# 2001 AUDI S4 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
> NHTSA complaint `458991` · 2004-03-08 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** AUDI
- **Model:** S4
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
## Narrative
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
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*