2001 AUDI S4 Electrical System 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.

1. ALL THE TIME 2. THE FAILURE MAKES ME UNABLE TO SEE THE WARNING ICONS DUE TO THE DEAD PIXELS IN MY CLUSTER (DASH COMPUTER) 3. NO REPAIR WAS DONE. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

INFORMATION DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FAILING; PIXELS NO LONGER OPERATE RENDERING THE DISPLAY USELESS. DISPLAY IS USED TO INFORM THE DRIVER OF VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION BUT WITH FAILED DISPLAY THE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CANNOT BE READ! *TR

Mileage: 75,000

1) THERE IS NO TRIGGERING EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. IT JUST APPEARS OVER TIME. 2) THE LCD SCREEN IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LINES OF PIXELS THAT DO NOT LIGHT UP. THIS IS CONSTANT, WITH MORE LINES OF PIXELS GOING OUT AND PERMANENTLY STAYING OUT OVER TIME. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IMPORTANT WARNING MESSAGES ARE NOT DISPLAYED OR READABLE; SUCH AS WORN OUT BRAKE PADS, FUEL LOW WARNING, WASHER FLUID LOW WARNING, ETC. IF THESE WARNINGS ARE NOT DISPLAYED, THE VEHICLE MAY RUN OUT OF GAS WITHOUT WARNING AND STALL WHILE OPERATING, OR BRAKES MAY WEAR DOWN TO THE POINT OF LOSING EFFECTIVENESS WITHOUT WARNING, OR BE LEFT WITHOUT WASHER FLUID WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

DEAD PIXELS IN INSTRUMENT WARNING DISPLAY. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

I OWN A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CENTER DISPLAY ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS FAILING DUE TO MISSING PIXELS. THE CENTER DISPLAY NORMALLY DISPLAYS CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION REGARDING FAILING ENGINE AND BODY COMPONENTS. IT IS ALWAYS MISSING PIXELS, AND IS NEVER CLEAR ENOUGH TO READ PROPERLY. RECENTLY, I DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK AND THE CENTER DISPLAY WASN'T CLEAR ENOUGH TO SEE THE LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT. AS A RESULT I WAS STRANDED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION. I AM CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE ENGINE FAR BEYOND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY, HAD THE CENTER DISPLAY BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY. I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE DISPLAY, BECAUSE THE DEALER IS ASKING $1000 FOR REPLACEMENT. I KNOW IT A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND DUE TO THE AGE, IS REACHING A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FAILURE. I DON'T THINK THAT FAILING SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ITEM FOR ANYONE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A HIGH DOLLAR ITEM. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

INFORMATION DISPLAY ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FAILING; PIXELS NO LONGER OPERATE RENDERING THE DISPLAY USELESS. DISPLAY IS USED TO INFORM THE DRIVER OF VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION BUT WITH FAILED DISPLAY THE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CANNOT BE READ! *TR

Mileage: 119,760

1. PURCHASED A 2001 S4 2. THE AUTO CHECK SYSTEM IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK ESPECIALLY WHEN WARM. CRITICAL SAFETY INFORMATION IS NO LONGER DISPLAYED. 3. WAS QUOTED OBSCENE AMOUNTS BY AUDI DEALERS TO REPLACE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS LOST PIXELS AND ENDS UP UNREADABLE FOR ALL WARNINGS AND MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED SAFETY WARNINGS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I BOTH OWN A 2001 AUDI A4 AND 2001 AUDI S4.. ON BOTH THE RED LCD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SCREEN HAS FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE NOTHING ON THAT SCREEN IS LEGIBLE. THE SCREEN IS DESIGNED TO SHOW MILEAGE, SPEED WARNING, RUN TIME AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. THE PIXELS HAVE CEASED TO FUNCTION TO THE POINT BEYOND RECOGNITION. I SHARE THIS PROBLEM WITH A VERY LARGE GROUP OF AUDI OWNERS OF THE SAME AND/OR SIMILAR MODEL. THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE EXPANDS INTERNATIONALLY AND AUDI CLEARLY KNOWS THAT THIS IS A PRONE TO FAILURE PART. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL EVENTUALLY APPEARED IN FULL VIEW. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Mileage: 78,000

