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2001 Audi S4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

54 reports with mileage · 33 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 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

47 reports
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73,000 miles · Oct 2, 2008
Electrical System

I BOTH OWN A 2001 AUDI A4 AND 2001 AUDI S4.. ON BOTH THE RED LCD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN HAS FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE NOTHING ON THAT SCREEN IS LEGIBLE. THE SCREEN IS DESIGNED TO SHOW MILEAGE, SPEED WARNING, RUN TIME AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. THE PIXELS HAVE CEASED TO FUNCTION TO THE POINT BEYOND RECOGNITION. I SHARE THIS PROBLEM…

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I BOTH OWN A 2001 AUDI A4 AND 2001 AUDI S4.. ON BOTH THE RED LCD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN HAS FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE NOTHING ON THAT SCREEN IS LEGIBLE. THE SCREEN IS DESIGNED TO SHOW MILEAGE, SPEED WARNING, RUN TIME AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. THE PIXELS HAVE CEASED TO FUNCTION TO THE POINT BEYOND RECOGNITION. I SHARE THIS PROBLEM WITH A VERY LARGE GROUP OF AUDI OWNERS OF THE SAME AND/OR SIMILAR MODEL. THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE EXPANDS INTERNATIONALLY AND AUDI CLEARLY KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PRONE TO FAILURE PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244266

78,000 miles · Nov 16, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EVENTUALLY APPEARED IN FULL VIEW. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILUR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EVENTUALLY APPEARED IN FULL VIEW. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI #10209135

50,000 miles · Nov 15, 2007
Electrical System

CLUSTER LED LIGHTING FAILURE.. PIXELS ARE EITHER DIMMED OR NOT WORKING CORRECTLY LEAVING DIFFICULTY TO SEE THE SPEED OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208996

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2007
Electrical System

THE B5 (2000-2002) AUDI S4, LCDS ON GAUGE CLUSTER WHICH DISPLAY VALUABLE SAFETY INFORMATION, IS FAULTY ON EVERY S4 I'VE EVER SEEN. EVERYONE ON EVERY FORUM I FREQUENT, THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208683

90,000 miles · Nov 9, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LCD SCREEN ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL (DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY) CONTINUES TO VANISH, PREVENTING HIM FROM READING THE INFORMATION ON THE DISPLAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/13/08. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10208553

90,000 miles · Nov 9, 2007
Electrical System

MY "DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY" HASN'T WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2005. IT'S A 2001 AUDI S4. THE DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS IMPORTANT VEHICLE INFORMATION VITAL TO THE DRIVERS SAFETY AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208552

7,200 miles · Oct 31, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FAILED, WHICH PREVENTS HIM FROM READING THE AUTO CHECK SYSTEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,200.

NHTSA ODI #10207565

35,000 miles · Oct 2, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE LIGHTS FOR THE CENTER LED SCREEN FAILED. THE SCREEN WAS USED TO DISPLAY WARNING INDICATORS, INDEPENDENTLY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CENTER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *UPDATED 12/27/07 *LJ UPDA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE LIGHTS FOR THE CENTER LED SCREEN FAILED. THE SCREEN WAS USED TO DISPLAY WARNING INDICATORS, INDEPENDENTLY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CENTER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *UPDATED 12/27/07 *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204667

105,000 miles · Oct 2, 2007
Electrical System

MY 2001 AUDI S4 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH ITS GAUGE CLUSTER, AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE GROWN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE INFORMATION DISPLAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAR WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY OF DAILY DRIVING. VEHICLE WARNING…

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MY 2001 AUDI S4 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH ITS GAUGE CLUSTER, AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE GROWN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE INFORMATION DISPLAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAR WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY OF DAILY DRIVING. VEHICLE WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED ON THE CLUSTER WHICH IS NOW UNREADABLE. IT WAS THE INTENT OF AUDI FOR THIS PART TO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THE DRIVER WITH NEEDED SAFETY INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204660

75,000 miles · Oct 2, 2007
Electrical System

CENTER OF THE DASH GAUGE CLUSTER FAILURE. LINES OF INFORMATION (PIXELS) DISAPPEAR LITTLE BY LITTLE UNTIL THE GAUGE READOUT IS UNREADABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10204658

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.