2001 Audi A4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
131 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
61,028 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 86 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 131 complaints (10.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 36 | 27.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 14 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 14; Electrical System:Ignition: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 9; Air Bags: 8; Electrical System: 8; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 45 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 26 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 9; 2002: 12; 2003: 26; 2004: 12; 2005: 15; 2006: 4; 2007: 11; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 10; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005499 · 2003-02-08 (February 8, 2003)
ESPECIALLY DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT INITIALLY APPLY ANY MEANINGFUL STOPPING POWER WHEN DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTS IN A 1-2 SECOND DELAY IN ACTUAL SLOWING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN THE WET.
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005692 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
AN IGNITION COIL ON MY 2001 AUDI A4 FAILED, CAUSING AN EXTREME LOSS OF POWER, POOR STEERING AND BRAKING. THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT EXISTS, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED, OR IN POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS (AS I WAS). THE DEALER WAS AUTHORIZED TO ONLY REPAIR THE 1 FAILED COIL, AND I AM AT RISK FOR FURTHER FAILURES, A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,519 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033896 · 2003-08-14 (August 14, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR TWO HOURS WITH ENGINE OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM OUT OF THE DASH, AND FLAMES CAME THROUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT. VEHICLE'S BATTERY WAS UNHOOKED AND FIRE WENT OUT. RADIO AND WINDOW WERE FUNCTIONING ON THEIR OWN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185522 · 2007-03-19 (March 19, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2001 AUDI A4 AND STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, HE STARTED SMELLING AN ODOR COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, SECONDS AFTER THE CONTACT GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. CONTACT CAN PROVIDE COPY OF INVOICE REPAIR IF NEEDED. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001860 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S COIL PACK FAILED OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL, AND TOTAL LOSS OF POWER PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004932 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO IDLE IRREGULARLY. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS TOWED TO AN AUDI DEALERSHIP. THREE DAYS LATER MY CAR WAS REPAIRED. ALL THAT I WAS TOLD WAS THAT MY #2 COIL PACK FAILED. I WAS NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION THAT THE OTHER 3 WOULD MOST LIKELT FAIL ALSO. UPON DOING RESEARCH ON MESSAGE BOARDS I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM. I CALLED AUDI CLIENT RELATIONS AND TOLD THEM THAT I FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB AS I COULD NEVER BE SURE WHEN THE OTHER…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074259 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. *NM *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118419 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)
'01 A4 2.8: (1) DIGITAL DISPLAY IS BLURRY AND CANNOT FULLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THE COMPUTER IS DISPLAYING, (2) INTERNAL OIL SEALS HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE CAUSING A FOUL BURNT-OIL SMELL WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, (3) TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS VERY HARD AND ROUGH, (4) VERY POOR DESIGN BY THE ENGINEERS TO PLACE A CUPHOLDER DIRECTLY OVER THE STEREO AND HEATER INSTRUMENTATION WHICH HAVE CAUSED MY BUTTONS TO STICK. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO VARIOUS DEALERSHIPS AND SHOPS AND TECHNICIANS HAVE STATED THAT THE SEALS ARE OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SO …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321039 · 2010-03-19 (March 19, 2010)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321039 at NHTSA ↗