2001 Audi S4 Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2001 Audi S4.

20002002
Complaints
92
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 2001 Audi S4 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#129 complaints

Instrument Cluster

Avg mileage:76,563 mi
#29 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module

Avg mileage:13,725 mi
Crash-related:1
#39 complaints

Tire Defects

Avg mileage:87,000 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Audi S4.

Instrument Cluster
29
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,563
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
13,725
Tire Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,000
Electrical Faults
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
64,400
Engine & Cooling
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
56,025
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking Brake:Conventional
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Interior
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Sunroof/Moonroof
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Audi S4. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2001 Audi S4

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~62,812 vehicles.

21V470000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~62,812 affected

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.

Other Audi S4 Years

199219931994199520002001200220032004200520062007200820102011201220132014201520182019202020212022

2001 Audi S4 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2001 Audi S4 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2001 Audi S4 has 92 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Instrument Cluster with 29 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Audi S4?
Top reported problems: Instrument Cluster (29 complaints, avg 76,563 mi); Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module (9 complaints, avg 13,725 mi); Tire Defects (9 complaints, avg 87,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2001 Audi S4?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 65,216 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Audi S4?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Audi S4 include 5 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2001 Audi S4 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 62,812 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2001 Audi S4?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2001 Audi S4 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Audi S4 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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