2001 Audi S4: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
87 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 87 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 12.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 29 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 9 |
| Tires | 9 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 29; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 9; Tires: 9; Electrical System: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 4; Air Bags: 2; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 33 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 | 3 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 6; 2002: 3; 2004: 19; 2005: 5; 2006: 6; 2007: 31; 2008: 3; 2009: 7; 2011: 1; 2015: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10060612 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
AUDI OF AMERICA HAS NOT TAKEN SECURITY SYSTEMS ON THE AUDI S4'S SERIOUSLY. THEY HAVE BEEN MASSIVE KNOWN THEFTS IN THE TRI-STATE AREA AND THE LIST CONTINUES TO GROW. I HAVE SPENT OVER $800 FOR ADDED SECURITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO SPEND MORE IF I HAVE TO. I CANNOT SLEEP PEACEFULLY AT NIGHT KNOWING MY CAR IS PRONE TO EASY THEFT DUE TO IT'S INEFFECTIVENESS IN SECURITY PROTECTION. I FEEL IT'S A MATTER A TIME BEFORE MY CAR WILL BE STOLEN IN A MALL OR A SHOPPING CENTER OR ON A STREET OR EVEN IN MY OWN HOME. AUDI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY! …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060616 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
MY CAR (2001 AUDI S4) WAS STOLEN IN LIVINGSTON NJ, AND RECOVERED IN IRVINGTON, NJ. THE CAR HAD A STOCK ALARM SYSTEM WHICH WAS EASILY BYPASSED. THIS CAR DID NOT HAVE AN IMMOBILIZER. OTHER MODEL AUDI'S HAVE AN IMMOBILIZER. $10,000 OF DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE CAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CERTAINLY AUDI CAN RETROFIT AN IMMOBILIZER INTO THIS CAR BECAUSE THE SAME CAR IN EUROPE HAS THE IMMOBILIZER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 19,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060617 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 AUDI S4. THERE HAS BEEN AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF THEFTS OF THESE VEHICLES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT IS DUE TO THE POOR ALARM SYSTEM AUDI HAS PUT IN THESE VEHICLES. THERE IS NO IMMOBILZER, WHICH WAS PUT IN THEIR OTHER MODELS. AUDI REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060619 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
THE SECURITY SYSTEM OF MY 2001 AUDI S4 HAS A MAJOR FAULT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INCLUDE ANY TYPE OF IMMOBILIZER INTO THE SYSTEM MAKING IT EXTREMELY EASY FOR IT TO GET STOLEN. AN IMMOBILIZER IS A SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE COMPUTER/IGNITION SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW IT TO BE STARTED UNLESS THE KEY IS USED. I AM UNCOMFORTABLE PARKING IT IN ANY MAJOR CITY AND AS I LIVE NEAR NYC, ITS A REAL ISSUE. I HAVE A NUMBER OF FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR S4S STOLEN IN THE NEW JERSEY AREA IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. THIS IS A VERY LIMITED PRODUCTI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060652 · 2004-03-07 (March 7, 2004)
I HAD JUST PURCHASED A 2001 AUDI S4 FOR CLOSE TO $40,000. WITH 1100 MILES ON IT MY CAR WAS STOLEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT APPROX 3 PM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THE FACTORY PASSIVE ALARM CAN BE TRICKED INTO THINKING IT HAS BEEN DISARMED. A SMALL HOLE NEAR THE DOOR LOCK GAINS ACCESS TO A ROD THAT WHEN LIFTED DISARMS THE SYSTEM AS IF A KEY WERE USED, COMBINE THIS ACTION WITH THE WITH REMOVAL OF THE IGNITION, AND THE VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED WITH A SCREW DRIVER AND DRIVEN AWAY. I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT VW/AUDI HAD THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060675 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)
UNEFFECTIVENESS OF FACTORY ALARM. THE HUGH NUMBER OF THEFTS OF MY VEHICLE IS CONCERNING. I AM CONCERNED ON THE SECURITY OF LEAVING MY CAR ANYWHERE BUT MY GARAGE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060683 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)
MY 2001 AUDI S4 WAS STOLEN IN SPRINGFIELD, NJ AND RECOVERED IN NEWARK, NJ. THE TOTAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY $8000. I BELIEVE THAT THIS THEFT WAS POSSIBLE LARGELY BECAUSE OF A SIGNIFICANT FLAW IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY, THE DOORLOCK MECHANISM IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE ALARM, INCLUDING THE MOTION SENSORS AND THE IGNITION KILL. THUS, A TINY HOLE PUNCHED IN THE DOOR TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SIMULTANEOUSLY LET'S A THIEF INTO THE CAR AND DISABLES THE ENTIRE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE LACK OF A TRUE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM ON THE CAR CREATED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060683 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060735 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)
2001 AUDI S4 HAS A SECURITY FLAW THAT CAN RENDER THE ALARM USELESS IN SECONDS, THEREFORE MAKING IT EXTREMELY EASY TO STEAL. THE ALARM CAN BE EASILY BYPASSED BY SIMPLY PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE DRIVER DOOR SKIN, THE CAR HAS NO IMMOBILIZER, THE ENGINE CAN BE STARTED BY BRUTE FORCE ON THE IGNITION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060735 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V470000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2021-06-23 (June 23, 2021)
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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