The 2001 Audi A4 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 62,812 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS21V4700002021-06-2362,812 affected
Defect
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. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may…
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
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. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CJ.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
9
1crashes
AIR BAGS
8
1crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
7
2fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
Total complaints153
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“While using my heater on my seats and a pillow for additional back support, I noticed smoke and burning smell when pulling into my driveway. When getting out of my car I noticed that my pillow was leaking...and upon pulling the pillow off the drivers seat, it was damaged/burned through. I also…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 audi a4. The contact stated that the abs warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel and the brake warning light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics where the mechanic advised the contact that the ecu module would…”
“Abs module failure. *tr”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE02008 Opened 2002-01-23 · closed 2002-07-12
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Audi A4 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.