Model year record

2001 Audi A4 recalls & problems

The 2001 Audi A4 has 3 safety recalls and 131 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (35 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints131filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 9reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsJun 23, 2021

Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Recall 21V47000062,812 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Engine and engine coolingMar 7, 2014

Engine

Recall 14E00700050 vehicles

Problem: 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/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
Risk: A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E04900027,176 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: 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. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

A4

23mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

A4 quattro

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

A4 Avant quattro

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

A4

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

A4 quattro

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

A4 Avant quattro

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S5) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

A4

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

A4 quattro

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

A4 Avant quattro

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

A4 quattro

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

A4 Avant quattro

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemIgnition; Instrument cluster/panel	35	0	4	0	43,570 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	34	1	0	0	52,650 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	32	0	3	0	63,520 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module	11	2	0	1	80,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly	5	0	1	0	65,000 mi
Unknown or other	4	0	0	0	80,369 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights	3	0	0	0	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Linkages › Tie rod assembly	3	0	0	0	—
Tires	3	0	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Sun/moon roof assembly	3	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront › Control arm › Lower arm; Front › Wheel bearing	3	0	0	0	53,153 mi
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
I just purchased this vehicle from a private owner. I am already aware of the driver side airbag recall. Went to turn key to auxiliary to close sun roof and the steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The vehicle had been parked and not driven for over 12 hours. Vehicle is available for inspection any time.
Mar 2, 2026
Air bags
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.
Mar 3, 2022 · 180,000 miles
EngineFire
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
May 27, 2019 · 167,000 miles
Air bags
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.
Jul 18, 2016 · 139,733 miles
Service brakesCrash
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
Aug 2, 2014 · 121,000 miles
Engine
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
Jun 23, 2003 · 36,512 miles
Seats
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
Dec 30, 2013 · 149,217 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic
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.
Feb 15, 2012 · 112,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKETClosed
PE02008 · opened Jan 23, 2002 · closed Jul 12, 2002