AUDI S4 · model year

2001 AUDI S4

92 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001AUDIS4 carries 92 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, 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 S4 is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 29 filings, followed by tires (9) and electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module (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 1 active recall campaign, 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 S4. 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.

92
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

92 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL29
TIRES9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
SEATS2
AIR BAGS2
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1

Recalls (1)

21V47000023/06/2021

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

Recent Complaints

20220201AIR BAGS

I took the vehicle into the dealer (Westwood Audi) for a Safety Recall repair as requested by Audi. It was for a Driver Front Airbag Inflator replacement. The work was done but when the car was returned the airbag warning light was on. I went back in to the service department and was told that the airbag module had failed and that the part was no longer available from Audi. An aftermarket part could be installed but I would have to pay for part and the repair. No cost estimate has been given. I called Audi of America and they said that the Dealer told them that they didn't break it so they will not cover the cost of repair. I have owned this car for 20 years and it is in exceptional condition. I took it to the Dealer in perfect condition for an airbag repair and got it back with an air bag warning light on and they say they didn't do it? Now I have a car without functioning airbags. Anything that you can do to help resolve this?

20211223ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Instrument cluster that shows safety information doesn't work so don't know what's issue with car

20150601ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I JUST HAPPENED TO LOOK UP RECALLS AND SAW THE COMPLAINTS ON THE AUDI S4 2001. I NOTICED MY CAR WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHERE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LOST PIXELS AND ENDS UP UNREADABLE FOR ALL WARNINGS AND MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED SAFETY WARNINGS. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR YEARS AND DID ASK MY DEALER HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO FIX IT AND IT WAS INSANE. IT IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. AUDI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. I DIDN'T REALIZE OTHER AUDI'S WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. MAYBE IF MORE PEOPLE COMPLAIN, AUDI WILL BE FORCED TO FIX IT.

20110202TIRES

YOKOHAMA YK520 335/45R/17 TIRES... DRIVING ALONG WITH MY 2001 AUDI S4 AND STARTED NOTICING A WOBBLE OR SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. KEPT GETTING WORSE. THE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 20K MILES ON THEM SO I THOUGH I NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. (ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN UPGRADED).. I TOOK THE TIRES OFF TO MAKE SURE I DIDN;T HAVE A BENT RIM AND NOTICED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE WORN OUT/CUT ON THE OUTER CORNER/LIP OF THE TIRES. I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CONTROL ARMS. MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT THEM AND TOLD ME THAT THE BELTS HAD SEPARATED ON BOTH TIRES CAUSING THE TIRE TO "DEFORM" AND THEN HIT MY CONTROL ARMS/WISHBONE. HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER 100 MILES AND BOTH FRONT TIRES WOULD HAVE BLOWN APART. THAT REALLY SOUNDED LIKE FUN ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS...! I ROTATED THE FRONT TIRES WITH THE "GOOD" REAR TIRES, AND HAVE CHECKED THEM EVERY 20 MILES. ABSOLUTELY NO HITTING OR RUBBING ON ANYTHING. SO YES, THE BELTS HAD SEPARATED. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

20090430AIR BAGS

COLD START ON A COLD JANUARY MORNING (5 DEGREES F); UPON STARTING THE CAR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. RESEARCH (DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER AND AIR BAG REPAIR BUSINESSES) INDICATE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT FOR AUDI S4, MODEL YEAR 2001 AND THAT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (COMPUTER) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXORBITANT COST. AIRBAG SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE WITH THE WARNING LIGHT IN A LIT STATE. ON LINE AUDI FORUMS INDICATE THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

20090424ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1. ALL THE TIME 2. THE FAILURE MAKES ME UNABLE TO SEE THE WARNING ICONS DUE TO THE DEAD PIXELS IN MY CLUSTER (DASH COMPUTER) 3. NO REPAIR WAS DONE. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20090307ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

INFORMATION DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FAILING; PIXELS NO LONGER OPERATE RENDERING THE DISPLAY USELESS. DISPLAY IS USED TO INFORM THE DRIVER OF VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION BUT WITH FAILED DISPLAY THE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CANNOT BE READ! *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20090123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1) THERE IS NO TRIGGERING EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. IT JUST APPEARS OVER TIME. 2) THE LCD SCREEN IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LINES OF PIXELS THAT DO NOT LIGHT UP. THIS IS CONSTANT, WITH MORE LINES OF PIXELS GOING OUT AND PERMANENTLY STAYING OUT OVER TIME. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IMPORTANT WARNING MESSAGES ARE NOT DISPLAYED OR READABLE; SUCH AS WORN OUT BRAKE PADS, FUEL LOW WARNING, WASHER FLUID LOW WARNING, ETC. IF THESE WARNINGS ARE NOT DISPLAYED, THE VEHICLE MAY RUN OUT OF GAS WITHOUT WARNING AND STALL WHILE OPERATING, OR BRAKES MAY WEAR DOWN TO THE POINT OF LOSING EFFECTIVENESS WITHOUT WARNING, OR BE LEFT WITHOUT WASHER FLUID WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20090120ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DEAD PIXELS IN INSTRUMENT WARNING DISPLAY. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

20090120ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

I OWN A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CENTER DISPLAY ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS FAILING DUE TO MISSING PIXELS. THE CENTER DISPLAY NORMALLY DISPLAYS CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION REGARDING FAILING ENGINE AND BODY COMPONENTS. IT IS ALWAYS MISSING PIXELS, AND IS NEVER CLEAR ENOUGH TO READ PROPERLY. RECENTLY, I DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK AND THE CENTER DISPLAY WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH TO SEE THE LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT. AS A RESULT I WAS STRANDED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. I AM CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE ENGINE FAR BEYOND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY, HAD THE CENTER DISPLAY BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY. I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE DISPLAY, BECAUSE THE DEALER IS ASKING $1000 FOR REPLACEMENT. I KNOW IT A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND DUE TO THE AGE, IS REACHING A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FAILURE. I DON'T THINK THAT FAILING SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEM FOR ANYONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A HIGH DOLLAR ITEM. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

20090120ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

INFORMATION DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FAILING; PIXELS NO LONGER OPERATE RENDERING THE DISPLAY USELESS. DISPLAY IS USED TO INFORM THE DRIVER OF VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION BUT WITH FAILED DISPLAY THE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CANNOT BE READ! *TR

Mileage: 119,760

20081004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

1. PURCHASED A 2001 S4 2. THE AUTO CHECK SYSTEM IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK ESPECIALLY WHEN WARM. CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED. 3. WAS QUOTED OBSCENE AMOUNTS BY AUDI DEALERS TO REPLACE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

20081002ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LOST PIXELS AND ENDS UP UNREADABLE FOR ALL WARNINGS AND MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED SAFETY WARNINGS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20081002ELECTRICAL 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 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

Mileage: 73,000

20071116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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.

Mileage: 78,000

20071115ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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

Mileage: 50,000

20071112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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

20071109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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

Mileage: 90,000

20071109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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

Mileage: 90,000

20071031ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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.

Mileage: 7,200

Compare 2001AUDIS4 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 AUDI S4 have?
The 2001 AUDI S4 has 92 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 AUDI S4?
Yes, the 2001 AUDI S4 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 AUDI S4?
The most-complained component for the 2001 AUDI S4 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL with 29 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE.
Is the 2001 AUDI S4 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.