IllustrationI HAVE A 2002 AUDI A4 QUATTRO 3.0{6 CYLINDER} WITH ITS SECOND COILPACK PROBLEM. THERE IS ONE COILPACK PER CYLINDER.THE FIRST ONE FAILED AT 8750 MILES THE SECOND ONE AT 9250 MILES. AUDI NEEDS TO RECALL THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL THE COILPACKS. CURRENTLY THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE FAILED PART.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all A4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
520–25K
1425–50K
1350–75K
1675–100K
12100–150K
7150K+
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 reportsIGNITION COIL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN A SHAKY VEHICLE, LOSS OF POWER AND A RED-HOT GLOWING CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AUDI IS REFUSING TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE COILS UNTIL EACH ONE FAILS. AUDI EVEN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COILS AT THE CUSTOMER''S EXPENSE.
VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE IGNITION COIL PACK. THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD WITH THIS VECHICLE (AUDI A4) AND IS HAPPENING TO MANY OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE MANUFACTURER, AUDI, IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THE FACT THAT FAILURES ARE OCCURRING IN A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ITS CARS, BUT HAS NOT IS…
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VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE IGNITION COIL PACK. THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD WITH THIS VECHICLE (AUDI A4) AND IS HAPPENING TO MANY OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE MANUFACTURER, AUDI, IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THE FACT THAT FAILURES ARE OCCURRING IN A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ITS CARS, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. INSTEAD IT IS REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART ONLY AFTER IT FAILS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS NOT REPLACING THE OTHER DEFECTIVE COIL PACKS IN THE CARS THAT HAVE NOT YET FAILED, THEREBY LEAVING THEM VULNERABLE TO FUTURE FAILURES. THE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED SO THAT ALL COIL PACKS ARE REPALCED. THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
IGNITION COIL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN A SHAKY VEHICLE, LOSS OF POWER AND A RED HOT GLOWING CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AUDI IS REFUSING TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE COILS UNTIL EACH ONE FAILS. AUDI EVEN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COILS AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE.
CAR ENGINE WAS MISFIRING WHILE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED. THERE WAS A SEVERE LACK OF POWER. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM TO BE FAULTY IGNITION COIL PACK.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION - TWO IGNITION COILS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WAS ON FREEWAY IN FAST TRAFFIC WHEN COIL FAILED. CAR SLOWED DOWN ABRUPTLY AND TWO CARS BEHIND HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID COLLISION. TS
FAILED IGNITION COIL PACK ON 2002 AUDI A4. 3.0 ENGINE LEAVING THE CAR INOPERABLE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A WORLDWIDE MAJOR FAILURE MODE WITH VW/AUDI ONLY REPLACING THE FAILED COIL PACK, THE OTHER COIL PACKS WILL FAIL IN TIME. SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD UP TO 5 COIL PACKS FAIL AT VARIOUS TIMES LEAVING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES…
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FAILED IGNITION COIL PACK ON 2002 AUDI A4. 3.0 ENGINE LEAVING THE CAR INOPERABLE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A WORLDWIDE MAJOR FAILURE MODE WITH VW/AUDI ONLY REPLACING THE FAILED COIL PACK, THE OTHER COIL PACKS WILL FAIL IN TIME. SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD UP TO 5 COIL PACKS FAIL AT VARIOUS TIMES LEAVING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES STRANDED IN UNDESIRABLE CONDITIONS AND PLACES. MANY PEOPLE DON'T CARRY CELL PHONES ENHANCING THE PROBLEMS. A TOTAL RECALL IS MANDATORY IN THIS CASE, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET BETTER! TS
MY 2002 AUDI A4 1.8T HAD A COIL PACK FAILURE ON 12/18/02. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CAR TO SPUTTER LOSE SPEED AND BECOME UNPREDICTABLE. IT OCCURED AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH FORCING ME TO TAKE EVASIVE DRIVING ACTION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS FAILURE IS OCCURING ON A VERY LARGE SCALE WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF 1.8T E…
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MY 2002 AUDI A4 1.8T HAD A COIL PACK FAILURE ON 12/18/02. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CAR TO SPUTTER LOSE SPEED AND BECOME UNPREDICTABLE. IT OCCURED AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH FORCING ME TO TAKE EVASIVE DRIVING ACTION. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS FAILURE IS OCCURING ON A VERY LARGE SCALE WITH DOZENS AND DOZENS OF 1.8T ENGINES (BOTH VW AND AUDI) HAVING THIS PROBLEM. VW/AUDI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THESE PARTS AND IS ONLY REPLACING THE FAILED PART. THERE ARE COIL PACKS IN EACH 1.8T. VW/AUDI IS NOT ACTING ON THIS PROBLEM LEAVING THOUSANDS OF 1.8T OWNERS WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THEIR CARS. WHEN A COIL PACK FAILS IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
IGNITION COIL PACK FAILURE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LACK OF POWER - HAD TO BE FLATBED TRUCKED INTO DEALER - WITHOUT CAR 3 DAYS NOW . DEALER STATES AUDI ONLY TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COIL " WITH NEW IMPROVED COIL " WHAT ABOUT OTHER 3 IGNITION COIL PACKS ON THIS ENGINE ? WAITING FOR NEXT FOOT TO DROP !
IGNITION COIL FAILED ON HIGHWAY. CAR "SHOOK" VIOLENTLY UNTIL STOPPED IN PARKING LOT. ONCE CAR WAS OFF THE ROAD, THE COIL HOUSING CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ULTIMATELY BURNED ITSELF OUT, AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED AUDI USA OF THE DEFECT AND RECOMMENDED VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. AUDI US…
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IGNITION COIL FAILED ON HIGHWAY. CAR "SHOOK" VIOLENTLY UNTIL STOPPED IN PARKING LOT. ONCE CAR WAS OFF THE ROAD, THE COIL HOUSING CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ULTIMATELY BURNED ITSELF OUT, AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED AUDI USA OF THE DEFECT AND RECOMMENDED VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. AUDI USA ELECTED TO REPAIR CAR UNDER WARRANTY. MULTIPLE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE (SEE LIST). TS
Official recalls
121V470000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.