2001 Audi A4 Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 8%of 131 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Audi A4, 8% of the 131 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“All airbags failed to deploy in a driver's side t-bone collision. A-4 is equipped with side airbags. A-4 was stationary and occupied, minivan crashed into driver's door and part of front quarter panel. Van's rate of travel was 20 to 30 MPH in reverse! My wife suffered neck and shoulder injuries. Local Audi dealer replaced the side airbag # 8d0 880 241 aa and the airbag controller module # 8d0 959 655 g. Only at my insistence, was this work performed when I continued to question why no airbags deployed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10414033, filed 2011-07, 112,500 miles“Airbag controller fails with no apparent reason. Unit generates an unclear fault code (65535) when temperature drops below 32 degrees. This will not allow the airbags to deploy in case of an accident. Module has been replaced, and the same failure occurred again less than a year later.”
NHTSA complaint #10291928, filed 2009-11, 70,000 miles“2001 Audi A4 air bag light on dash. Dealer checked and stated air bag module bad. Order one and was installed april 27, 2010. Part # 8d0-959-655-g module. This is a major safety item. Can cause air bags to not deploy. Should last longer than it did.”
NHTSA complaint #10330845, filed 2010-05, 103,000 miles“Was going about 40 MPH and hit into a car that was making a left turn. The whole front end of the car is smashed in and still not one single air bag got deployed. It is an 2001 Audi A4 1.8t. There is over 6 airbags in the vehicle and not one got deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10241942, filed 2008-09, 90,000 miles“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 vehicle and all airbag system wiring was found to be intact and original. Manufacturer would not own failure and cited the vehicle being lowered as the cause. Manufacturer was unable to provide any evidence for this conclusion and vehicle is well within local laws/regulations for lowered vehicles.”
NHTSA complaint #10896796, filed 2016-08, 139,733 milesRelated recalls
- 21V470000Jun 23, 2021Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with…Covers: Audi A4 2000–2002, S4 2000–2002, TT 2000–2001
Related service bulletins
- 10161273Jun 7, 2019This bulletin contains instructions for additional reporting requirements for safety related inquiries (airbag/seatbelts, accidents, fire and overheat damage).
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 10% |
| 2022 | 1 | 17% |
| 2021 | 1 | 9% |
| 2019 | 1 | 10% |
| 2018 | 4 | 9% |
| 2017 | 13 | 23% |
| 2015 | 1 | 5% |
| 2013 | 1 | 4% |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% |
| 2009 | 33 | 28% |
| 2008 | 116 | 66% |
| 2007 | 119 | 61% |
| 2006 | 73 | 25% |
| 2005 | 54 | 25% |
| 2004 | 26 | 14% |
| 2003 | 12 | 6% |
| 2002 | 8 | 4% |
| 2001 | 11 | 8% |
| 2000 | 6 | 6% |
| 1999 | 8 | 4% |
| 1998 | 16 | 6% |
| 1997 | 3 | 3% |
| 1996 | 6 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2001 Audi A4
35 complaintsBrakes
33 complaintsEngine cooling
31 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Audi A4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology