2001 Audi S4 Problems

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

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.

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING RADIATOR COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO ENGINE OIL. THIS IS CAUSING ACCELERATED WEAR OF COMPONENTS LUBRICATED BY THE ENGINE OIL. UNLESS CORRECTED, THIS CONTAMINATION WILL LEAD TO FAILURE OF THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND TESTED BY AN AUDI SERVICE CENTER WITH NO CAUSE IDENTIFIED OR SOLUTION PROPOSED. AUDI OF AMERICA IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *JB

COOLANT IN OIL. CAN'T TRACE IT DOWN, HAVE HAD 5 REAR MAIN SEALS REPLACED, HAD THE EXTERNAL OIL FILTER PARTS REPLACED AND STILL COOLANT IS FINDING IT'S WAY INTO THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO PREMATURELY WEAR. AUDI KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE THEY HAVE BROUGHT ENGINES BACK TO GERMANY FOR REVIEW, BUT HAVE YET COME OUT WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING. WHAT CAN WE FIX TO STOP THIS. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A RECALL, HECK MOST PEOPLE I KNOW WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT AUDI MESSED UP AND HOW WE CAN FIX IT. AT THIS POINT THE FIX IS UNKNOWN, STOP LEAK IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM BUT THAT'S A BANDAID AND GUNKS UP THE MOTOR. AUDI AND AUDI OF AMERICA NEED TO STEP UP AND AT LEAST MAKE THE FLAW KNOWN SO THAT IF THERE IS A FIX WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. IF THERE IS NO FIX, THEN I CAN UNDERSTAND AUDI HIDING THE ISSUE, SINCE IT WOULD MEAN IT'S A MACHINING DEFECT, CASTING DEFECT AND IT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY TO REPLACE EVERY 2.7T ENGINE OR HEAD ON THE ROAD (BUT THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD ABOUT STEPPING UP TO OTHER FAILURES (TURBOS! ABS CONTROLLERS, DASH DISPLAY PIXELS (GAUGE CLUSTER, CAN BUS), ROCKING FRONT SEATS ETC. MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR SOME PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED TO THEM. JUST TELL US!! *JB

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

DISSATISFIED WITH THE CUT OFF DATE PERTAINING TO THE 2001 AUDI A4 UNSAFE TIRES AND WHEELS. (NAR) *PH *CB

DT: INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DAMAGED UPON DELIVERY OF VEHICLE, WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, NOT ABLE TO VIEW INSTRUMENT PANEL PROPERLY. WHEN REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALREADY HAD SIGNS OF WEAR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

DRIVER SEAT BEGAN TO ROCK. CURRENTLY ROCKS AT A MUCH GREATER DISTANCE, BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HEY CLAIM IT IS WITHIN THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS.*AK

DT: 2001, AUDI S4 WAS DAMAGED UPON DELIVERY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED HEADLAMPS WERE SPRAYED WITH PAINT. UPON DELIVERING THE HEADLAMPS THEY WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, THEY WERE POINTING DOWN, AND CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE TWO FEET IN FRONT OF HIM. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AGAIN, AND THE HEADLAMPS WERE INSTALLED WRONG AGAIN. WHEN CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER, WAS TOLD THE HEADLAMPS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THEY WOULD NEVER WORK CORRECTLY. CONSUMER DID HAVE A CRASH IN THE WINTER OF 2001, AND THERE WAS STILL POTENTIAL OF A CRASH. CONSUMER STATESDTHAT HE STILL COULDN'T SEE AT NIGHT. CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS VISITS FOR THIS AND OTHER COMPLAINTS. *AK

THE XENON HEADLIGHT CONSTRUCTION ON AUDI S4 CARS BASED ON THE B5 PLATFORM (BUILT 2000-2002) ARE INADEQUATELY DESIGNED, ALLOWING THIEVES TO EASILY STEAL THEM. FURTHERMORE, NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY AUDI TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WHICH CAUSES THE OWNER TO HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE ON A REPAIR USUALLY IN EXCESS OF $3500 AND BE WITHOUT THE CAR FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME PERSONALLY AND HAPPENS EVERYWHERE FROM PUBLIC GARAGES TO PRIVATE DRIVEWAYS IN BOTH "SKETCHY" AND VERY UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOODS. *AK

BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE FAILS CAUSING VAC HOSE FEEDING TO BOOSTER UNIT TO BECOME TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM VALVE. RESULT IS NO BRAKE ASSIST. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN MY 2001 AUDI S4!!!! AT HIGHWAY SPEED! *JB

1) CAR IS 2001 AUDI S4 AVANT. CAR WAS RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, AND WAS IDLING AT TOP OF DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WITH PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED WHILE OTHER CAR IN FRONT WAS BEING MOVED. UPON RELEASE OF PARKING BRAKE REGULAR BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN CAR ROLLING DOWNHILL, ABOUT 30 FEET, FROM A STANDING START AND COLLIDING WITH A PARKED CAR. BRAKE PEDAL SHOWED NO RESISTANCE OTHER THAN MILD SPRING PUSH-BACK, AND WAS PUSHED DOWN TO FLOOR. A BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUMPED WITH NO RESULT. SAME BRAKE CONDITIONS WERE REPEATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLLISION AND OVER A CONTINUING PERIOD OF MINUTES WITH IDENTICAL RESULTS, DURING WHICH TIME I EXITED AND RETURNED TO CAR ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. FINALLY, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT BRAKES RESUMED FULL AND NORMAL FUNCTIONING. CAR WAS IDLING THROUGHOUT THIS TIME PERIOD WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . 3) REPORTED TO DEALER MOHEGAN LAKE MOTORS) ON 1/16 AND TO AUDI AMERICA ON SAME OR NEXT DAY. CAR TOWED TO DEALER ON 1/17. AUDI AMERICA REPORTED LATER THAT THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SIMILAR OCCURRENCES OR ISSUES CONCERNING BRAKES - ALSO BEGAN INQUIRY ON WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY , BUT I DID NOT PURSUE THIS DURING OUR DISCUSSIONS SINCE THERE WERE NO INJURIES. DEALER REPORTED ON 1/24 THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND HAD NO ANSWER FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE, AND WERE TAKING NO CORRECTIVE ACTIONS. AUDI AMERICA REPORTED ON 1/25 THEY WERE TAKING NO FURTHER ACTION AND MAKING NO FURTHER INQUIRIES. *AK

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?

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

THE LCD DISPLAY SCREEN IN THE CENTER OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS UNREADABLE, MANY MISSING LINES AND PIXELS, IT NOTIFIES ME OF VITAL SAFETY AND HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OF MY CAR AND/OR PARTS FAILURE. REAR VIEW MIRROR ALSO NOT WORKING. *JB

SUN ROOF LEAKS / DOOR LOCKS BROKE , AND RADIO NEEDS REPLACING. *AK

BUZZING NOISE IN BACK OF CAR TURNED OUT TO BE FAULTY FUEL PUMP. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS IN SHOP THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM -- A "BURNT" OR "CORRODED" WIRE NEAR THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL TANK THAT COULD BE A "SAFETY ISSUE." THAT WAS 3 DAYS AGO. STILL NO UPDATE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I AM WONDERING IF OTHERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP ON THE AUDI S4. I'M PARTICULARLY WORRIED BECAUSE EXPOSED WIRES NEAR A FUEL TANK SOUNDS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

AUDIS STOLEN IN NJ, NY, PA , VA .......... ALL OVER EAST COAST IN POPULATED AREAS AUDIS GET STOLEN LIKE IN NONES COUNTRY ..AND AUTHORITIES DO NOTHING !!!!!!!!!! I AM REFERING ESPECIALLY TO AUDI S4, TT AND A4 .. AND 99% END UP IN NEWARK , NJ .. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR THIS TO STOP.. WE ALL KNOW WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE.. CAN BE CAUGHT LIKE RATS ....... A BAIT S4 PARKED IN NEWARK AND IT TAKES NO MORE THAN 2 MIN TO SEE HOW THIEFS SHOW UP........................... IT'S NOT BRAIN SURGERY..IT'S ACTUALLY EVERYWHERE IN CENTRAL/EASTERN NJ ..EVERYWHERE .. !!!!!!!!!!!!*AK

