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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system72
  2. Power train11
  3. Engine and engine cooling11
  4. Air bags9
  5. Tires7
  6. Suspension6
  7. Visibility5
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic5
  9. Fuel system, other5
  10. Fuel system, gasoline4
  11. Equipment4
  12. Vehicle speed control3
  13. Structure3
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20002
20019
20029
200310
20047
20057
20067
200724
200829
20094
20107
20115
20121
20132
20140
20151
20161
20171
20182
20190
20200
20210
20221
20230
20241

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.

03 —Owner reports

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 25, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11153591

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).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2024Power trainODI 11589250

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 31, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 10333910

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2022Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11478335

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2004TiresODI 10065118

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2008SuspensionODI 10233155
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.