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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.

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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

Electrical System complaints

76 reports
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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

138,000 miles · Jan 31, 2011
Electrical SystemFire

ON DECEMBER 3RD, 2010, I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-405S HEADING FROM LONG BEACH, CA TO SAN DIEGO, CA. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION IN MY CAR. I STILL HAD ELECTRICAL POWER (IE, INDICATORS STILL WORKED, MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION WORKED AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS WORKED).…

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ON DECEMBER 3RD, 2010, I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON I-405S HEADING FROM LONG BEACH, CA TO SAN DIEGO, CA. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION IN MY CAR. I STILL HAD ELECTRICAL POWER (IE, INDICATORS STILL WORKED, MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION WORKED AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS WORKED). I PULLED STRAIGHT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AT WHICH POINT I NOTICED THAT THE HOOD OF MY CAR APPEARED TO BE MELTING AND THAT SMOKE WAS RISING OUT OF THE ENGINE. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CALL 911. TWO GRACIOUS STRANGERS ATTEMPTED WITH TWO SEPARATE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT WERE UNABLE TO. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENTIRELY CONSUMED BY FLAMES WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMTS ARRIVED, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS AFLAME AND WAS NO LONGER SALVAGEABLE. IT ONLY TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES FOR THE ENTIRE CAR TO GO UP IN FLAMES. ALL THAT REMAINED ONCE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WAS THE REAR-HATCHBACK DOOR. EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY MELTED AND BURNED. THE STATE TROOPER WHO WAS AT THE SCENE OF THE INCIDENT SAID THAT THE CAR WAS SO BADLY BURNT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HARD TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE FIRE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THEM IF NEEDED. THE FIRE WAS SO FAST, HOT AND QUICK THAT IT WAS ONLY 30 MINUTES FROM WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO PULL OVER, TO THE END OF THE ENTIRE ORDEAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10379680

45,901 miles · Jan 6, 2008
Electrical System

DRIVERS DOOR SPEAKERS WORKING RANDOMLY AND CUTTING OUT ALL TOGETHER AT TIMES, SOMETIMES WITH STATIC PRIOR TO CUTTING OUT. SO FAR THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON OCT 2 2004,NOV 2 2004, NOV 15, 2004,DEC 7 2004. THE CAR STILL HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED …

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DRIVERS DOOR SPEAKERS WORKING RANDOMLY AND CUTTING OUT ALL TOGETHER AT TIMES, SOMETIMES WITH STATIC PRIOR TO CUTTING OUT. SO FAR THE SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON OCT 2 2004,NOV 2 2004, NOV 15, 2004,DEC 7 2004. THE CAR STILL HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND IN 2 SECONDS I FOUND THE ISSUE. IT IS A BROKEN WIRE IN THE DOOR PASS THROUGH. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT'S NOT A BROKEN WIRE BECAUSE THEY TESTED ALL THE WIRES AND THEY CHECKED OUT OK. IF THE SPEAKER IS NOT WORKING OR CUTTING OUT WITH THE DOOR OPEN AND YOU MOVED THE RUBBER PASS THROUGH, THE SPEAKER COMES BACK ON AND WORKS FOR A SHORT TIME AGAIN. DEALER HAS PERFORMED THE RECALL FOR THIS ON NOV 2 2004 BUT THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE. I STOPPED HAVING THEM TRY TO FIX THIS WHEN THE FACTORY WARRANTY RAN OUT BECAUSE OF THE COST INVOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213835

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2007
Electrical System

2002 AUDI A4 1.8T WITH GAUGE CLUSTER PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPEN WITH OTHER AUDI CAR FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MUCH FUEL SHE HAS OR THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10196962

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

FAILURE OF ENGINE IGNITION COILS ,CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER, AND CREATES SURGING AND SHAKING OF VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HAPPENED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF 2 OF 4 ENGINE COILS. THESE WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER RECALL. CONTACTED AUDI, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE SATISFACTORY ANSWER. TH…

