2001 Audi S4 recalls and problems

The 2001 Audi S4 has 1 safety recall and 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Audi dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

4 / 0

Injuries / deaths

0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2001 Audi S4 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2001 Audi S4 recalls

Recall 21V-470: Air Bags

Reported Jun 23, 2021 · 62,812 vehicles affected · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

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.

2001 Audi S4 problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Electrical System	47
Engine and Engine Cooling	12
Tires	10
Seats	6
Exterior Lighting	3
Air Bags	3
Visibility	2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	2
Parking Brake	1
Structure	1
Equipment	1
Fuel System, Gasoline	1

Most reported parts

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel — 29
Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module — 9
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System — 4
Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 2
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner — 2
Tires › Sidewall — 1
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger — 1
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 60,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2001 Audi S4 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Air Bags · reported Feb 1, 2022

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…

Electrical System · reported Jun 1, 2015

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.

Tires · at 87,000 miles · reported Feb 2, 2011

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…

Air Bags · at 102,000 miles · reported Apr 30, 2009

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.

Electrical System · at 60,000 miles · reported Apr 24, 2009

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.

Other Audi S4 years

2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 200220012000

Compare all Audi S4 years · All Audi models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2001 Audi S4 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2001 Audi S4: 21V-470 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2001 Audi S4?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (47 reports), followed by engine and engine cooling (12). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 60,000 miles.

Are Audi recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Audi dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.