RoadVitals

2001 Audi S4 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
87
Latest Feb 1, 2022
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Aug 26, 2000

What this page shows

Our database holds 87 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Audi S4. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 87 · page 1 of 4

Airbags
Filed 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 will not cover the cost of repair. I have owned this car for 20 years and it is in exceptional condition. I took it to the Dealer in perfect condition for an airbag repair and got it back with an air bag warning light on and they say they didn't do it? Now I have a car without functioning airbags. Anything that you can do to help resolve this?

NHTSA ID
11449740
Incident
Jan 13, 2022
Electrical
Filed Dec 23, 2021

Instrument cluster that shows safety information doesn't work so don't know what's issue with car

NHTSA ID
11444855
Incident
Dec 23, 2021
Electrical
Filed 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.

NHTSA ID
10722761
Incident
Dec 2, 2013
Tires & wheels
Filed 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 CONTROL ARMS/WISHBONE. HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER 100 MILES AND BOTH FRONT TIRES WOULD HAVE BLOWN APART. THAT REALLY SOUNDED LIKE FUN ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS...! I ROTATED THE FRONT TIRES WITH THE "GOOD" REAR TIRES, AND HAVE CHECKED THEM EVERY 20 MILES. ABSOLUTELY NO HITTING OR RUBBING ON ANYTHING. SO YES, THE BELTS HAD SEPARATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10379917
Incident
Dec 31, 2010
Mileage
87,000 mi
Airbags
Filed 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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10267398
Incident
Jan 15, 2009
Mileage
102,000 mi
Electrical
Filed 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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266642
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 7, 2009

INFORMATION DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FAILING; PIXELS NO LONGER OPERATE RENDERING THE DISPLAY USELESS. DISPLAY IS USED TO INFORM THE DRIVER OF VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION BUT WITH FAILED DISPLAY THE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CANNOT BE READ! *TR

NHTSA ID
10261020
Incident
Oct 15, 2007
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 2009

1) THERE IS NO TRIGGERING EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. IT JUST APPEARS OVER TIME. 2) THE LCD SCREEN IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LINES OF PIXELS THAT DO NOT LIGHT UP. THIS IS CONSTANT, WITH MORE LINES OF PIXELS GOING OUT AND PERMANENTLY STAYING OUT OVER TIME. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IMPORTANT WARNING MESSAGES ARE NOT DISPLAYED OR READABLE; SUCH AS WORN OUT BRAKE PADS, FUEL LOW WARNING, WASHER FLUID LOW WARNING, ETC. IF THESE WARNINGS ARE NOT DISPLAYED, THE VEHICLE MAY RUN OUT OF GAS WITHOUT WARNING AND STALL WHILE OPERATING, OR BRAKES MAY WEAR DOWN TO THE POINT OF LOSING EFFECTIVENESS WITHOUT WARNING, OR BE LEFT WITHOUT WASHER FLUID WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256054
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 20, 2009

INFORMATION DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FAILING; PIXELS NO LONGER OPERATE RENDERING THE DISPLAY USELESS. DISPLAY IS USED TO INFORM THE DRIVER OF VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION BUT WITH FAILED DISPLAY THE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CANNOT BE READ! *TR

NHTSA ID
10255761
Incident
Dec 10, 2008
Mileage
119,760 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 20, 2009

I OWN A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CENTER DISPLAY ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS FAILING DUE TO MISSING PIXELS. THE CENTER DISPLAY NORMALLY DISPLAYS CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION REGARDING FAILING ENGINE AND BODY COMPONENTS. IT IS ALWAYS MISSING PIXELS, AND IS NEVER CLEAR ENOUGH TO READ PROPERLY. RECENTLY, I DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK AND THE CENTER DISPLAY WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH TO SEE THE LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT. AS A RESULT I WAS STRANDED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. I AM CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE ENGINE FAR BEYOND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY, HAD THE CENTER DISPLAY BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY. I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE DISPLAY, BECAUSE THE DEALER IS ASKING $1000 FOR REPLACEMENT. I KNOW IT A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND DUE TO THE AGE, IS REACHING A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FAILURE. I DON'T THINK THAT FAILING SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEM FOR ANYONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A HIGH DOLLAR ITEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10255747
Incident
Jan 14, 2009
Mileage
118,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 20, 2009

