NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
131 reports45,000 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