Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Mar 2, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 131 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Audi A4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming airbag
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Airbags
Filed Mar 2, 2026
I just purchased this vehicle from a private owner. I am already aware of the driver side airbag recall. Went to turn key to auxiliary to close sun roof and the steering wheel airbag deployed in my face. The vehicle had been parked and not driven for over 12 hours. Vehicle is available for inspection any time.
NHTSA ID
11721510
Incident
Mar 2, 2026
Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2022
The contact owns a 2001 Audi A4. The contact stated that upon closing the driver's side door, her husband heard a loud gun-like sound and he noticed that the passenger-side curtain air bags had deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's husband cut the curtain air bags and drove the vehicle to his residence. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA ID
11455179
Incident
Mar 3, 2022
Mileage
180,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 18, 2016
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT AT ~65MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CITED A "CRASH" SIGNAL FROM SIDE IMPACT SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FALSE DEPLOYMENT. NO PHYSICAL CAUSE COULD BE FOUND, NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND ON VEHICLE AND ALL AIRBAG SYSTEM WIRING WAS FOUND TO BE INTACT AND ORIGINAL. MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OWN FAILURE AND CITED THE VEHICLE BEING LOWERED AS THE CAUSE. MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE FOR THIS CONCLUSION AND VEHICLE IS WELL WITHIN LOCAL LAWS/REGULATIONS FOR LOWERED VEHICLES.
NHTSA ID
10896796
Incident
Jul 18, 2016
Mileage
139,733 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 21, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported
ALL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A DRIVER'S SIDE "T-BONE" COLLISION. A-4 IS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIRBAGS. A-4 WAS STATIONARY AND OCCUPIED, MINIVAN CRASHED INTO DRIVER'S DOOR AND PART OF FRONT QUARTER PANEL. VAN'S RATE OF TRAVEL WAS 20 TO 30 MPH IN REVERSE! MY WIFE SUFFERED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. LOCAL AUDI DEALER REPLACED THE SIDE AIRBAG # 8D0 880 241 AA AND THE AIRBAG CONTROLLER MODULE # 8D0 959 655 G. ONLY AT MY INSISTENCE, WAS THIS WORK PERFORMED WHEN I CONTINUED TO QUESTION WHY NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY DIRECT QUESTIONS WERE MET WITH, "YOU KNOW, MORE INJURIES OCCUR WHEN AN AIRBAG GOES OFF, SO, YOUR WIFE IS PROBABLY LUCKIER THAT THEY DIDN'T WORK". WTF?! HEY BUDDY, LET'S PUT YOU IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND RAM MINIVAN INTO IT WITH THE SAME SPEED AND MASS! ALSO, REST YOUR ARM ON THE OPEN WINDOW AND SEE IF YOU DON'T LOSE AN ARM LIKE MY WIFE ALMOST DID. WHAT ARE THESE GUY'S TRYING TO COVER UP FOR AUDI?! HAS THERE BEEN A CORPORATE DECREE OF TOTAL LIABILITY AVOIDANCE WITH DECEIT BEING PUSHED DOWN TO THE DEALER LEVEL, OR ARE THEY JUST IDIOTS? I'M ALSO IN THE CLASS ACTION REGARDING THE OIL SLUDGE LAWSUIT. NOW THEY ARE DENYING 1/2 OF MY CLAIM BECAUSE THEY SAY I'M MISSING PROOF OF A SINGLE OIL CHANGE THAT SHOULD BE IN THE RECORDS OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE WORK, WHICH FOR SOME REASON ALL THE RECORDS PERTAINING TO THAT CRITICAL TIMELINE HAVE BEEN WIPED OFF AUDI'S CORPORATE COMUPTER SYSTEM. WHEN WILL IT ALL END? I'M ABOUT TO DRIVE THIS [XXX] CAROVER A CLIFF! ANY AUDI EXECS WANT TO GO FOR A RIDE? I FEEL I HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR A LONG ENOUGH RIDE AFTER SOME $15,000 TO $20,000 IN REPAIRS OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS. LET'S HOPE OUR AIRBAGS WILL BE FREE FROM FAILURE IN THE EVENT OF A FUTURE ACCIDENT. SOMEONE ELSE'S EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT SWITCHING OUT THE MODULE WITH THE SAME MODEL MODULE HAS NOT ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY AND IT HAS RE-OCCURRED, I.E., RED LIGHT IN DASH COMING ON AGAIN AND FAILURE TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS IN CRASH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6
NHTSA ID
10414033
Incident
Jun 3, 2011
Mileage
112,500 mi
Airbags
Filed May 17, 2010
2001 AUDI A4 AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH. DEALER CHECKED AND STATED AIR BAG MODULE BAD. ORDER ONE AND WAS INSTALLED APRIL 27, 2010. PART # 8D0-959-655-G MODULE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM. CAN CAUSE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY. SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN IT DID. *TR
NHTSA ID
10330845
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
Mileage
103,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 12, 2009
AIRBAG CONTROLLER FAILS WITH NO APPARENT REASON. UNIT GENERATES AN UNCLEAR FAULT CODE (65535) WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 32 DEGREES. THIS WILL NOT ALLOW THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN LESS THAN A YEAR LATER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10291928
Incident
Oct 1, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 12, 2008
Crash reported
WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND HIT INTO A CAR THAT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS SMASHED IN AND STILL NOT ONE SINGLE AIR BAG GOT DEPLOYED. IT IS AN 2001 AUDI A4 1.8T. THERE IS OVER 6 AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE AND NOT ONE GOT DEPLOYED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10241942
Incident
Sep 12, 2008
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 13, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI A4. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,800. UPDATED 11/26/07.
NHTSA ID
10208791
Incident
Nov 12, 2007
Mileage
41,800 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 13, 2005
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATING WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES, " THAT THE DEALER HAD RESET THE AIR BAG MODULE TEN TIMES'. AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. *NM
NHTSA ID
10107330
Incident
Aug 30, 2002
Mileage
70,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Oct 20, 2004
02 V 131 001/FMVSS 201 AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT & 04 V 357 000/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR/MIL: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED BOTH OF THESE RECALL NOTICES AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER WITHIN HER AREA. *JB
NHTSA ID
10097268
Incident
Oct 8, 2004
Mileage
52,153 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Sep 7, 2003
ABS IS BROKEN WITHOUT ANY REASON.T'S ONLY 2 YEARS OLD BUT 67000 MILES. AUDI A4 1.8T 2001 MODEL.*AK
NHTSA ID
10037388
Incident
Aug 8, 2003
Mileage
56,000 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own