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FAILURE OF ENGINE IGNITION COILS ,CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER, AND CREATES SURGING AND SHAKING OF VEHICLE, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HAPPENED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF 2 OF 4 ENGINE COILS. THESE WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER RECALL. CONTACTED AUDI, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE SATISFACTORY ANSWER. THEY WILL NOT COVER REPAIR, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS NOT A PART THAT REQUIRED REGULAR REPLACEMENT AND WILL NOT STATE WHAT THE LIFE OF THE COILS SHOULD BE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10186059

40,000 miles · Feb 7, 2007
Electrical System

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD IGNITION COIL IN HIS 2002 AUDI A4 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY RESULTING IN HIS NOT BEING ABLE TO GO OVER 20 MPH WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES SINCE 2003 AND HAS EITHER TOWED THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER OR HAS DRI…

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD IGNITION COIL IN HIS 2002 AUDI A4 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY RESULTING IN HIS NOT BEING ABLE TO GO OVER 20 MPH WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES SINCE 2003 AND HAS EITHER TOWED THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER OR HAS DRIVEN IT TO THE DEALER NO FASTER THEN 20 MPH. AT THE DEALER THEY HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION COILS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE COPY OF INVOICE REPAIR IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 70000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10181902

21,000 miles · Oct 6, 2006
Electrical SystemFire

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A BLOCK AFTER COLD START, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE. PROBLEM GOT WORSE. AFTER DRIVING A TOTAL OF ABOUT 3 BLOCKS, THE ENGINE DIED. THERE WERE WISPS OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF GRILL. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, DISCOVERED A SMALL FIRE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. DEALER REPORTS THAT THE FIRE STARTED BECAUSE OF A COIL …

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AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A BLOCK AFTER COLD START, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE. PROBLEM GOT WORSE. AFTER DRIVING A TOTAL OF ABOUT 3 BLOCKS, THE ENGINE DIED. THERE WERE WISPS OF SMOKE COMING OUT OF GRILL. UPON OPENING THE HOOD, DISCOVERED A SMALL FIRE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. DEALER REPORTS THAT THE FIRE STARTED BECAUSE OF A COIL FAILURE. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO PLASTIC MANIFOLD COVER, BECAUSE FIRE WAS PUT OUT EARLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10170098

885 miles · Jan 6, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

NUMBEROUS OF FAILURES; WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM, DRIVER'S SEAT MOTOR BURNED OUT 3 TIMES, ALL REPLACED. *BF THE FIRST DAY THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE LOT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, HOWEVER 2 MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, AND 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A SMALL…

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NUMBEROUS OF FAILURES; WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM, DRIVER'S SEAT MOTOR BURNED OUT 3 TIMES, ALL REPLACED. *BF THE FIRST DAY THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE FROM THE LOT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, HOWEVER 2 MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, AND 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A SMALLER BATTERY WAS INADVERTENTLY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY, RADIO AND SPEAKERS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109327

20 miles · Feb 1, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

AUDI 2002 WITH 12,000 MILES STILL UNDER WARRANTY SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10056278

300 miles · Dec 7, 2003
Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Other

STEREO-FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT ON AT LEAST (4) OCCASIONS WINSHIELD FLUID DISPENSER/WIPER MALFUNCTION SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT MALFUNCTION-AT LEAST (5) OCCASIONS SOLENOID VALVE BAD CLUTCH SWITCH BAD BLOWER IN AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER UNIT BAD PIRELI TIRES-BROKEN BELTS IN ALL FOUR (AT 25,000 MILES)- THESE ARE THE TIRES PLACED ON …

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STEREO-FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT ON AT LEAST (4) OCCASIONS WINSHIELD FLUID DISPENSER/WIPER MALFUNCTION SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT MALFUNCTION-AT LEAST (5) OCCASIONS SOLENOID VALVE BAD CLUTCH SWITCH BAD BLOWER IN AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER UNIT BAD PIRELI TIRES-BROKEN BELTS IN ALL FOUR (AT 25,000 MILES)- THESE ARE THE TIRES PLACED ON THE VEHICLE BY AUDI COILS BAD GAS GAUGE MIS READ

NHTSA ODI #10049354

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.