Most common 2001 Audi A4 problems
Share of the 131 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi A4 complaints by model year
Best A4 years: 2011, 2016, 2012. Years to avoid: 2020, 2008, 1998, 2006, 1999. Compare all years →
2001 Audi A4 recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2001 Audi A4:
Brake and clutch pedal bracket
What 2001 Audi A4 owners say
Electrical system all 35 →
Vehicle was sitting for two hours with engine off. Consumer noticed smoke coming from out of the dash, and flames came through the passenger seat. Vehicle's battery was unhooked and fire went out. Radio and window were functioning on their own.
I was in the middle of an intersection when my car began to idle irregularly. I managed to get to the side of the road. I was towed to an Audi dealership. Three days later my car was repaired. All that I was told was that my #2 coil pack failed. I was not given any information that the other 3 would most likelt fail also. Upon doing research on message boards I realized that this was an enormous problem. I called Audi client relations and told them that I felt like I was driving a ticking time bomb as I could never be sure when the other coil packs were going to fail. The woman that I spoke with told me to take the car back to the Audi dealership and "demand that the other 3 be replaced." when I took my car back to another dealership because of the terrible service I received at the 1st dealer, they laughed in my face. …
Brakes all 33 →
Brakes were working fine, coming off freeway, was coasting thru light, traffic stopped, brakes no longer worked, brake pedal was suddenly flush with floor. Rearended a car, car started jumping forward. Had to use the emergency brake to stop the car. Car was towed after accident, not because it was not drivable, it was not drivable due to brake problem. Repair shop said brakes failed to vacuum hose breaking, no warning prior to losing brakes.
Front brake failure. Out of four pad/shoes, 3 pads physically separated off of their respectivie shoes. One of the three actually came out during driving. When this occured, I temporarily lost braking ability as the brake pedal went to the floor without providing any decelaration. Car needed to be towed to the dealership as it became usafe to drive. The remaining pad/shoe that was not separated was in reaonable condition measuring 7.7mm (out of 10mm). The two remaining separated pads are chipped showing major delamination and major degredation. Remaining pads & shoes have been saved. Brake pads/shoes & rotors were replaced by ira Audi 97 andover street danvers, ma [phone] this appears to be a catastrophic product failure once the pad lets loose completely. …
Engine & cooling all 33 →
2001 Audi A4 quattro 2.8l. As driving smoke was coming from hood.. Park and realize the engine was on fire. It look like it started by the passenger side headlight and spread. I read that Audi had a recall on head light switch but did not rec, a recall letter. Not exactly sure where the fire started my Audi caught on fire. I dont't have pictures to upload but I will soon. I am very hurt to know that the car I enjoyed driving caught on fire/disappointed with Audi
The "check engine" light on my 2001 Audi A4 quattro came on and was running somewhat roughly. I called the dealerships service department and they told me to bring it in. On the 8-mile freeway drive the engine caught fire and destroyed the engine.
2001 Audi A4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 19 |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Audi A4 a good car?
Based on 131 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 A4 rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the A4 at the same age. It is one of the A4 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Audi A4?
The electrical system — 35 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the brakes (33) and engine & cooling (33).
How many recalls does the 2001 Audi A4 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Audi A4, the most recent from June 23, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Audi A4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2016 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020, 2008, 1998, 2006 and 1999. See the full Audi A4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Audi A4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 37% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.