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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 →

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

What owners actually said

131 reports
30,000 miles · Jan 29, 2003
Electrical System

I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO IDLE IRREGULARLY. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. THREE DAYS LATER MY CAR WAS REPAIRED. ALL THAT I WAS TOLD WAS THAT MY #2 COIL PACK FAILED. I WAS NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION THAT THE OTHER 3 WOULD MOST LIKELT FAIL ALSO. …

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I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO IDLE IRREGULARLY. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. THREE DAYS LATER MY CAR WAS REPAIRED. ALL THAT I WAS TOLD WAS THAT MY #2 COIL PACK FAILED. I WAS NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION THAT THE OTHER 3 WOULD MOST LIKELT FAIL ALSO. UPON DOING RESEARCH ON MESSAGE BOARDS I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM. I CALLED AUDI CLIENT RELATIONS AND TOLD THEM THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB AS I COULD NEVER BE SURE WHEN THE OTHER COIL PACKS WERE GOING TO FAIL. THE WOMAN THAT I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE AUDI DEALERSHIP AND "DEMAND THAT THE OTHER 3 BE REPLACED." WHEN I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE TERRIBLE SERVICE I RECEIVED AT THE 1ST DEALER, THEY LAUGHED IN MY FACE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AT A "CRISIS STATE" WITH THE COIL PACKS, THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY TO SWITCH OUT FOR ME, AND THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY CAR TO DIE WHILE IN OPERATION. AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THAT THEY COULD ONLY REPLACE THE COIL PACK THAT FAILED! IF THIS ISN'T GROSS NEGLIGENCE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS! ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE HAD A CAM TENSIONER REPLACED, THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR REPLACED, AND NOW IT APPEARS THAT MY STEERING RACK IS GOING BAD. I HAVE 38K MILES WITH ONLY 12K LEFT ON MY WARRANTY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THE TERRIBLE RELIABILITY OF THIS CAR ON TOP OF AUDI'S RELUCTANCE TO ISSUE A RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE COIL PACKS. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A PERSON DYING BEFORE ANYONE ADDRESSES THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10004932

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2003
Electrical System

AUDI A4 IGNITION COIL PROBLEM. 2 HAVE GONE - NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE OTHER 2 TO GO IN ORDER TO AGAIN OWN A DEPENDABLE CAR. THIS IS MOST INCONVENIENT DURING A COLD WINTER! I AM PAYING MY LEASE, AND AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FURTHER THAN A FEW MILES. I LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA OF MAINE, WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS WELL BELOW Z…

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AUDI A4 IGNITION COIL PROBLEM. 2 HAVE GONE - NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE OTHER 2 TO GO IN ORDER TO AGAIN OWN A DEPENDABLE CAR. THIS IS MOST INCONVENIENT DURING A COLD WINTER! I AM PAYING MY LEASE, AND AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FURTHER THAN A FEW MILES. I LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA OF MAINE, WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS WELL BELOW ZERO MUCH OF THE TIME. I COULD FREEZE TO DEATH WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK!! WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL. WHY CAN'T THE COMPANY PUT A HOLD ON COMPLETING NEW CARS AND THEREFORE INSTALL 4 COILS AT A TIME INSTEAD OF ONE AS THEY GO?? WHY SHOULD I CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THIS CAR UNLESS IT IS FIXED?

NHTSA ODI #10003605

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH SUDDENLY THE SPEED DROPPED TO 35MPH DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL PACK. DEALER CHANGED THE FAULTY COIL. (UNDER GUARANTEE) DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10004848

11,000 miles · Jan 21, 2003
Electrical System

IN COLD CONDITIONS (10F) AND WITH LITTLE VEHICLE WARM-UP TIME, THE VEHICLE BEGAN CUTTING OUT AND LOST ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOVER SO I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED. ENGINE OPERATION RETURNED TO NORMAL BUT HAD REGISTERED FAULT CODES WHICH WERE TRACED TO THE COILS NOT FIRING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #10003082

12,000 miles · Jan 20, 2003
Electrical System

2001 AUDI A4. IN FOR 3RD COIL PACK REPLACEMENT IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM INVOLVING A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART. AUDI REFUSES TO REPLACE ALL OF THE COIL PACKS AT ONCE, INSTEAD PREFERING TO HAVE THE CUSTOMER COME IN FOR EACH INEVITABLE FAILURE. THE CAR IS ESSENTIALY INOPERABLE IN THIS CONDITION AND RE…

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2001 AUDI A4. IN FOR 3RD COIL PACK REPLACEMENT IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM INVOLVING A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART. AUDI REFUSES TO REPLACE ALL OF THE COIL PACKS AT ONCE, INSTEAD PREFERING TO HAVE THE CUSTOMER COME IN FOR EACH INEVITABLE FAILURE. THE CAR IS ESSENTIALY INOPERABLE IN THIS CONDITION AND REQUIRES TOWING FOR EACH INSTANCE OF FAILURE WHICH DOES NOT OCCURE LOCALLY. AUDI NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR! I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THE PLIGHT OF HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS FOR WHOM THIS IS MORE THAN A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE, BUT A DANGEROUS SITUATION. AUDI KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND COULD ADDRESS IT DIRECTLY INSTEAD OF PUTTING PEOPLE THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #10003058

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2003
Electrical System

THERE IS A QUITE APPARENT ISSUE WITH THE COILPACK FAILURES ON THESE CARS, PARTICULARY WITH THOSE THAT OPERATE IN COLD WEATHER (<30F). AUDI HAS NOT OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM THROUGH A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10003042

11,900 miles · Jan 17, 2003
Electrical System

FOR THE SECOND TIME ON MY AUDI A4 TURBO THE IGNITION COIL FAILED,CAUSING CAR TO COMPLETELY LOOSE POWER ON BUSY ROAD. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 12,500 MILES ON IT AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT CHANGE ALL COILS. THEY ALSO REFUSE TO DO A TRADE IN ON THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI #10002869

17,000 miles · Jan 16, 2003
Electrical System

2001 AUDI A4 AVANT QUATRO, ABOUT 17K MILES. FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL AT COLD STRATUP. FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTED CASES OF SAME PROBLEM, RELATED TO 1.8T ENGINE AUDI OR VW - SO COMMON THAT PART IS ON BACKLOG FOR 2 WEEKS OR MORE! DEALER REFUSES TO CHANGE ALL IGNITION COILS, SO IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT ANOTHER ONE MAY FAIL SOON. SUDD…

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2001 AUDI A4 AVANT QUATRO, ABOUT 17K MILES. FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL AT COLD STRATUP. FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTED CASES OF SAME PROBLEM, RELATED TO 1.8T ENGINE AUDI OR VW - SO COMMON THAT PART IS ON BACKLOG FOR 2 WEEKS OR MORE! DEALER REFUSES TO CHANGE ALL IGNITION COILS, SO IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT ANOTHER ONE MAY FAIL SOON. SUDDEN FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL MAY CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION - LOST OF POWER IN TRAFFICK AT HIGH SPEED. AUDI/VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL OF ALL IGNITION COILS FOR THE 2001 AND 2002 MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 1.8T ENGINES.

NHTSA ODI #10002790

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S COIL PACK FAILED OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, AND TOTAL LOSS OF POWER PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001860

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAYS EMISSION COIL FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORATIONL MR

NHTSA ODI #8024198

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.