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2002 Audi A4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most A4 years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Audi A4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 76.5.

About this comparison →
181Owner complaints

Model-year median: 76.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
190
199996
2000131
2001181
2002210
2003189
2004219
2005
Compare all A4 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
76Engine And Engine Cooling
28Exterior Lighting
17Power Train
16Visibility
11
All reported categories
Air Bags
8Equipment
8Tires
6Engine
5Seats
5Suspension
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4Unknown Or Other
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Wheels
3Fuel/propulsion System
2Seat Belts
2Steering
2Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

114 reports with mileage · 67 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 76 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

181 reports
370,000 miles · Nov 25, 2020
EngineExterior LightingFire

2002 AUDI A4 WITH 370K BURNED A BIT OF OIL WHICH WAS FINE CLEANED THE ENGINE OUT WITH CLEANERS IT SMOKED A BIT WHICH IS NORMAL.. HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING 'HIDS' SO I PARKED IT. 3 DAYS LATER I GO TO TAKE THE CAR ON A TEST DRIVE AND THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT LIT ON FIRE ! NOT SURE IF IT WAS A HEADLIGHT ISSUE OR A WIRING ISSUE.. I…

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2002 AUDI A4 WITH 370K BURNED A BIT OF OIL WHICH WAS FINE CLEANED THE ENGINE OUT WITH CLEANERS IT SMOKED A BIT WHICH IS NORMAL.. HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING 'HIDS' SO I PARKED IT. 3 DAYS LATER I GO TO TAKE THE CAR ON A TEST DRIVE AND THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT LIT ON FIRE ! NOT SURE IF IT WAS A HEADLIGHT ISSUE OR A WIRING ISSUE.. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT.

NHTSA ODI #11376377

193,897 miles · Aug 26, 2020
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I SLID OFF A WET CURVY DOWN HILL ROAD AND SLAMMED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. WENT UNCONSCIOUS AND WOKE WITH A LARGE LACERATION TO BACK OF HEAD. SAW THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS EXPLODED BUT NONE FOR DRIVER'S SIDE. SEATBELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE TIGHTEN SO TIGHT COULD STRANGLED ME IF I WAS WEARING IT. HAVE VIDEO OF MALFUNCTIONING SEATBELT AND …

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I SLID OFF A WET CURVY DOWN HILL ROAD AND SLAMMED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. WENT UNCONSCIOUS AND WOKE WITH A LARGE LACERATION TO BACK OF HEAD. SAW THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS EXPLODED BUT NONE FOR DRIVER'S SIDE. SEATBELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE TIGHTEN SO TIGHT COULD STRANGLED ME IF I WAS WEARING IT. HAVE VIDEO OF MALFUNCTIONING SEATBELT AND AIRBAG

NHTSA ODI #11351314

144,678 miles · Feb 7, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHEN IT RAINS WATER GETS IN THE CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE NOW MY WINDOW DONT COME DOWN ARE UP

NHTSA ODI #11175118

150,000 miles · Dec 7, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4. THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIMING BELT. AUDI BROOKLYN (665 65TH ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11220, (833) 448-2449) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11156722

106,000 miles · Apr 17, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemWheels

TAKATA RECALL; FUEL PUMP WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING CAR TO STOP AND ALMOST LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. (CA ELECTRIC COMPONENTS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK, WINDOW IS A BIG ONE. WHEELS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN SIX MONTHS AND THE AXEL APPEARS TO CAUSE WHEEL DAMAGE. CONSTANT LEAKS SUCH AS COOLENT.

NHTSA ODI #11088531

89,000 miles · Mar 23, 2018
Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE WHEEL STEERING SUDDENLY BLOCKED AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT NOR TO THE RIGHT. MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE STREET SHOULDER. DIAGNOSTIC AT THE BODY SHOP: POWER STEERING BELT BROKEN AND EVEN MISSING. NEED REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11081003

90,000 miles · Mar 23, 2018
Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE CAME OUT. STOPPED VEHICLE ON THE SIDE ROAD TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. DROVE AFTER ENGINE HAS COOLED OFF TO THE NEXT BODY SHOP. DIAGNOSTIC: ENGINE COOLING IS LEAKING, WATER PUMP IS DEFECT. TIMING BELT WILL BE AFFECTED IF NOT REPLACED AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #11081002

134,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
SuspensionCrash

I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN RENTON WA. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR WENT BY I NOTICED THAT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE TITLE. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO CONTACT DMV. TALKED TO A PERSON IN THE RENTON OFFICE AND TWICE TO THE COVINGTON OFFICE. THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY A 39 DOLLAR CHARGE TO GET A TITLE. DECIDED TO …

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I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN RENTON WA. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR WENT BY I NOTICED THAT I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE TITLE. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO CONTACT DMV. TALKED TO A PERSON IN THE RENTON OFFICE AND TWICE TO THE COVINGTON OFFICE. THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY A 39 DOLLAR CHARGE TO GET A TITLE. DECIDED TO MAYBE TRADE THE CAR IN AND FOUND OUT THE FRAME WAS BENT. I ALREADY SPENT 1200 DOLLARS FOR PARTS MISSING ON THE CAR. NOW ANOTHER PART IS AD AT ANOTHER 1500 DOLLARS TO MAKE THE AIR WORK. APPARENTLY THE CAR HAD BEEN CRASHED AND PICKED BACK TOGETHER JUST TO OFF IT. COMPLAINED A OUT PARTS MISSING AND THEY AGREED TO GIVE ME 400 DOLLARS FOR THE FIRST PROBLEM. NEVER DID SEE THE MONEY. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TOTAL REFUND OF THE DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT THEY GAVE ME FOR THE CAR AFTER THE 25000 DOLLARS THEY GAVE ME FOR THE TRUCK LOAD I TRADED IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676772

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2015
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4 EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, SIZE: 225/45R17. WHILE PARKED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED PRE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 AUDI A4 EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES, SIZE: 225/45R17. WHILE PARKED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10672159

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE DAY SHOWN ABOVE I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS CAR WAS WORKING WELL THROUGH OUT THE DAY IT WAS WHEN I WENT TO PICK MY HUSBAND UP FROM WORK I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THAT'S WHEN IT STARTED CHUGGING AND CHOKING AND DID NOT WANT TO GO MORE THAN 30MPH…

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INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE DAY SHOWN ABOVE I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS CAR WAS WORKING WELL THROUGH OUT THE DAY IT WAS WHEN I WENT TO PICK MY HUSBAND UP FROM WORK I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THAT'S WHEN IT STARTED CHUGGING AND CHOKING AND DID NOT WANT TO GO MORE THAN 30MPH AND SUDDENLY IT JUST SHUT DOWN WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN WE TRIED TURNING ON THE CAR AGAIN IT FELT HEAVY AND SLUGGISH FAILED TO START. LEFT CAR OVER NIGHT LOCKED AND ALARM ON WE ALWAYS PUMP 91 CHEVRON GASOLINE AND KEEP UP WITH 5K OIL CHANGES HIRED A INDY MECHANIC AND INSTANTLY NOTICE THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT ACTIVATING PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639696

Official recalls

1

21V470000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jun 23, 2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2000-2001 Audi TT Coupe, TT Roadster, 2000-2002 A4, and S4 vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver Air Bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, the air bag may not properly protect the occupant, increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver frontal airbag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CJ.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.