CLUSTER LED LIGHTING FAILURE.. PIXELS ARE EITHER DIMMED OR NOT WORKING CORRECTLY LEAVING DIFFICULTY TO SEE THE SPEED OF VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

THE B5 (2000-2002) AUDI S4, LCDS ON GAUGE CLUSTER WHICH DISPLAY VALUABLE SAFETY INFORMATION, IS FAULTY ON EVERY S4 I'VE EVER SEEN. EVERYONE ON EVERY FORUM I FREQUENT, THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LCD SCREEN ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL (DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY) CONTINUES TO VANISH, PREVENTING HIM FROM READING THE INFORMATION ON THE DISPLAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 03/13/08. *LJ

Mileage: 90,000

MY "DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY" HASN'T WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2005. IT'S A 2001 AUDI S4. THE DISPLAY IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYS IMPORTANT VEHICLE INFORMATION VITAL TO THE DRIVERS SAFETY AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIXELS ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FAILED, WHICH PREVENTS HIM FROM READING THE AUTO CHECK SYSTEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,200.

Mileage: 7,200

CENTER OF THE DASH GAUGE CLUSTER FAILURE. LINES OF INFORMATION (PIXELS) DISAPPEAR LITTLE BY LITTLE UNTIL THE GAUGE READOUT IS UNREADABLE. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

MY 2001 AUDI S4 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH ITS GAUGE CLUSTER, AND THE PROBLEMS HAVE GROWN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE INFORMATION DISPLAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CAR WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY OF DAILY DRIVING. VEHICLE WARNINGS ARE DISPLAYED ON THE CLUSTER WHICH IS NOW UNREADABLE. IT WAS THE INTENT OF AUDI FOR THIS PART TO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THE DRIVER WITH NEEDED SAFETY INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 105,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE LIGHTS FOR THE CENTER LED SCREEN FAILED. THE SCREEN WAS USED TO DISPLAY WARNING INDICATORS, INDEPENDENTLY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CENTER CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000. *UPDATED 12/27/07 *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

Mileage: 35,000

DASHBOARD LCD DISPLAY FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

(1) DRIVING MY VEHICLE (2) CENTER DASH DIGITAL DISPLAY FAILURE, MISSING AND FADED PIXELS (3) NONE, DISPLAY SHOWS INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT VEHICLE WARNINGS. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

THE LED CENTER DISPLAY IN THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER IS FAILING ON MY 2001 AUDI S4. THE CLUSTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BY THE DEALER, BUT IS FAILING AGAIN. THE CENTER DISPLAY IS USED TO SHOW IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGES SUCH AS DANGEROUSLY LOW OIL LEVELS, BRAKE PADS NEEDING REPLACEMENT, ETC. AUDI WILL ONLY REPLACE THESE FOR FREE UNDER WARRANTY AND CHARGES AN ARM AND A LEG TO REPLACE OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY THE CENTER DISPLAY IS NOT SEPARATELY REPLACEABLE AND THE WHOLE GAUGE CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS ALSO WAS AN ISSUE ON MY 1998 AUDI A4, BUILT ON THE SAME 'B5' PLATFORM AS MY CURRENT S4. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON MANY MODEL YEARS THAT AUDI OF AMERICA IS CHOOSING TO IGNORE AND HOPE THAT IT WILL GO AWAY AS THESE CARS AGE. UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE AS MORE AND MORE CLUSTERS GO BAD. *TR

CENTER DISPLAY OF GAUGE CLUSTER, DISPLAYS CRITICAL WARNING SYSTEMS. FAULTY, INTERMITTENT AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF PIXEL DISPLAY. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE ON A 2000 B5 S4 AND A 2001 B5 S4 AVANT. THE PIXELS IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH QUIT WORKING PROPERLY. IT GETS WORSE IN HOT OR COLD WEATHER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH S4 AUDIS THAT I HAVE OWNED. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

