Model year record

2001 Audi S4 recalls & problems

The 2001 Audi S4 has 1 safety recall and 87 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (47 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints87filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 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.

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

S4

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

S4

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

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

S4 Avant

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

S4 Avant

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2.7 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	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel; Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module	47	1	70,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingCooling system; Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger	12	0	46,000 mi
TiresSidewall	10	0	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner; Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler	6	0	40,000 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Headlights › Switch	3	1	—
Air bagsFrontal	3	1	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly; Rearview mirrors/devices › Interior	2	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Power assist	2	1	—
Parking brakeConventional	1	1	—
StructureBody › Door	1	0	—
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	1	0	—
Fuel system, gasoline	1	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 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…
Jan 13, 2022
Electrical system
Instrument cluster that shows safety information doesn't work so don't know what's issue with car
Dec 23, 2021
Electrical 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.
Dec 2, 2013
Tires
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…
Dec 31, 2010 · 87,000 miles
Air 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
Jan 15, 2009 · 102,000 miles
Electrical 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
Jan 1, 2003 · 60,000 miles
Electrical 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
Oct 15, 2007 · 75,000 miles
Electrical 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
Jan 1, 2009 · 70,000 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.