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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.

About this comparison →
87Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
143
200087
200122
20021
200329
2004
Compare all S4 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
47Engine And Engine Cooling
11Tires
10Seats
6Air Bags
3
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Visibility
2Back Over Prevention
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Parking Brake
1Seat Belts
1Structure
1Suspension
1

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
31,000 miles · Jun 8, 2005
Exterior LightingCrash

DT: 2001, AUDI S4 WAS DAMAGED UPON DELIVERY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED HEADLAMPS WERE SPRAYED WITH PAINT. UPON DELIVERING THE HEADLAMPS THEY WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, THEY WERE POINTING DOWN, AND CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE TWO FEET IN FRONT OF HIM. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHIC…

Read full complaint

DT: 2001, AUDI S4 WAS DAMAGED UPON DELIVERY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED HEADLAMPS WERE SPRAYED WITH PAINT. UPON DELIVERING THE HEADLAMPS THEY WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, THEY WERE POINTING DOWN, AND CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE TWO FEET IN FRONT OF HIM. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AGAIN, AND THE HEADLAMPS WERE INSTALLED WRONG AGAIN. WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, WAS TOLD THE HEADLAMPS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THEY WOULD NEVER WORK CORRECTLY. CONSUMER DID HAVE A CRASH IN THE WINTER OF 2001, AND THERE WAS STILL POTENTIAL OF A CRASH. CONSUMER STATESDTHAT HE STILL COULDN'T SEE AT NIGHT. CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS VISITS FOR THIS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10124613

30,000 miles · May 17, 2004
Exterior Lighting

THE XENON HEADLIGHT CONSTRUCTION ON AUDI S4 CARS BASED ON THE B5 PLATFORM (BUILT 2000-2002) ARE INADEQUATELY DESIGNED, ALLOWING THIEVES TO EASILY STEAL THEM. FURTHERMORE, NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY AUDI TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHICH CAUSES THE OWNER TO HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE ON A REPAIR USUALLY IN EXCESS OF $3500 AND BE WITHOUT TH…

Read full complaint

THE XENON HEADLIGHT CONSTRUCTION ON AUDI S4 CARS BASED ON THE B5 PLATFORM (BUILT 2000-2002) ARE INADEQUATELY DESIGNED, ALLOWING THIEVES TO EASILY STEAL THEM. FURTHERMORE, NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY AUDI TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHICH CAUSES THE OWNER TO HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE ON A REPAIR USUALLY IN EXCESS OF $3500 AND BE WITHOUT THE CAR FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME PERSONALLY AND HAPPENS EVERYWHERE FROM PUBLIC GARAGES TO PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS IN BOTH "SKETCHY" AND VERY UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOODS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10072767

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2001
Exterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE XENON HEADLIGHT SWITCHES ITSELF OFF FREQUENTLY. FOUR ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM HAVE NOT HELPED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #745563

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.