Total Complaints
152 filings
AUDI A4 · model year
152 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001AUDIA4 carries 152 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 9 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 A4 is engine and engine cooling:engine with 14 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (12) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (9). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 9 investigation files overlapping the 2001 A4. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
152 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 14 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 12 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 9 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 7 |
| AIR BAGS | 7 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 3 |
| TIRES | 3 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/s
The contact owns a 2001 Audi A4. The contact stated that upon closing the driver's side door, her husband heard a loud gun-like sound and he noticed that the passenger-side curtain air bags had deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's husband cut the curtain air bags and drove the vehicle to his residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. The VIN was not available.
Mileage: 180,000
2001 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 2.8L. AS DRIVING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM HOOD.. PARK AND REALIZE THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. IT LOOK LIKE IT STARTED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AND SPREAD. I READ THAT AUDI HAD A RECALL ON HEAD LIGHT SWITCH BUT DID NOT REC, A RECALL LETTER. NOT EXACTLY SURE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED MY AUDI CAUGHT ON FIRE. I DONT'T HAVE PICTURES TO UPLOAD BUT I WILL SOON. I AM VERY HURT TO KNOW THAT THE CAR I ENJOYED DRIVING CAUGHT ON FIRE/DISAPPOINTED WITH AUDI
Mileage: 167,000
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT AT ~65MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CITED A "CRASH" SIGNAL FROM SIDE IMPACT SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FALSE DEPLOYMENT. NO PHYSICAL CAUSE COULD BE FOUND, NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND ON VEHICLE AND ALL AIRBAG SYSTEM WIRING WAS FOUND TO BE INTACT AND ORIGINAL. MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OWN FAILURE AND CITED THE VEHICLE BEING LOWERED AS THE CAUSE. MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE FOR THIS CONCLUSION AND VEHICLE IS WELL WITHIN LOCAL LAWS/REGULATIONS FOR LOWERED VEHICLES.
Mileage: 139,733
BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE, COMING OFF FREEWAY, WAS COASTING THRU LIGHT, TRAFFIC STOPPED, BRAKES NO LONGER WORKED, BRAKE PEDAL WAS SUDDENLY FLUSH WITH FLOOR. REARENDED A CAR, CAR STARTED JUMPING FORWARD. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. CAR WAS TOWED AFTER ACCIDENT, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE, IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO BRAKE PROBLEM. REPAIR SHOP SAID BRAKES FAILED TO VACUUM HOSE BREAKING, NO WARNING PRIOR TO LOSING BRAKES. *TR
Mileage: 121,000
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (MIL) HAS HAD SEVERAL RECURRENCES. THE MASS AIR FLOW METER AND SENSOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. ( 65,060 AND 107,894). THE INITIAL FAILURE WAS AT 36,512 MILES. 47,819 MILES, 65,060 MILES, 107,894 MILES,118,628 MILES AND IN JULY, 2014 AT 159,421 MILES, THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION LETTER IN NOVEMBER, 2003 THAT INCLUDED 2001 AUDI A-4 1.8T VEHICLES AND A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE ACTION 28F2/J1 IGNITION COIL INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT IN OCTOBER, 2009. SECONDARY ISSUE. UNABLE TO READ DASHBOARD DISPLAY. PIXELED. UNABLE TO READ SAFETY/VEHICLE NOTIFICATIONS. *TR
Mileage: 36,512
WHILE USING MY HEATER ON MY SEATS AND A PILLOW FOR ADDITIONAL BACK SUPPORT, I NOTICED SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN GETTING OUT OF MY CAR I NOTICED THAT MY PILLOW WAS LEAKING...AND UPON PULLING THE PILLOW OFF THE DRIVERS SEAT, IT WAS DAMAGED/BURNED THROUGH. I ALSO NOTICED THAT A BURNED HOLE THE SIZE OF A QUARTER IS NOW QUITE VISIBLE. WORRIED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE A CAR FIRE. *TR
Mileage: 149,217
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ECU MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Mileage: 112,000
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 99% CANNOT BE READ DUE TO THE LCD DISPLAY FADING. HAVE DONE MULTIPLE SEARCHES AND 9 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. AUDI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PAIN FOR ME BECAUSE SOMETIMES MY CAR WILL BEEP AND DISPLAY SOMETHING ON THE LCD SCREEN BUT BECAUSE IT'S FADING I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IT'S TELLING ME. I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING AND SOMETHING LIFE THREATENING HAPPEN BECAUSE OF A MISSED MESSAGE BECAUSE THE LCD SCREEN IS BROKEN. FIX THIS BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT AND START FILING LAWSUITS. *TR
IN 2007 XENON HEADLIGHTS DROPPED/DIPPED HEADLIGHT LEVEL SENSOR REPLACED AND LIGHTS APPEARED TO WORK CORRECTLY. IN 2011 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. HEADLIGHT LEVELING SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. APPEARS TO BE WORKING OK. DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AIMED INCORRECTLY IS A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A COMMON DESIGN FLAW WITH THE XENON HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Mileage: 60,014
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE HID HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERING AND SHUTTING OFF DURING OPERATION AT NIGHT. THE LEFT LOW BEAM BEGAN TO FLICKER AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE HEAD LIGHT WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY, LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND WERE WORKING NORMALLY NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR AND IN MY OPINION A VERY DANGEROUS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY AUDI IN A RECALL FOR THE OBVIOUS BALLAST, BULB, WIRING, PROBLEM THAT EXISTS ON THIS CAR. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
ABS MODULE FAILURE. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
2001 AUDI A4 WITH TIMING BELT FAILURE AND REPAIR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIMING BELT REPAIR DID NOT LAST AND HIS VEHICLE COMPLETELY FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED OF AN OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. *KB UPDATED 10/19/11.
