPROACHING WITH ITS HIGH BEAMS ON. THE EFFECT IS SO BAD THAT IT PREVENTS YOU FROM …

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THE NEW BLUE-WHITE LIGHT HEADLIGHTS ON THE AUDI AND OTHER LUXURY AND IMPORTED CARS IS BLINDING WHEN APPROACHING FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE ABILITY TO SEE AND POSING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE EFFECT SEEMS EVEN WORSE THAN A CAR APPROACHING WITH ITS HIGH BEAMS ON. THE EFFECT IS SO BAD THAT IT PREVENTS YOU FROM SEEING THE ROAD AND OTHER THINGS AROUND. THEY SHOULD BE BANNED.

NHTSA ODI #746809

Official recalls

1

21V470000 · 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

1

PE02008 · 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.