Most common 2001 Audi S4 problems
Share of the 87 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Audi S4 complaints by model year
Best S4 years: 2009, 2008, 2007. Years to avoid: 2010, 2000, 2001, 2005. Compare all years →
2001 Audi S4 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.
What 2001 Audi S4 owners say
Electrical system all 47 →
Instrument cluster that shows safety information doesn't work so don't know what's issue with car
I had just purchased a 2001 Audi S4 for close to $40,000. With 1100 miles on it my car was stolen in broad daylight approx 3 pm. Upon further research, I learned that the factory passive alarm can be tricked into thinking it has been disarmed. A small hole near the door lock gains access to a rod that when lifted disarms the system as if a key were used, combine this action with the with removal of the ignition, and the vehicle can be started with a screw driver and driven away. I've also learned that vw/Audi had the technology available to equip this model with an engine immobiliser as part of the OEM alarm system. I'm aware of dozens of thefts of the Audi S4 in particular and am reading of more thefts occurring weekly. Just do a search on www.audiworld.com using the word "stolen" and you will see for yourself. My experience has been in the ny/nj metropolitan area. …
Engine & cooling
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. …
(1) events leading up to the failure: none--I've been experiencing a coolant leak since day one. Only recently has it gotten worse and now I see that there is water in my coolant. (2) failure and its consequences - coolant in oil causes premature damage of engine components (bearings, turbos). New engine costs exceed $15,000. New turbos costs exceed $5,000. This problem is posted all over audiworld.com. Multiple people have had the oil checked and determine that high levels of copper (caused by coolant) were in the oil and would result in near-term engine/turbo failure. (3) what was done to attempt to fix the problem: (a) coolant system checked three times by Audi service at my cost and they have not been able to determine the problem. …
Wheels & tires
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. …
Of five of these tires supplied as new equipment, two have failed catastrophically after approximately 10,000 miles; one at approximately 23,200 miles. These are very expensive tires, supposedly high performance. Tire pressure was monitored using both electronic and mechanical pressure gauges, tires were kept at the recommended pressure of 42 psig. Pressure checks on the remaining 3 tires after each failure revealed that they were properly inflated to 42 psig. (tiresize: 225/45r17)
2001 Audi S4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Audi S4 a good car?
Based on 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 S4 rates avoid: 3.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the S4 at the same age. It is one of the S4 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 S4?
The electrical system — 47 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the engine & cooling (11) and wheels & tires (10).
How many recalls does the 2001 Audi S4 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Audi S4, 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 S4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2008 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2000, 2001 and 2005. See the full Audi S4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Audi S4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 35% 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.