ALL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A DRIVER'S SIDE "T-BONE" COLLISION. A-4 IS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIRBAGS. A-4 WAS STATIONARY AND OCCUPIED, MINIVAN CRASHED INTO DRIVER'S DOOR AND PART OF FRONT QUARTER PANEL. VAN'S RATE OF TRAVEL WAS 20 TO 30 MPH IN REVERSE! MY WIFE SUFFERED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. LOCAL AUDI DEALER REPLACED THE SIDE AIRBAG # 8D0 880 241 AA AND THE AIRBAG CONTROLLER MODULE # 8D0 959 655 G. ONLY AT MY INSISTENCE, WAS THIS WORK PERFORMED WHEN I CONTINUED TO QUESTION WHY NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY DIRECT QUESTIONS WERE MET WITH, "YOU KNOW, MORE INJURIES OCCUR WHEN AN AIRBAG GOES OFF, SO, YOUR WIFE IS PROBABLY LUCKIER THAT THEY DIDN'T WORK". WTF?! HEY BUDDY, LET'S PUT YOU IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND RAM MINIVAN INTO IT WITH THE SAME SPEED AND MASS! ALSO, REST YOUR ARM ON THE OPEN WINDOW AND SEE IF YOU DON'T LOSE AN ARM LIKE MY WIFE ALMOST DID. WHAT ARE THESE GUY'S TRYING TO COVER UP FOR AUDI?! HAS THERE BEEN A CORPORATE DECREE OF TOTAL LIABILITY AVOIDANCE WITH DECEIT BEING PUSHE
Mileage: 112,500
2001 AUDI A4 WITH ABOUT 105K MILES ON. ABS SENSOR IS FAULTY AND THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WIDESPREAD AMONGST AUDI A4S BUILT AROUND THIS TIME. IT IS A $1500 - $2000 REPAIR FOR A PART THAT REALLY DOESN'T SEEM TO GO BAD WITH THIS FREQUENCY IN OTHER CARS. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE SCORE, SEE THIS SITE. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY SITES WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AROUND THIS ISSUE: HTTP://AUDI-VW-ABS-RECALL.BLOGSPOT.COM/2005/07/AUDI-AND-VW-PLEASE-RECALL-CARS-BETWEEN.HTML. *TR
Mileage: 105,000
2001 AUDI A4 AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH. DEALER CHECKED AND STATED AIR BAG MODULE BAD. ORDER ONE AND WAS INSTALLED APRIL 27, 2010. PART # 8D0-959-655-G MODULE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM. CAN CAUSE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY. SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN IT DID. *TR
Mileage: 103,000
THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY ON MY 2001 AUDI A4 1.8T. YOU CAN ONLY SEE HALF THE SCREEN ON THE CENTER DISPLAY THAT NOTIFIES YOU WHEN THE CAR NEEDS TO BE SERVICED AND IF ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND AUDI SHOULD RECALL AND REPAIR ANY CARS WITH THIS MALFUNCTION BECAUSE I HAVE READ SEVERAL REVIEWS OF THE SAME PROBLEM SO OBVIOUSLY IT IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD LOOK INTO. *TR
Mileage: 35,000
2001 AUDI A4 2.8 ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROLLER FAILURE. *TR
EXCESSIVE GAS FUMES FROM CAR. DEALER AND OTHER SERVICE CENTER LOOKED FOR PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER CAR WAS UNFIT TO DRIVE - SMELLED SO BAD FROM GASOLINE FUMES - A SERVICE GARAGE REMOVED THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL WAS SEEPING THROUGH MOLDED IN PLASTIC CONNECTION FITTINGS ON TOP OF THE TANK AT THEIR MOLDED INTERFACE TO THE TANK - THE TANK IS A POLY TYPE TANK. THE TANK WAS REPLACED. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT. HAD THE FUMES BEEN NEAR AN IGNITION SOURCE A POSSIBLE FIRE OR WORSE COULD HAVE RESULTED. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE DISSIMILAR MATERIALS USED FOR THE TANK AND FITTINGS LOST THEIR SEAL OVER TIME. AUDI OF AMERICA HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN DEALING WITH THIS. SINCE THERE WERE 4 FUEL TANKS AVAILABLE ON A FRIDAY AND ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, THERE WERE NONE, SO I HAD TO WAIT UP TO 2 ADDITIONAL WEEKS TO GET A TANK - I SUSPECT THEY ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, I AM ORIGINAL OWNER, AND IT HAS NO ACCIDENTS. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL FAILED F
Mileage: 70,000
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED. MODULES ARE DEFECTIVE AND AUDI SHOULD RECALL THEM. ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS THOUSANDS OF AUDI/VW CAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. COST TO REPLACE MODULE IS $1500-2000 DOLLARS. VW HAS ISSUED RECALL OF THIS ABS MODULE, BUT AUDI HAS NOT (EVEN THOUGH SAME EXACT PART). NHTSA NEEDS TO PUT PRESSURE ON AUDI TO RECALL THIS COMPONENT, THEY ARE DEFECTIVE, UNSAFE, AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. HE STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BREAKS SENSOR ILLUMINATES CONSTANTLY. HE HAD THE GARAGE REPLACED THE BREAK SENSOR TWICE. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS DONE ON JANUARY 10, 2010 AND THE SECOND BREAK SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS FEBRUARY 16, 2010 AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,034. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER.
Mileage: 90,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.