DT: SEAT BELT DOES NOT INSERT PROPERLY INTO DRIVER'S SIDE BUCKLE. CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES. THE SEAT BELT HAS RELEASED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING.*AK

NORMAL DAY TO DAY DRIVING HAS PRODUCED FAILURE OF TWO SETS OF FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS CAR. THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MADE NOISE AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND FAILED COMPLETELY AT 62,000 MILES. THE SECOND SET I HAVE NOW ARE RUMBLING AND GRINDING NOW AND THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN ON THE CAR FOR 20,000 MILES. CONSEQUENCE OF A WHEEL BEARING FAILURE IS LOSS OF CONTROL (STEERING) OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AFTER RUNNING A CAR WEARING EAR PLUGS BECAUSE THE BEARING NOISE MAKES THE INTERIOR NOISE IS SO LOUD THERE COULD BE HEARING LOSS FROM EXTENDED TRIPS. DEALER ONLY REPLACED BEARING AFTER IT FAILED AND WELDED ITSELF TO THE WHEEL HOUSING. I HAVE THE FRIED WHEEL BEARING FROM ONE SIDE AND THE HOUSING IT WELDED ITSELF TO. I ALSO STILL HAVE THE SECOND SET BECAUSE I AM RUNNING ON THEM AND THEY ARE MAKING THE SAME RUMBLING, MOANING, GRINDING NOISE THE FIRST SET MADE. *NM

I FEEL THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ELECTRICAL FRONT SEATS IN THE B5 CHASSIS A4/S4 (1996-2001 A4 AND 2000-2002 S4). I OWNED A 1998 AUDI A4 AND CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 AUDI S4. BOTH HAVE BEEN PLAGUED WITH A FRONT SEAT THAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH UNDER ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, THE EXTENT OF WHICH WORSENED DRAMATICALLY OVER TIME. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED ON MY A4 WITH THE AUDI DEALERS I CONSULTED TELLING ME THAT THE MOVEMENT WAS "WITHIN" SPECS. IS IT WITHIN SPEC TO ROCK ALMOST AN INCH? IT SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE GREATEST STRESSES WOULD BE DURING SOME KIND OF EMERGENCY BRAKING MANUEVER. EVENTUALLY MY S4 HAD THE SEAT-FRAME REPLACED AS THE MOVEMENT GOT TO WHERE IT APPARENTLY WAS "OUT OF SPEC". I ASKED FOR WHAT THE GUIDELINE WAS AND WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH A QUANTITATIVE ANSWER. I KNOW MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE THAT HAVE NOT HAD ANY SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION, AND I HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT THE ISSUE WILL NOT REAR IT'S HEAD WITH MY "FIXED" SEAT, PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO. THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER CARS I HAVE BEEN IN MADE MY HONDA, BMW, MERCEDES AND MORE SO THE "ALL SEATS DO THIS" ARGUMENT PRESENTED BY AUDI DOES NOT SEEM TO HOLD MUCH WATER. IF THE SEAT BRACKET AND FRAME ARE WEARING OUT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S TOLERANCES WITHIN MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, IT SEEMS LIKE A FAULTY DESIGN WHICH CREATES A POSSIBLE AND PROBABLE SAFETY HAZARD FOR MANY PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. I URGE YOU TO WORK WITH AUDI TO IMPROVE THEIR SEAT/DESIGN/PARTS FOR EXISTING OWNERS BEFORE ANY SERIOUS INJURIES TO OWNERS OR PASSENGERS OCCUR. THANK YOU. - ANDREW CHANG. *AK

SUN ROOF LEAKS / DOOR LOCKS BROKE , AND RADIO NEEDS REPLACING. *AK