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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
45,000 miles · Jan 13, 2008
Electrical System

(1) I HAVE HAD 3 AUDI A4'S THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE!!! 98', 99.5' AND 01.5' A4'S. BELOW IN THE INCIDENT DATE, I STATED THE DATE WHEN I PURCHASED MY CURRENT CAR... THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TWO PREVIOUS A4'S I HAD WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM YEARS AGO. (2) THE LCD SCREEN IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS SEVERAL PIXELS THAT DI…

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(1) I HAVE HAD 3 AUDI A4'S THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE!!! 98', 99.5' AND 01.5' A4'S. BELOW IN THE INCIDENT DATE, I STATED THE DATE WHEN I PURCHASED MY CURRENT CAR... THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TWO PREVIOUS A4'S I HAD WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM YEARS AGO. (2) THE LCD SCREEN IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS SEVERAL PIXELS THAT DIE OUT AND MAKE THE SCREEN BLURRY OR BLANK! THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE DRIVER TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR WHEN A PROBLEM OCCURS! ALSO STATES IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IT IS FOR SAFETY ISSUES AND THE DRIVER NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF THESE SITUATIONS AT ALL TIMES. LIKE I PREVIOUSLY SAID, THIS IS MY THIRD AUDI A4 AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL THREE. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR CAR BECAUSE OF THIS ONGOING DEFECT WITH AUDI. (3) HAVE VISITED AUDI DEALERSHIPS NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET THIS RESOLVED. EVERYTIME I GET A PRICE QUOTE OF OVER $900 WHICH IS COMPLETELY INSANE! EVERYTIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP CONCERNING THIS ISSUE, IT IS WITH A DIFFERENT CAR AND HAVE EXPECTED THIS TO BE A RECALL BY NOW! THIS IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE AND HOPE FOR ALL AUDI OWNERS THAT THIS GETS RESOLVED VERY QUICKLY! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214655

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2007
Seats

FACTORY HEATED SEAT SET ON LOWEST SETTING AND BURNING HOLE THROUGH LEATHER AND CLOTHING! LEFT HOLE SIZE OF DIME IN FRONT DRIVERSIDE SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210712

41,800 miles · Nov 13, 2007
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,800. UPDATED 11/26/07.

NHTSA ODI #10208791

60,000 miles · Nov 13, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HALF OF THE DISPLAY PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. AS OF NOVEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HALF OF THE DISPLAY PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. AS OF NOVEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10208762

90,000 miles · Nov 9, 2007
Electrical System

FADING LCD ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208476

42,140 miles · Aug 10, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. HE HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER CIRCUIT FAILED DUE TO A LEAK ON THE ROOF. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,140.

NHTSA ODI #10199275

99,100 miles · Aug 2, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

2001 AUDI A4 1.8 TURBO AT 99.1K MILES. THE TIMING BELT PREMATURELY NAPPED WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING IN A BUSY MORNING COMMUTE CAUSING CAR TO DISABLED ON THE FREEWAY. THE TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED EXTENSIVE, ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE THAT ESTIMATED TO COAST ABOUT $6000 TO REPAIR. I HAVE ALL MY MAINTENANCES DONE AT THE…

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2001 AUDI A4 1.8 TURBO AT 99.1K MILES. THE TIMING BELT PREMATURELY NAPPED WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING IN A BUSY MORNING COMMUTE CAUSING CAR TO DISABLED ON THE FREEWAY. THE TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED EXTENSIVE, ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE THAT ESTIMATED TO COAST ABOUT $6000 TO REPAIR. I HAVE ALL MY MAINTENANCES DONE AT THE AUDI DEALERS AND FOLLOW ALL THE RECOMMEND SERVICE BY AUDI. I WAS NEVER BEEN RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT ON MY ALL PREVIOUS VISITS FOR MAINTENANCE SERVICE. THE RECOMMENDED TIMING BELTS REPLACEMENT BY AUDI FOR MY MODEL IS 105K MILES. BOTH AUDI DEALER AND AUDI DENIED BEEN IN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIMING BELT DEFECT AND/OR INCORRECT TIMING BELT MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATION WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY RESULT THE ENGINE DAMAGE AND PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANT. ACCORDING TO AUDI, THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THE TIMING BELT WILL LAST TO 105K MILES, ONLY THAT IT IS THEIR RECOMMENDATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10198334

99,000 miles · Jul 30, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT SNAPPED. AS OF JULY 30, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,000.

NHTSA ODI #10197863

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

2001 AUDI A4 CUSTOMER STATES THAT AUDI IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS LOSS BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING**CC *JB UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10187919

200,000 miles · Mar 19, 2007
Electrical System

TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2001 AUDI A4 AND STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, HE STARTED SMELLING AN ODOR COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, SECONDS AFTER THE CONTACT GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BA…

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TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2001 AUDI A4 AND STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, HE STARTED SMELLING AN ODOR COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, SECONDS AFTER THE CONTACT GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. CONTACT CAN PROVIDE COPY OF INVOICE REPAIR IF NEEDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 200,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10185522

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.