Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Audi TT problems
Owners filed 130 complaints about the 2001 Audi TT with NHTSA between Sep 2000 and May 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (72).
Complaints
130
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system72
- Power train11
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Air bags9
- Tires7
- Suspension6
- Visibility5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Fuel system, other5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Equipment4
- Vehicle speed control3
- Structure3
- Exterior lighting2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
9
9
10
7
7
7
24
29
4
7
5
1
2
0
1
1
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2008 | 29 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
72 reports2 fires
“HEADLIGHTS JUST STOPPED WORKING AGAIN FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME. PARK LIGHT AND HIGH BEAMS WORK FINE. THIS IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THE LOW BEAMS. CAN BE DRIVING ALONG FINE AND CUT CAR OFF AND START BACK UP AND LOW BEAMS JUST WON'T COME ON. IF IT WAS 1 AT A TIME I COULD SEE IT AS BEING NO PROBLEM BUT THEY BOTH STOP WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. KEEP REPLACING SWITCH AND HEADLIGHTS...THINKING THIS WOULD ALLEVIATE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH AUDI OWNERS. ALSO SEE THAT IT'S A RECALL ON THE NEWER MODELS BUT NOT THE LATE MODELS.”
Power train
11 reports
“While driving on a city street in Ann Arbor Michigan, the manual transmission shift lever snapped off. The lever detached at the base right above the spring assembly that allows the shifter to be moved into reverse. I was stuck in third gear and had to feather the clutch and keep the revs high in order to get through a traffic light and pull into a parking garage. The part required a complete replacement (completed myself).”
Engine and engine cooling
11 reports1 fire1 related recall
“ON OUR AUDI TT 2001 CONVERTIBLE, THE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND AFTER AN INVESTIGATION, FOUND NO KNOWN CAUSE OF FIRE. ALSO, PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, THE TIP OF THE SPARK PLUG FELL INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDER BLOCK, CAUSING US THE OWNERS TO PAY IN FULL FOR A NEW ENGINE HEAD TO BE REPLACED....LOTS OF MONEY (APPROXIMATELY $8000). WE REPLACED IT THROUGH A WELL KNOWN PROFESSIONAL AUDI SHOP AUTO HAUS MUNICH IN SAN DIEGO. HAZARDOUS LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PROFESSIONALLY BECAUSE IT INTERFERED WITH THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. MUCH MONEY & TIME SPENT, AND MANY HEADACHES EXPERIENCED WHILE OWNING THIS BEAUTIFUL YET TROUBLESOME CAR. *TR”
Air bags
9 reports2 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2001 Audi TT. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a deer causing significant damage to the front end. During the crash, neither the front driver side nor passenger side air bags were deployed. The driver sustained an injured neck and lower back which required medical treatment. The front seat passenger was not injured. The vehicle was later towed to the home. No police report was taken. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 94,000.”
Tires
7 reports
“CONSUMER REQUESTED THE AGED TIRES BE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH NEW TIRES, THE DEALER REFUSED. *PH ALL FOUR TIRES WERE OLDER THAN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2001. *SC”
Suspension
6 reports1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 AUDI TT QUATTRO. WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. SHE NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE OTHER THREE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM BOLT WAS CORRODED AND FAILED, ALONG WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION COIL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V325000 (SUSPENSION:REAR). THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.