CLUSTER DISPLAY FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 54,000

CENTER DISPLAY DOES NOT WORK - DEAD PIXELS. *JB

Mileage: 47,000

MY CENTER DISPLAY IS UN-READABLE. THE LCD PIXELS ARE ALMOST NON-EXISTENT. CANNOT READ ANY OF THE CHECKS THE ENGINE GOES THROUGH, ALMOST CANNOT SEE THE NEED-GAS LIGHT. IT GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. *JB

INFORMATION CLUSTER DISPLAY ON DASHBOARD HAS A ROW OF DEFECTIVE PIXELS THAT DO NOT ILLUMINATE. *JB

Mileage: 79,800

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2001 AUDI S4 NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, WHICH MEANS I CANNOT READ VITAL SAFETY INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 118,000

MISSING PIXELS IN THE CENTER DASH CLUSTER DISPLAY. THE DISPLAY SEEMS TO BE DEGRADING OVER TIME. OVER TIME I WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SEE USEFUL INFORMATION ON THE DISPLAY. *JB

Mileage: 110,000

MY VEHICLES INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK! IT IS CLEARLY STATED IN THE USER MANUAL THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS FOR MY CONVENIENCE AND SAFETY TO PREVENT CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO CERTAIN MALFUNCTIONS. I WOULD SAY THAT 90% OF AUDI OWNERS I KNOW, CONSTANTLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS EITHER FADING OR GOING COMPLETELY OUT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I CANT EVEN SEE VITAL FUNCTIONS THAT MY CAR IS TELLING ME, I HEAR BEEPS SIGNALING SOMETHING IS WRONG, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS AND HAVE TO CONSTANTLY GO TO THE SHOP TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC SCAN ON MY CAR SINCE NOT EVEN THE SHOP CAN JUST LOOK AT IT AND TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE MID JULY AND BELL AUDI IN RAHWAY WANTS TO CHANGE ME $800.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO SAFETY. *TR

Mileage: 122,675

(1) USUALLY IN HOT WEATHER (2) THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (DRIVER INFORMATION) DISPLAY IS UNREADABLE. THIS DISPLAY PROVIDES AUTO-CHECK SYSTEM INFORMATION. MALFUNCTIONS OR URGENT REPAIRS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DISPLAYED BY RED (PRIORITY 1) OR YELLOW (PRIORITY 2) LIGHT SYMBOLS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THESE NOTIFICATIONS ARE THERE TO REMIND THE DRIVER THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WHICH SHOULD BE CORRECTED FOR BOTH CONVENIENCE & SAFETY, AND TO PREVENT THE RISK OF CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. A PERSON COULD GET STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, OR WORSE GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, IF NOT NOTIFIED IN THE CORRECT MANNER. (3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE UNIT REPLACEMENT COSTS AROUND $700-$900. I HAVE SEARCHED ON FORUMS, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. AUDI OF AMERICA SHOULD CONSIDER RECALLING AND FIXING THIS EQUIPMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB

Mileage: 54,633

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE PARTIALLY READABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PIXELS ON THE PANEL FAIL TO PROPERLY ILLUMINATE, HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER IS WORKING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE JUNE OF 2007. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,655.

Mileage: 62,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI S4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS A LCD DISPLAY SCREEN WITH LINES GOING THROUGH IT, WHICH PREVENTS HIM FROM READING THE GAUGES. AFTER A FEW DAYS, HIS VISIBILITY WAS ZERO. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROL CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

2001 AUDI S4 WITH GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEMS**NAR**CC THIS PROBLEM SURFACED JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN 2004. THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE GROWN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, CAUSING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT AUDI HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND AUDI UK HAS REPLACED THE FAILED CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER REPLACE THE GAUGE CLUSTER AT TO COST TO HIM SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *NM

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

Mileage: 20,000

MY GRIEVANCE RELATES TO THE RELATIVE EASE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS STOLEN ON A SUNDAY FROM A STREET PARKING SPACE IN MANHATTAN, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 AM AND 5 PM, WHILE LOCATED ON A MAIN THROUGHFARE THAT IS REGULARLY TRAVELED BY BOTH PEDESTRIANS & VEHICLES. THAT THE VEHICLE'S FACTORY INSTALLED THEFT-DETERRENT WAS DEFEATED OR FAILED TO OPERATE, GIVEN ITS HIGH VISABILITY ON A MODERATELY TO HEAVILY TRAVELED STREET, SHOULD WARRENT, AT THE VERY LEAST, AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS AND PROPER FUNCTIONING OF ALARM SYSTEM OPERATION AS REPRESENTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. WHILE THE THEFT INCIDENT STATS KEPT BY AUDI, AND THEIR US SUBSIDERY, AUDI OF AMERICA, SHOW THEFT TO BE INSIGNIFICANT, THE DATA PROVIDED BY OTHER NATIONWIDE DATABASES IS ANOTHER MATTER ALTOGETHER. IN 2002, THE S4 WAS THE 25TH MOST STOLEN CAR IN NJ (ALL INTENTS& PURPOSES: THE TRI-STATE AREA, NY, NJ, CONN). THIS PARTICULAR SUBMODEL (S4 SEDAN & WAGON) WAS MANUFACTURED B/WN 2000-2002, IN FAIRLY LIMITED PRODUCTION NUMBERS. ITS STATUS AS 25TH MOST-STOLEN CAR SEEM TO INDICATE AN EXPLOITABLE FLAW IN ITS THEFT ALARM/PROTECTION. *AK

Mileage: 34,000

UNEFFECTIVENESS OF FACTORY ALARM. THE HUGH NUMBER OF THEFTS OF MY VEHICLE IS CONCERNING. I AM CONCERNED ON THE SECURITY OF LEAVING MY CAR ANYWHERE BUT MY GARAGE.*AK

MY 2001 AUDI S4 WAS STOLEN IN SPRINGFIELD, NJ AND RECOVERED IN NEWARK, NJ. THE TOTAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY $8000. I BELIEVE THAT THIS THEFT WAS POSSIBLE LARGELY BECAUSE OF A SIGNIFICANT FLAW IN THE SECURITY SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY, THE DOORLOCK MECHANISM IS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE ALARM, INCLUDING THE MOTION SENSORS AND THE IGNITION KILL. THUS, A TINY HOLE PUNCHED IN THE DOOR TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SIMULTANEOUSLY LET'S A THIEF INTO THE CAR AND DISABLES THE ENTIRE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE LACK OF A TRUE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM ON THE CAR CREATED A REPUTATION FOR THIS HIGH-PERFORMANCE VEHICLE THAT IT IS EASILY STOLEN AND NOW IT IS A PARTICULAR TARGET FOR THIEVES, ESPECIALLY IN THE NEW JERSEY AREA. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF HIGH-SPEED JOYRIDES AND OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WITH STOLEN S4'S. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST AUDI'S FROM 2000-2002 HAVE THIS FLAW AND I BELIVE THAT AUDI SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND RETROFIT THESE VEHICLES WITH A SAFER ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM.*AK

2001 AUDI S4 HAS A SECURITY FLAW THAT CAN RENDER THE ALARM USELESS IN SECONDS, THEREFORE MAKING IT EXTREMELY EASY TO STEAL. THE ALARM CAN BE EASILY BYPASSED BY SIMPLY PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE DRIVER DOOR SKIN, THE CAR HAS NO IMMOBILIZER, THE ENGINE CAN BE STARTED BY BRUTE FORCE ON THE IGNITION.*AK

AUDI OF AMERICA HAS NOT TAKEN SECURITY SYSTEMS ON THE AUDI S4'S SERIOUSLY. THEY HAVE BEEN MASSIVE KNOWN THEFTS IN THE TRI-STATE AREA AND THE LIST CONTINUES TO GROW. I HAVE SPENT OVER $800 FOR ADDED SECURITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO SPEND MORE IF I HAVE TO. I CANNOT SLEEP PEACEFULLY AT NIGHT KNOWING MY CAR IS PRONE TO EASY THEFT DUE TO IT'S INEFFECTIVENESS IN SECURITY PROTECTION. I FEEL IT'S A MATTER A TIME BEFORE MY CAR WILL BE STOLEN IN A MALL OR A SHOPPING CENTER OR ON A STREET OR EVEN IN MY OWN HOME. AUDI NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY! *JB

MY CAR (2001 AUDI S4) WAS STOLEN IN LIVINGSTON NJ, AND RECOVERED IN IRVINGTON, NJ. THE CAR HAD A STOCK ALARM SYSTEM WHICH WAS EASILY BYPASSED. THIS CAR DID NOT HAVE AN IMMOBILIZER. OTHER MODEL AUDI'S HAVE AN IMMOBILIZER. $10,000 OF DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE CAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CERTAINLY AUDI CAN RETROFIT AN IMMOBILIZER INTO THIS CAR BECAUSE THE SAME CAR IN EUROPE HAS THE IMMOBILIZER. *JB

Mileage: 19,800

THE SECURITY SYSTEM OF MY 2001 AUDI S4 HAS A MAJOR FAULT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INCLUDE ANY TYPE OF IMMOBILIZER INTO THE SYSTEM MAKING IT EXTREMELY EASY FOR IT TO GET STOLEN. AN IMMOBILIZER IS A SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE COMPUTER/IGNITION SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW IT TO BE STARTED UNLESS THE KEY IS USED. I AM UNCOMFORTABLE PARKING IT IN ANY MAJOR CITY AND AS I LIVE NEAR NYC, ITS A REAL ISSUE. I HAVE A NUMBER OF FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR S4S STOLEN IN THE NEW JERSEY AREA IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. THIS IS A VERY LIMITED PRODUCTION CAR AND STILL MAKES THE TOP 25 MOST STOLEN VEHICLES IN ITS CLASS, THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT NOT ONLY HOW DESIRABLE IT IS TO THIEVES BUT HOW EASILY IT IS STOLEN. AN IMMOBILIZING SYSTEM WOULD NOT ELIMINATE ALL THEFT BUT WOULD REDUCE IT SUBSTANTIALLY. I FEEL THIS IS SOMETHING THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD RECTIFY. OTHER CARS IN THE AUDI LINE UP FOR 2000 HAD IMMOBILIZERS SO THE COMPANY HAD EASY ACCESS TO SUCH TECHNOLOGY BUT CHOSE NOT TO INCLUDE IT IN THEIR 2001 MODEL YEAR A4/S4. I ALSO HAD A 2001 VW JETTA (SAME PARENT COMPANY AS AUDI) AND IT HAD AN IMMOBILIZER, THIS CAR COST JUST ABOUT HALF AS MUCH AS THE AUDI S4 SO ITS ABSURD. PLEASE HELP ME AND MY FELLOW AUDI A4/S4 OWNERS RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. *JB

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 AUDI S4. THERE HAS BEEN AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF THEFTS OF THESE VEHICLES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT IS DUE TO THE POOR ALARM SYSTEM AUDI HAS PUT IN THESE VEHICLES. THERE IS NO IMMOBILZER, WHICH WAS PUT IN THEIR OTHER MODELS. AUDI REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *JB

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. I THINK AUDI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS GROSS OVERSITE ON THEIR PART AND OFFER A RETROFIT OF SOME SORT TO PROTECT MY INVESTMENT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE FREELY ANYWHERE I WANT WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT IT BEING STOLEN. THIS PROBLEM HAS REACHED EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS HERE. *JB

Mileage: 1,100