Illustration2ND IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED. DEALER SAYS PART MAY TAKE UP TO 45 DAYS TO REPLACE
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 reportsTHE IGNITION COIL WIRE HAS GONE BAD CAUSING VEHICLE TO START BUT THEN TO SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR
THE CAR'S BASIC PROBLEM IS A BADLY DESIGNED COIL PACK (IGNITION MODULE). THERE IS A REDESIGNED ONE BUT THE DEALER WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ONE THAT FAILS. LEAVING THREE OTHERS (IN A 4CYL CAR) TO FAIL AT A LATER DATE. THESE FAILURES HAPPEN MOSTLY AT ENGINE STARTUP, BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME ALSO. LIKE…
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THE CAR'S BASIC PROBLEM IS A BADLY DESIGNED COIL PACK (IGNITION MODULE). THERE IS A REDESIGNED ONE BUT THE DEALER WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ONE THAT FAILS. LEAVING THREE OTHERS (IN A 4CYL CAR) TO FAIL AT A LATER DATE. THESE FAILURES HAPPEN MOSTLY AT ENGINE STARTUP, BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME ALSO. LIKE DRIVING IN A TUNNEL WHERE THERE IS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF TO. THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OFF LIKE SOMEONE REACHED OVER AND TURNED THE KEY...LUCKILY WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT SPEED IN A MANUAL TRANS. CAR, I JUST POPPED THE ENGINE BACK ON. DT
NO SUMMARY. DT
NO SUMMARY. DT
ON OCTOBER 28, 2002 THE 'AIR BAG' LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE SHOP ON OCTOBER 31, 2002. THE MORNING OF THAT DATE AS THE CAR WAS STARTED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP. ONCE I ARRIVED AT THE SHOP I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE NEW PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE RUNNING…
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ON OCTOBER 28, 2002 THE 'AIR BAG' LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE SHOP ON OCTOBER 31, 2002. THE MORNING OF THAT DATE AS THE CAR WAS STARTED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP. ONCE I ARRIVED AT THE SHOP I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE NEW PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH. AT THIS TIME HE INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF THE IGNITION COILS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE. DT
CONSUMER STATED THAT IGNITION COIL FAILED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL ON THE PARKWAY. CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS. MANUFACTURER AWARE OF DEFECTIVE PART. CONSUMER MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WITH DEALERSHIP HOWEVER IGNITION COIL PACKS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. TS *TT
NO SUMMARY. DT
AFTER SPEAKING TO THE DEALER WHO WAS PROMPT AND HELPFUL, AND AFTER INVESTIGATING ON SOME AUDI FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THESE COILS ARE VERY FAILURE PRONE. THEY CAN FAIL ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME, AND AT LOW MILEAGE. IN MY CASE IT WASN'T A MATTER OF SAFTEY, BUT OF DEPENDABILITY. THIS IS A $36,000 "NEAR LUXURY" CAR THAT REALLY …
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AFTER SPEAKING TO THE DEALER WHO WAS PROMPT AND HELPFUL, AND AFTER INVESTIGATING ON SOME AUDI FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THESE COILS ARE VERY FAILURE PRONE. THEY CAN FAIL ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME, AND AT LOW MILEAGE. IN MY CASE IT WASN'T A MATTER OF SAFTEY, BUT OF DEPENDABILITY. THIS IS A $36,000 "NEAR LUXURY" CAR THAT REALLY CAN'T BE TRUSTED, AND MAY FAIL ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW COIL, BUT IT IS THE SAME PART NUMBER AND MANUFACTURER. (BOSCH) WOULD BE NICE IF A NEW (REVISED) PART WAS ISSUED, AND ALL 6 COILS WERE REPLACED. THANK YOU. DT
TODAY WAS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE IGNITION COILS, FIRST OCCURED 7/25/02 W/10500 MILES ON THE CAR, IGNITION COILS 1 & 4 WERE REPLACED. UNKNOWN WHICH COILS HAVE FAILED THIS TIME. IT'S THANKSGIVING DAY, WON'T KNOW UNTIL TOMORROW HOW MANY COILS HAVE FAILED. IN AUGUST I REPORTED THE CAR RUNNING ROUGH AND WANTED THE COILS CHECKED, D…
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TODAY WAS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE IGNITION COILS, FIRST OCCURED 7/25/02 W/10500 MILES ON THE CAR, IGNITION COILS 1 & 4 WERE REPLACED. UNKNOWN WHICH COILS HAVE FAILED THIS TIME. IT'S THANKSGIVING DAY, WON'T KNOW UNTIL TOMORROW HOW MANY COILS HAVE FAILED. IN AUGUST I REPORTED THE CAR RUNNING ROUGH AND WANTED THE COILS CHECKED, DEALER STATED THAT WITHOUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR HARD FAILURE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. TODAY IS THE SECOND FAILURE IN 5 MONTHS AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR A FULL YEAR YET. THESE FAILURES ARE A SAFETY HAZARD, I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE CLOSE TO HOME AND DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN EACH OCCURRED. DURING TODAY'S FAILURE THE CAR COULD BARELY GO 10MPH TO GET ME HOME. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AUDI 2002 1.8T. DT
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.