DEAD PIXELS IN INSTRUMENT WARNING DISPLAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10255742
Incident
Mar 15, 2008
Mileage
59,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 4, 2008

1. PURCHASED A 2001 S4 2. THE AUTO CHECK SYSTEM IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK ESPECIALLY WHEN WARM. CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED. 3. WAS QUOTED OBSCENE AMOUNTS BY AUDI DEALERS TO REPLACE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244360
Incident
Jul 5, 2008
Mileage
95,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2008

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LOST PIXELS AND ENDS UP UNREADABLE FOR ALL WARNINGS AND MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED SAFETY WARNINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244271
Incident
Aug 1, 2007
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2008

I BOTH OWN A 2001 AUDI A4 AND 2001 AUDI S4.. ON BOTH THE RED LCD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN HAS FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE NOTHING ON THAT SCREEN IS LEGIBLE. THE SCREEN IS DESIGNED TO SHOW MILEAGE, SPEED WARNING, RUN TIME AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. THE PIXELS HAVE CEASED TO FUNCTION TO THE POINT BEYOND RECOGNITION. I SHARE THIS PROBLEM WITH A VERY LARGE GROUP OF AUDI OWNERS OF THE SAME AND/OR SIMILAR MODEL. THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE EXPANDS INTERNATIONALLY AND AUDI CLEARLY KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PRONE TO FAILURE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10244266
Incident
Jun 1, 2008
Mileage
73,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 16, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EVENTUALLY APPEARED IN FULL VIEW. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
10209135
Incident
Nov 9, 2007
Mileage
78,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 15, 2007

CLUSTER LED LIGHTING FAILURE.. PIXELS ARE EITHER DIMMED OR NOT WORKING CORRECTLY LEAVING DIFFICULTY TO SEE THE SPEED OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208996
Incident
Jun 28, 2007
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 12, 2007

THE B5 (2000-2002) AUDI S4, LCDS ON GAUGE CLUSTER WHICH DISPLAY VALUABLE SAFETY INFORMATION, IS FAULTY ON EVERY S4 I'VE EVER SEEN. EVERYONE ON EVERY FORUM I FREQUENT, THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208683
Incident
Nov 12, 2007
Electrical
Filed Nov 9, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LCD SCREEN ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL (DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY) CONTINUES TO VANISH, PREVENTING HIM FROM READING THE INFORMATION ON THE DISPLAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/13/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10208553
Incident
Apr 28, 2005
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 9, 2007

MY "DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY" HASN'T WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2005. IT'S A 2001 AUDI S4. THE DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS IMPORTANT VEHICLE INFORMATION VITAL TO THE DRIVERS SAFETY AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208552
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 31, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FAILED, WHICH PREVENTS HIM FROM READING THE AUTO CHECK SYSTEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,200.

NHTSA ID
10207565
Incident
Oct 24, 2007
Mileage
7,200 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE LIGHTS FOR THE CENTER LED SCREEN FAILED. THE SCREEN WAS USED TO DISPLAY WARNING INDICATORS, INDEPENDENTLY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CENTER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *UPDATED 12/27/07 *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10204667
Incident
Sep 1, 2006
Mileage
35,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2007

MY 2001 AUDI S4 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH ITS GAUGE CLUSTER, AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE GROWN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE INFORMATION DISPLAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAR WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY OF DAILY DRIVING. VEHICLE WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED ON THE CLUSTER WHICH IS NOW UNREADABLE. IT WAS THE INTENT OF AUDI FOR THIS PART TO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THE DRIVER WITH NEEDED SAFETY INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10204660
Incident
Jul 1, 2006
Mileage
105,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2007

CENTER OF THE DASH GAUGE CLUSTER FAILURE. LINES OF INFORMATION (PIXELS) DISAPPEAR LITTLE BY LITTLE UNTIL THE GAUGE READOUT IS UNREADABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10204658
Incident
Apr 10, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 1, 2007

MISSING PIXELS IN THE CENTER DASH CLUSTER DISPLAY. THE DISPLAY SEEMS TO BE DEGRADING OVER TIME. OVER TIME I WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SEE USEFUL INFORMATION ON THE DISPLAY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10204633
Incident
Aug 24, 2007
Mileage
110,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 1, 2007

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2001 AUDI S4 NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, WHICH MEANS I CANNOT READ VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10204631
Incident
Sep 19, 2007
Mileage
118,000 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.

Narrow this down by component

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .